User:Fabrickator/D B Cooper FBI profile

This is extracted from https://archive.org/details/D.B.Cooper/ This transcript contains corrections from the machine conversion. Note that the FBI transcription as posted at archive.org is indicated as "Public Domain Mark 1.0".

PROFILE

The purpose of the following information is to conveniently list all the known facts concerning the hijacker's profile and to combine them with suppositions that can be reasonably inferred from those facts. The suppositions have been included to aid in processing a suspect. They should not be considered as concrete facts, nor should they be used as the sole determining factor in drawing investigative conclusions.

SUMMARY

Unsub was a well spoken, conservative gentleman; probably a Catholic with Mexican or Indian blood. He was not an alcoholic. He probably lived in the Portland or Seattle areas or had flown more than once over these areas. He apparently had no accomplices. He was not an experienced skydiver and most probably received his jump training in the military. His hijacking plan was not well thought out, and he was probably not an experienced criminal. He was apparently having financial troubles prior to November, 1971, and he may have previously worked in an airline-related industry.

The reasons for the above suppositions are included below.

BACKGROUND

It is felt Unsub was not an experienced criminal because of his mannerism exhibited after he received the ransom money. Unsub reportedly became somewhat childish in his actions and comments while counting the money.

Unsub was familiar with the Seattle area, as indicated by his comments concerning the plane's location as it flew over Tacoma, Washington. In addition, Unsub made a comment as to the distance McChord Air Force Base was in relation to Sea-Tac Airport. Unsub reportedly indicated McChord was approximately 20 minutes from Sea-Tac, which is essentially correct,

Unsub stated he was hijacking the aircraft because of a grudge. He may have had a relative, possibly a son, killed in Vietnam or he may have had recent financial problems which would foster such a grudge.

Unsub's complexion has been described as swarthy or dark. The grudge may be associated with his background which could possibly be Indian, Mexican or possibly Italian descent. Note unsub has been described by witness as definitely having some Mexican or Indian "blood" in him.

It is noted the northwest area at the time of the hijacking was suffering from a depressed economic condition, and since Unsub was familiar with the Seattle area as indicated above, it is possible Unsub was out of work at the time of NORJAK. In addition, Unsub demonstrated considerable knowledge of aircraft and of Flying, and it is felt he was employed in the aircraft industry, either civilian or military at one time in his life, therefore, it is logical to assume unsub may possibly have been out of work in an airlines-related industry.

His actions and reactions that occurred throughout the hijacking indicate unsub probably was not a desperate man, nor was he mentally i11 such as a paranoid type. Unsub exhibited an unusually calm manner throughout the whole hijacking.

Unsub was probably a “loner” and carried out the hijacking by himself, with no partners. Throughout the hijacking, he exhibited a competency in reacting to various situations that arose. It is believed that Unsub was not an experienced criminal, but a victim of circumstances.

Unsub's physical build and his handiness with the parachute shroud lines indicates coordination and some physical ability as will as inventiveness. (It is noted that during the hijacking unsub requested a knapsack to put the money in and he received a small white bag instead. Unsub took a small pocket knife from his person and fashioned a means to attach the small bag to his body using parachute lines from an unused parachute. Since it is believed unsub was well prepared for the hijacking and had not thoroughly thought the hijacking out, he most probably always carries a small pocket knife with him.

The following information tends to indicate unsub was somewhat conservative in his thinking and dress:


 * 1. Short style hair
 * 2. Age mid 40's
 * 3. Dark colored suit, dark colored raincoat, white shirt, narrow black tie.
 * 4. Unsub did not swear and showed a great deal of respect for the stewardesses on the airline because they were women. (Unsub engaged in a small argument with one of the passengers, as well as experiencing extremely tense and nervous situations, and through it all he never used profane language - this might indicate he is possibly a religious man. Since he did drink, and since he is possibly religious, he probably is not a Baptist or Mormon.)

The following information tends to indicate Unsub possibly possessed athletic ability:


 * 1. His physical build was described as average to well built, even though his age was described as in his mid-40's.
 * 2. Unsub exhibited some physical dexterity using his hands and a small knife.
 * 3. Unsub apparently parachuted from an aircraft at night; something that would require no small degree of physical ability.

It is felt unsub possibly maintains his physical well being through regular exercise.

The following information tends to indicate the Unsub was a gentleman:


 * 1. He offered to tip the stewardesses on the NORJAK flight after he received his ransom money. He did not offer them ransom money as the tip, but used his own money.
 * 2. During the entire hijacking he did not use profane language.
 * 3. Throughout the hijacking he maintained a calm demeanor and spoke low and intelligently.

The following information tends to indicate Unsub lived in the northwest area at some time in his life:


 * 1. Unsub knew the distance from McChord to Sea-Tac and recognized Tacoma, Washington from the air,
 * 2. Unsub was dressed in a suit and lightweight overcoat which is commonly worn by many northwest-area residents.
 * 3. No accent or unusual speech mannerisms were detected by the Northwest Airlines stewardesses who had a chance to observe him.

SPORT PARACHUTIST

The hijacker is probably not a sports parachutist nor is he a member of a sport parachute club. The reasons for this are as follows:


 * 1. The hijacker requested two back parachutes and two front parachutes. He gave no specific instructions as to the type of parachute that he desired. (i.e. a sports parachutist would probably have requested a steerable sport parachute.
 * 2. Several sport parachutists have advised that a sport parachutist possesses an emotional attachment to his parachute and probably would not jump from an aircraft with anyone else's chute, nor would they jump with a chute they had not packed themselves.
 * The hijacker was furnished a parachute that opens quickly, has a high rate of descent, and one that was not steerable.
 * 3 The hijacker was furnished two front parachutes, commonly called chest packs which are to be used in an emergency when the back pack parachute or main parachute fails to open properly. The chest pack parachute the hijacker took with him was a dummy parachute. It was designed for lectures to demonstrate to new parachutists the proper method of opening a chest pack parachute. It is felt an experienced sports parachutist would probably have noticed this defect.
 * 4 Unsub's age has been described as mid 40's and it is noted that the average age in most sport parachute clubs is mid 20's. If Unsub was a member of a sport parachute club he would certainly be an unusual member, one that would be easily recognized by the other members, as well as one that was well known because of his unusual age. It is felt that due to the large amount of publicity afforded this case, someone in a sport parachute club would have recognized his fellow "sky diver" as being identical with Unsub if in fact Unsub was a member of any sports parachute club.
 * When the stewardess presented the parachutes to the hijacker she also presented an instruction sheet on how to utilize a parachute. At that time, Unsub stated he did not need any instructions concerning the use of a parachute.
 * Since Unsub did not specify a specific type of chute and because of the above reasoning concerning Unsub's age, it is felt Unsub was not an experienced jumper or even a sport jumper. In addition, Unsub probably had some jump training, most probably obtained while in the military.

HABITS

Unsub drinks in moderation and is probably not an alcoholic. Unsub ordered one bourbon and seven at the beginning of the flight and although he was offered several free drinks later, he turned them down. This would indicate that Unsub possessed sufficient willpower to refuse alcohol in a tension-filled situation. It is believed an alcoholic or a former alcoholic who had just had one drink and was placed in a situation of similar stress would succumb to the pressure and imbibe in the free drinks offered him by the stewardesses.

Located in the ashtray utilized by Unsub were eight cigarette butts, seven of which have been identified by the FBI Laboratory as Raleigh filter cigarettes, and the eighth cigarette is possibly the same. These cigarettes are sold in a “soft pack". Unsub was in the aircraft eight hours in an extremely tense situation. During the eight hours, he had eight cigarettes. A two~pack-a-day smoker would have consumed 20 cigarettes in eight hours under normal circumstances. It is felt Unsub may possibly smoke less than one pack a day.

CLOTHES

Located in Seat 18 E (the seat Unsub occupied) was a black clip-on tie which contained a tie clip deseribed as yellow gold in color, with a white pearl circular stone in the center. The label in the tie bore the name “Towncraft" and bore the legend "Store 3, Penneys". The label in this tie showed it to be a “Snapper” patent type tie. Investigation at Las Vegas indicated this type tie was sold for about $1.50 and that this particular tie was about a year to a year and a half old. It was a favorite item for individuals such as waiters, busboys and bartenders.

Stewardess has said that this tie, found on the aircraft, was probably Unsubs and other witnesses have indicated he wore a similar type tie.

Since Unsub wore a tie during the hijacking and for other reasons described above, it is felt he was possibly an executive. However, since the tie was narrow and a clip-on type not currently in style, Unsub was possibly not on a top-level executive.

Unsub carried with him a cheap briefcase that appeared to be new. It is thought the hijacker probably purchased this briefcase just prior to the hijacking to be used during the hijacking only.

Unsub wore a white shirt with small collar points indicating he probably did not have the money to obtain a more fashionable wardrobe (i.e. more colorful shirts with larger collars currently in style). The white shirt could also indicate the hijacker's conservative taste in clothing.

EDUCATION

Unsub was accessed [sic] to be a high school graduate possibly with some college training, based primarily on vocabulary used during the hijack. Further, Unsub impressed stewardesses as possibly being experienced in dealing with people. They, therefore, concluded he was the executive type and seemed to naturally dictate the ransomed demands to the stewardesses in lieu of writing the notes out himself.

PHYSICAL


 * Race: White
 * Sex: Male
 * Age: Mid 40's
 * Height: 5'10" - 6'
 * Weight: 170-189
 * Complexion: Olive, Latin appearance medium smooth
 * Hair: Dark brown or black, parted on the left and combed back
 * Sideburns: Ear level
 * Eyes: Possibly brown. During latter part of flight, he put on dark, wrap-around sunglasses with dark frames.