A friend of a friend told me over the summer (this would have been about late July) that a man on his deathbed admitted to being D.B. Cooper, the famous hijacker. The man’s story matched up to what really happened, but the guy who was telling me about this was kinda drunk (and could have just been trying to impress me, because I have a hard-on obsession with D.B. Cooper–also with JKF conspiracy theories, but that’s neither here nor there) and I couldn’t find anything in the papers about this man.
I’ve tried doing on online search, but nothing worthwhile came up. Has anyone heard of this? Is it true? If it is, why is no one talking about it?
Try here:
http://local.portland.citysearch.com/story/000731dbcooperclaim.html
That should give you enough to look up more pointers to the story. Personally, I doubt it.
A U. S. News article earlier this year had the information you want. It was part of a group of 20 or so “Mysteries Solved!” or some such–who Shakespeare was REALLY, whether the LOch Ness Monster exists, that kind of thing. Little 275-or-so-word essays, some more believable than others. I believe this was the cover story, but don’t quote me.
As for time period, not sure…may have been last summer, was definitely sometime in '00.
Sorry, no specific cites (or sites), but I read a small tome written by the lead FBI agent on the case, after he retired.
I don’t recall the name of the book, but it basically laid the details of what most assuredly happened.
IIRC, briefly, after charting the flight path, time tables, witness reports he concluded ol’ D.B. landed, by bad luck, in the river at night with a parachute on. A dredger or some kind intermitantly dredges said river and tosses the sludge(?) upon the banks, which accounts for the few bills that were found (on those banks, at that place).
I’m sure I’ve botched a few details but the book was very convincing. It’s a case of 'MYSTERY" - fun!!! Mundane answer to mystery - not fun! probably why you’ve never heard of it but it’s fasinating reading if you can find it. I found that copy at the local library.
Hope this helps.
snac is giving you a good lead. A special double issue of US News and World Report entitled Mysteries of History (July 24-31 2000) had a great article about the death bed confession and subsequent investigation. Although no concrete evidence has surfaced to support the confession, the story is compelling.
The issue also contains some other interesting articles about King Arthur, Shroud of Turin, Columbus vs Vikings and much more. It is a great read. Check your library for a copy
No need to check it out from the library, the issue of US News is right here on the web:
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/000724/mysteries/cooper.htm
-Jenny