After publishing my post on D.B. Cooper, Previous Post Here, a comment was left by Lyle Christiansen, the brother of Kenneth Christiansen, who claims that Kenneth was in fact the legendary D.B. Cooper.
I contacted Lyle by email and he replied with a letter he had sent to Geoffrey Gray of nymag.com detailing all the “evidence” that should prove that Kenneth Christiansen was in fact D.B. Cooper. Here is a link to an article written by Geoffrey Gray regarding the D.B. Cooper case on December 21, 2007. Read article here. Geoffrey at the time of his article, thought that Kenneth Christiansen was D.B. Cooper. But he apparently now has doubts.
I just don’t think Lyle gets it. His brother, Kenny, is not D.B. Cooper.
After reading the entire letter Lyle sent by email, and trying to grasp all the claims he was making regarding his brother, Kenneth, as being D.B. Cooper, he still left one really big detail out, as well as some other evidence as well.
Discrepancies between Kenneth Christiansen and D.B. Cooper:
Kenneth has hazel eyes D.B. Cooper had brown eyes as reported by the witnesses.
Kenneth was 5’8” in height D.B. Cooper was reported as 5’10” to 6’ in height
Kenneth was 150 lbs D.B. Cooper was reported as around 175-180 lbs
Kenneth had a normal white complexion D.B. Cooper was reported as having dark or olive skin coloring
Really, the only similarities are they both smoked the same brand of cigarettes, drank bourbon, and had knowledge of planes and parachuting. And Kenneth does resemble the first composite sketch of D.B. Cooper, but not the second composite.
To me, the similarities aren’t enough for me to conclude that Kenneth Christiansen was D.B. Cooper.
Lyle claims that this picture (right) was taken by Kenneth himself in March 1972. Which would be him taking this photo somewhere around 3 to 4 months after the skyjacking. Why would he wait so long to take this picture? Did he get caught up in the hype and just wanted it to look like he had something to do and/or was D.B. Cooper? Or was he just simply working for a commercial cleaning service at that time?
Was this photo just a plant for everyone to think he might be D.B. Cooper when in fact he might be covering for how he really came into a lot of money all of a sudden after the skyjacking?
And I don’t see any resemblance to the more accurate sketch (composite B) from the FBI. Kenneth only resembles the first composite sketch done by the FBI. But the eyewitnesses state that the second sketch, composite B, is the more accurate depiction of what D.B. Cooper looked like. What do you think?
The first photo at top, is the first composite, along with a picture of Kenneth.
Now, below, is the second composite that witnesses say is the most accurate depiction of D.B. Cooper. You be the judge.
And finally, the money. The money found in 1980 ($5,880) on the bank of the Columbia River is the biggest clue in the whole skyjacking case.
What Lyle Christiansen’s letter left out was the part about the money. He mentioned nothing about the money whatsoever.
There is documented proof that Kenneth Christiansen had come into a lot of money just after the skyjacking that took place on November 24, 1971. Kenneth was practically throwing money around, and spending a lot of money.
But every serial number of the ransom money from the D.B. Cooper case was recorded. An NO bills have ever been found in circulation. The only bills ever recovered is the $5,880 found at the river. So whatever money Kenneth Christiansen was spending, it couldn’t have been the ransom money from the skyjacking by D.B. Cooper.
This fact alone rules out Kenneth Christiansen as the legendary D.B. Cooper. Kenneth, if he was D.B. Cooper, never spent a dime of the money. And not only that, he left $5,880 near the river. So for whatever reason he took the photo above, the white bag might contain money – but it isn’t the ransom money.
Here is a great link (below) to all the suspects in the D.B. Cooper case, including William Pratt Gossett, who is another great suspect. But in his case as well, he spent and gambled most of the money he came into suddenly away. So his money too, was not that of the D.B. Cooper ransom money. He may fit a lot of the other pieces, but without a link to the money, no conclusion can be made. Suspects List here
The FBI agrees with my conclusion as well. Or maybe I should say I agree with the FBI. Either way, here’s a link to the article published on October 26, 2007 where the FBI rejects Kenneth Christiansen as D.B. Cooper. FBI rejects latest suspect
So, no matter how much Lyle Christiansen wants his brother to be D.B. Cooper, it isn’t going to happen. And I would believe the eyewitnesses themselves, who stated that the photos of Kenneth Christiansen was not that of D.B. Cooper. They saw the guy and interacted with him. If they say that Kenneth Christiansen is not D.B. Cooper, then that answers that. Case closed for Kenneth Christiansen (and Lyle Christiansen).
But the case isn’t closed yet. It still is being investigated by attorney Galen Cook. And he states that William Pratt (Wolfgang) Gossett is the best suspect so far in the case. And, supposedly the FBI has also not ruled him out either as a suspect. DNA tests are being carried out still.
Until all fingerprints and DNA evidence are tested, and any new witnesses come forward, this case will remain unsolved. We may never know who the real Dan Cooper (D.B. Cooper) is, but his legendary status will remain.
Sorry Lyle. I know you really believe that Kenneth was D.B. Cooper, but you must face the facts.
Sources:
emailed letter from Lyle Christiansen
http://nymag.com/news/features/39593/
http://n467us.com/I%20Am%20D%20B%20Cooper.html
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/337121_dbcooper27.html
Picture sources:
http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2007/december
{ 89 comments… read them below or add one }
These claims of ‘facts’ is all BS….some of you ‘experts’ claim that Lyle’s facts are inaccurate while you provide your own ‘facts’ that have less merit than Lyle’s. I’m struggling to understand two things….1- why are your ‘facts’ more real and truthful than Lyle’s even though they are based on erroneous ‘eye-witless’ proof…and 2- why would you believe ANYTHING the FBI says…like they have ever told the American people anything true or accurate. Believe what you like but don’t call Lyle wrong…he has as much authenticity with his data as you do…and simply because you agree with the FBI doesn’t make you ‘right’….I believe it was Kenny and that’s good enough for me to enjoy a cool story about a couple of buddies who had a good time shaking up the system with a lark…so what does it hurt to just allow Lyle and I and others to believe it was Kenny without being so self-righteous that YOU are correct? You don’t have any proof except BS. Way to go D.B (Dan) Cooper….whoever and wherever you are! I’m proud of what you pulled off for whatever reason you chose to do it!
I’ve looked at all the pros and cons, read the books, observed the Decoded t.v. investigation and work in law enforcement and know how inaccurate witness descriptions can be and how looks can be changed to throw off those witnesses and also how poorly money serial number identifications were in the 70s. It was Kenny and too bad they didn’t use an expert lie detection process on Kenny’s friend Mike, he most definately was involved and lying in his on screen questioning. Pot odds are it was Kenny but it will never be more than that since the years have washed away the direct evidence and money exchanged and burnt by the treasury department by now.
You still haven’t figured it out, have you…
no one has
yep, it’s pretty well figured out but it would be nice for everyone to recognize that the name was Dan Cooper and not D.B.
Christianensen had the ability during his travels overseas in the orient to exchange money at many shops where serial numbers would never be checked. Anyway, our own treasurey deoartment said they did not check the serial numbers against hijacked bills list but only looked to see the numbers were good. Computers were few and far between in the 70′s. And those were the key punch type and not automatic memory banks like we take for granted on Google.
Agreed, and after studying how poorly the numbers on the bills were distributed to banks and not even in order……..who in their right mind at the bank is going to spend every day of the year for years trying to match those jumbled up numbers. Today they can track money 95 percent better than then and the computers doing the tracking much more thorough and precise than the minimum waged bank employees back in the early 70s.
Does anyone know if there are any websites with information on the DB Cooper case? He hijacked a plane in 1971 and when they found him he didn’t have the money and couldn’t be identified.
Since I bought the Blevins photo montage that Blevins gave to Marge Geestman the other day, I’ve read and watched a lot of stuff about this skyjacking. I remember it from 1971 as I lived in Kirkland Washington at the time and my Dad worked at Boeing Flight Test. We talked about what would happen if the aft airstairs were open in flight and what effect it would have on the airplane’s handling characteristics….nothing that couldn’t be controlled from the flight deck. The big drama over Dan Cooper’s physical appearance seems stupid. Other passengers stated they could see his thermal underwear. And I know if I was skydiving at night in November I sure would have several sets of thermies on, and other layers of warm stuff. Anyone who lives in Washington knows it’s common to layer up. When I ride my Harley I always layer up. Sometimes in the early Spring chill I look like the Sta-Puft marshmallow man and I weigh 182 pounds. Anyone trying to slightly disquise themselves could add 20 – 40 – 60 pound in appearance easily. It’s hard to look taller, but it’s easy to look shorter simply by slouching. How many people outside of PDX airport actually saw Dan Cooper standing up? And in the aisle of a 727 a slight stoop can take 4 – 5 inches off appearances. Hair (toupee), eye colour (low lighting, time of day, what I ate) are affected by many things, complexion can be altered by so many things that can be washed off quick and easy. So none of those ‘eye-witless’ descriptions means much to me. I want to believe it was a successful lark by a couple of thrill seekers. I was extremely disappointed when I watched the Bernie Geestman interview on Decoded. What’s he got to lose at this late date to say, yeah, hell, we had this wild bet with ‘Xxx Xxxx’ who said we couldn’t do it. The ransom money could have been a throw away for the value of the bet…Bernie had friends that were ‘very rich’ selling Mazama property for over $5 million in 1991 and could have shared Ken and Bernie’s wild ideas of fun. I wish Bernie would let us in on the fun of it all and just tell the truth. I do agree with Bob Sacamano that a couple hour drive to Canada wouldn’t hurt a chance to launder money easily….so many questions….so few willing to tell the truth…..and what about that JFK – Texas connection…hahahahaha
Agreed, and after studying how poorly the numbers on the bills were distributed to banks and not even in order……..who in their right mind at the bank is going to spend every day of the year for years trying to match those jumbled up numbers. Today they can track money 95 percent better than then and the computers doing the tracking much more thorough and precise than the minimum waged bank employees back in the early 70s.
It seems to me that this guy is being disqualified for really minor discrepancies .
Eyewitness testimony? 60 minutes recently did a report on eyewitness testimony totally disproving its accuracy . Strangely, the brain remembers things much differently in high stress situations even a short time later and modern day investigations rarely rely on it as anything more than circumstantial.
I recently e-mailed three people I work with and asked them my height and weight . One person guessed that I was 5’9″ another that I was 6’2″ and another that I was 6’1″… I’m 5’11″… Regarding my weight, one person was within ten pounds, the other two were roughly twenty lbs off in different directions.. These are people who see me almost every day.. Unless they had a scale on board the plane and actually measured him, the fact that there’s a two inch difference in height doesn’t disprove anything.. (obviously it would be different if DB were 6’5″ and/or 300 lbs)
Also, I don’t know if the blogger for this site is aware of this, but hazel eyes are very similar to brown. Not to mention the fact that the lighting on the plane was most likely lit dimly like most planes, which would explain the complexion as well…
Another thing that cracks me up is the notion that the money couldn’t possibly have been spent …. Right, because it would have been so incredibly difficult to launder money back in the early 70′s, especially being so close to Canada…
This blog mentions that the only similarities are that they both smoked the same brand of cigarette, drank bourbon, and had knowledge of planes and parachuting.. Yeah well, when you add that onto the mounds of other evidence. it’s not half bad.
OK, never mind. I found out….amazing what a little internet sleuthing will uncover…..the frame of pictures I bought is the collection that the author Blevins gave to Marge Geestman and she hung in her kitchen….well that’s cool! I thought the auction was ‘the Geestmans’, but apprently it was just Marge’s stuff and whatever was leftover from long ago, as I now realize Marge and Bernie were divorced. From the accomplice angle it sure seems like these two charecters, Ken Christianson and Bernie Geestman could have done this event. But then, I hear Regina and agree with her logic and sound thinking……but then, could it all have just been done for fun? Or what about a bet, they had some friend swith money that could have provided lots of cash just to see the stunt pulled off successsfully. And these two seem just the pair to do something of this magnitude… ‘just for fun’ !!
Interesting reading….in one spot of all this I find the name Bernie Geestman; identifying him as a possible accomplice of Ken’s. I was at an auction on 20 April 2012 at Bernie Geestman’s and bought a very cool picture frame with 9 photos (you know the family picture collage frame thing). In the center is the airplane used in the Dan Cooper hijacking. Two of the pictures are shown on this web site and appear to me to be the originals: the one of Ken in his NWA flight uniform and the other carrying that bag of ?money? or whatever. There’s also a drawn map ‘on the trail of DB Cooper’ and the original artist conception drawing. And then there are a picture of someone parachuting in an old military type ‘chute; a young ‘someone’ who matches the artist conception very well; a young couple with a baby where the man fits the artist conception very well; and a picture of some ‘wrinkies’ with big smiles at the later stages of their life. These pictures scream out at me that someone was involved with the skijacking. Why would I find this collection of pictures and drawings at Bernie’s 41 years after the hijacking? Someone would have to have a vested interest in this event to keep such a framed collection. It appears to be a life trail of ‘an event’ and how people looked back on it throughout their life. No matter what is it, it’s a cool collection of photos. Nothing is written on the back of any picture. Although, there is a handwritten page taped to the back of the frame. It’s almost cryptic but says interesting things. In the box that I found this picture frame were books related to WA/OR/CAL Costal Pilot reference points…..a very useful topic for jumping out into the unknown at night; and sun azimuth books, and tides, and sunrise/sunset….all local NW stuff and related to dead reckoning and finding your position using different equipment like sextants. Why would they be in a box with pictures of this hijacking. Hmmmmm…can anyone elaborate on what they know of Bernie (Bernard) Wayne Geestman………..
There is not another single suspect where there is proof that shows he was D.B.Cooper . Only
Kenneth Christiansen has that proof. The only thing that is going to prove the case is a DNA
match or a fingerprint match or matching life happenings as is the case with D.B. and Kenneth.
That match is every bit as good as a DNA or fingerprint match. It looks like there is never
going to be a DNA match or a fingerprint match.
I hope Regina begins to see the light as I hope the FBI and everyone else do too.
I definitly think that Kenneth is the main suspect. Like Lyle said he is the best matching suspect.
I don’t think the FBI will ever admit their biggest failure at this point in the game and would choose for everyone to believe it’s a mystery and never have to explain why they never even investigated Kenneth Christianson all because of a couple of inches and a shade of complexion from an eye witness involved in a high adrenaline moment…….J.Edgar’s ghost still loves to cover up failures and screw ups.
I believe Kenneth is D B Cooper! You have to realize that eye-witness accounts on any event is unreliable at best! Everyone see’s thing’s from a different view point! I believe that under the circumstances people were nervous and scared! I think the differences in the discriptions tell you this! Anyone with a basic knowlege of law enforcement will tell you this! You do have some circumstanial evidence that D B Cooper had alot of similarities with Kenneth. Why do you have to dismiss so carelessly???????????
Leland, I didn’t dismiss Kenny Christiensen carelessly. If you believe that, then the FBI also dismissed Kenny carelessly. I realize that most of the time eye witness accounts aren’t reliable. People get scared, imbellish stories, get nervous, let their brains fill in the foggy things, and just can’t plain remember. All sorts of reasons. But, the witnesses to DB Cooper were questioned several times, right after the incident, days afterwood, and many months and years afterwards. Even other eye witnesses before the incident even happened described the man they saw that eventually became the famous DB “Dan” Cooper. Gather all thoses eye witnesses and a picture emerges. The first “sketch” of DB Cooper was quite a bit off. And many people who think Kenneth was DB Cooper arguably use this first sketch as matching Kenneth. But remember, that the eye witnesses werer all gathered together and then they all came up with a better more accurate description of the man they knew as DP Cooper. This send sketch doesn’t look anything like Kenneth. And since the FBI rules Kenneth out very quickly – they must have something that we don’t.
This is one reason, mostly the 2 main reasons that I don’t believe it was Kenneth that was DB Cooper. But, hey, everyone can be wrong. Even the FBI. We are all human.
And yes, I know, that many pieces of Kenneth’s life and his knowledge seem to match up with what is suspected of DB Cooper. And it could very well be Kenneth – but I’m not yet convinced. That’s just my view. It’s only circumstantial evidence that points to Kenneth, but they are other people as suspects as well which also have just as good circumstantial evidence of being DB Cooper.
I think everyone has their own opinion regarding this case.
I just want the FBI to finally solve this case so we can move on. But that would kill all the fun!
The FBI and it’s agents who screwed up the whole case back then will never admit their biggest failure……don’t hold your breath.
Here is another connection of Kenny Christiansen being D.B.Cooper.
If the French Comic book has anything to do with the name D.B. used on his boarding pass,
Kenny very well could have been D.B. because , in college, he done well in his Spanish class.
The Spanish and French languages are very similar , so Kenny could read the comic book.
He also could have run across the comic book on his flights as a flight attendant.
T
B
The value of the collections that Kenny accumulated amounted to over $40,000. He also bought his
home in Bonney Lake, WA and a residential lot above a cliff behind his home. Mt. Ranier was visible in the distant.
I just watched the show decoded and I’m convinced that kenny is d.b. Cooper
Edwards, what in the show decoded actually convinced you that Kenny is DB Cooper? The show didn’t look at any other suspects at all. There are other better suspects than Kenny. So what convinced you if you don’t mind sharing.
^- Translation of the above posting: Kenneth Christiansen was not the hijacker known as “Dan Cooper”. :-]
A few people wrote in wondering where the $186,000 came from in Kenneth’s bank account after
he passed away after suffering from cancer . This should have been told before so that people
would know.
Before the skyjacking, Kenny was staying at a cottage on Bernie’s property. Bernie suggested
to Kenny that he should buy a 20 acre forested piece of property a across the road from his
property. Kenny did this for $5000, 10/16/64 and over a few years. The value of that property skyrocketed to $300,000 when Kenny sold it to William Hagen. The property was used for the
construction of two churches on the property. Kenny had to pay real estate taxes on the increase
in value of the property but he still ended up with a good sum of money and part of that is what
he had in the bank when he passed away.
Kenny laundered part of the money from the skyjacking by purchasing ,by money order, collections of coins, stamps, first day issues of cards and envelopes and deluxe manuals of first day issues of items from Great Britain .
I haven’t been able to find out if Kenny gambled away a lot of his money, maybe someone knows
if he did but I did find a stub from the Harrahs casino good for their casinos in Reno and Lake
Tahoe, in the bottom of his army foot locker.
Lyle, thanks for the info on the money that Kenney had collected. From what you said, Kenny had other means of acquiring a large sum of money OTHER than the ransom money. I’m not convinced that Kenny was smart enough to launder the money in the way you describe.
If he did indeed do what you say he did, then why did Kenny continue to work for the airline even after skyjacking the plane – for some 20 years? Seems to me that he would have moved on and left Northwest in the dust. I just don’t get that Kenny was DB Cooper.
I think that the money did not matter too much for Kenny. Remember, on the airliner, he offered
the flight attendant a bundle of the money for a tip. I think the feat itself meant more to
him. The reason that he continued working for NWA is because he may have laundered the money
at a casino and may have gambled it all away , trying to increase his earnings. So he had to
keep working.
Something to think about:
D.B. was wearing a thin black tie with a tie clasp . I have a photo of Kenny in his NWA
uniform. He is wearing a black thin tie with a tie clasp. A trio of scientists are working on
the case to try and solve it. They found traces of pure titanium on the tie. One of them asked me if I knew if Kenny had somehow come in contact with pure titanium. I went on the
internet and looked up pure titanium and what do you suppose popped up, SOME TIE CLASPS WERE
MADE OF PURE TITANIUM, So that is where the traces came from.
Lyle, if the tie clasp was made of pure titanium — then of course they would find pure titanium on the tie clasp. That’s kinda given. It wouldn’t be considered evidence in any shape or fashion if the tie clasp was made of titanium. That’s like saying I found chocolate on a chocolate candy bar. So what.
The tie clasp and long black thin tie that D.B.was wearing is another connection between
Kenny and D.B. In a photo that i have, Kenny is in his NWA uniform and he is wearing
a long black thin tie ( not too many were wearing that type tie in those days, they wore
the wider ones ) and he also has a tie clasp attached to the tie.
Something to think about also : The FBI photo of the tie and tie clasp shows that the
tie clasp probably was put on by someone who was left handed. Kenny was left handed.
As far as Kenny being smart enough to launder the money. Kenny was very smart. When he
graduated from high school , he had his choice of 12 colleges that he could attend. When
he entered military service, he attended college in Brookings, SD in an officer candidate
course. He received high grades in many higher math courses.
Lyle, I have no doubt Kenny was smart. But being smart and knowing how to launder money from ransom from one of the biggest skyjackings is another matter. It is not that easy to do. Or maybe it is. I’ve never laundered money before, most haven’t. I would assume it takes some time to plan for and carry out, without getting caught.
The question of why did Kenneth keep working for
NWA for 20 yrs. after the skyjacking ?, was : Let’s say that he quit working there
after the skyjacking. Some day an investigator could have checked out the employees who
worked at NWA and of the ones of the right age who had quit work , they would have checked them
out. And if they had no job and still were living well, they would look further.
Unsolved Realm is right, Kenneth Christiansen is not a suspect of being D.B. Cooper.
The truth is ,” HE WAS D.B.Cooper ”
The case is solved :
D.B. and Kenneth have matching life histories.
D.B.’s life history is told to Max Gunther by phone for many hours. Max put it all down in his
book, ” D.B.Cooper, what really happened “.
Life happenings of Kenneth’s are found in letters which he sent home to his folks when out
near Seattle, WA. Kenneth’s mother was such a honey, she kept his letters and that is where
the matching life happenings were told about.
These matching life happenings are like matching giant fingerprints.
Lyle, I know you believe 100% that your brother Kenny was DB Cooper – but belief doesn’t PROVE anything. I find it difficult to agree with you since we all know that the FBI has evidence that has been kept from the public, and they ruled out Kenny very quickly from being a suspect for DB Cooper. I wonder why?
You are wrong about stating that I believe that Kenny was D.B.Cooper 100 percent.
The fact is HE WAS D.B. COOPER. The proof is the matching life happenings of D.B.as
told by phone to Max Gunther and written down in his book,” D.B.Cooper, what really happened ”
and of the life happenings of Kenny as told by Kenny in his letters home to his folks when he
was away from home. Kenny’s mom was such a honey . She kept all those letters . These matching
life happenings are like matching giant fingerprints.
If the FBI would just look closely at this information, they could close the case. I think
these matching life happenings are the only matches that are going to be found.
Is it true that KC kept working for NWA for 20 yrs. after the hijacking ?
Robert, Yes it is true that Kenney Christiansen continued to work for Northwest Airlines, mostly part time, for 20 years after the hijacking. So if you believe that Kenny was DB Cooper- I would say that took some guts, wouldn’t you?
THE VERY FIRST THING THE HIJACKER DID IN THE PLANNING WAS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO LAUNDER THE MONEY WHICH WAS OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BE “SERIALIZED” (COPIED): WITHOUT THAT PLANNED OUT THE WHOLE SCENARIO
WAS FRUITLESS AND A WASTE OF TIME- THAT’S THE REAL MYSTERY- HOW DID CHRISTANSEN EXCHANGE (LAUNDER) THE RANSOM MONEY- YES, CHRISTANSEN: AKA DB COOPER
Johnny, I get your thinking on the money laundering. DB Cooper must have had a plan for the money. Yet, to this day, no one has figured out how he did it, IF in fact he did survive the jump and get away. It was found that Kenny had over $186,000 in his bank account. So if he laundered the money, there must be some paper trail that could lead to where exactly he got this money from. So why hasn’t anyone been able to do this? Answer- because it wasn’t Kenny Christiansen.
What about the 186, 000 dollars he had in his bank account? How do you account for that?
Mike, in response to your question – and for everyone else out there that has this same question -
Kenneth Christiansen WAS NOT and IS NOT the only suspect for DB Cooper that hasbeen found with lots of money, or found to have spent alot of money, or has stated that there is a lockbox in Canada with the money in it, or whatever – to account for the ransom money.
Several suspects can match the criteria alone with just having “alot of money” with no means of “where or how” they came into alot of money. The ransom money, in my mind, is the biggest clue in this enduring mystery. $5,800 of the ransom was found along the banks of the river – and nothing, not a scrap of anything else DB Cooper supposedly had with him after he lept from the plane has ever been found. No parachutes, no briefcase, no dynamite or bomb, no shoes, no clothes, no money bags, and no body or skeleton remains.
They guy, whome ever he may have been, died that night. And it WASN’T Kenneth Christiansen.
I have no idea who Robert Blevins is, but judging by his posts here, he seems quite reasonable, where nearly everybody else comes across as batsh*t crazy.
Just an observation.
Robert FYI, Robert Blevins is the author of “Into The Blast” which is a book about the DB “Dan” Cooper case.
Regina, thanks for the information. I’m new to Unsolved Realm, and as such I’m trying to get a feel for the style of the forum and the posters. It just struck me that Blevins comments seemed reasonable, yet a number of posters were attacking him as if he was crazy, yet they were the ones coming off as a bit unhinged. Just an observation from a first-time visitor; not an endorsement or indictment of anyone. I also noticed a post from someone claiming to be Geoff Gray, whose book on D.B. Cooper I recently read, although I have no idea if it’s actually him.
Robert, thanks for reading. And yes, many comments do attack Robert Blevins and they seem to find him a bit off. But actually I think we are all a bit off, concerning this case. DB Cooper has so many enthralled and there are some that say it was this guy and others definitely disagree and say its someone else. Myself being one of them. I have spoken to Geoff Gray, Lyle Christiansen, and Robert Blevins- and each have their own theory and are trying tyo convince me to see it their way. But I steadfastly believe that whoever DB Cooper was – died that night. Until I’m proven wrong……
Gentlemen. The FBI picture is of Ted Braden. I worked with him in Germany on the 8th Division Skydiving Team, in the early 60s. He was my boss, the team NonCommissioned Officer in Charge. (NCOIC). I last saw him in a truck stop in Bolling Green, KY in 1974 or 75. He was driving a 18 wheeler for Pittsburg Glass Co. out of Pittsburg, PA.
Hi Allen,
I worked with Ted in SOG in ’66 and I agree with the likeness. There are other unique things that fit, as well. Please let me have a contact address so that we can discuss off line. By the way, if memory serves, Ted’s picture was on the cover of Ramparts Magazine, a hippy counterculture mag that went out of business some time ago. This was after his turning up in Africa as a mercenary. Regards. Tom
Hello Tom
My e-mail address’ are allentyre69@yahoo.com or allentyre@troycable.net I have pictures of Ted in the sixties in the Skydiver Magazine, and the Stars and Strips.
I bumped into Ted in a truck stop in Bolling Green, Ky in 73 or 74.
Hey Tom…you said you worked with Ted in SOG in ’66.
Were you with the 240th AHC?
Tom
I just read on Dropzone.com that Ted B. Braden passed away. The posting the best I could tell was in 2009. It referred to this information being new. I am a little confused.
Al
Larry, Jerry Thomas is no more an investigator than say someone like Bob Blevins. The two might actually enjoy each other’s company out in the woods. I’m sending three courtesy copies to you at the Hoover office. Signed of course. Let’s go on tour together. Dining and ladies are delightful. You and me…….Batman and Robin (not Robert). geoff.
Get serious, Geoff. My wife would kill me. You spent way too much time writing about the Christianson people in your book. Not even close. And please do not bring up the name Robert Blevins again. The FBI detests this miserable person. He’s got mental problems that only an experienced psychiatrist could grasp the nature of. Not my kind of guy, believe me. And Jerry Thomas is only about 50mg/day of anti-psychotic drugs behind old Blevins. Wonder what those two would do to each other in a very small cage? I’d put my money on Thomas. hey, maybe we could ……………
that’s why I left Seattle and went undercover. It was to get away from Jo Weber and Robert Blevins. I just can’t be around these kinds of people any longer. Driving me nuts. Jerry Thomas………now there’s a world class investigator. My kind of guy. Apparently, Geoff Gray’s number one source for NORJAK. Case should be solved real soon.
Why there are there no pictures of Ted Braden?
i use to have a crazy uncle who livd in my attic. he said he waz db cooper too. marla, get a grip honey. no one beleeves your story but the fbi. so qwit yur lyin, or weel refer you to the other lyars named blevins and jo.
If Jerry Thomas can speak as well as he spells, then he should be the new spokesman for Bud or Schlitz. But really, JT knows the backgrounds of Weber and Blevins better than we think. Turns out that Jo and old Blev are working together in the background………..and THAT’S scarey. Two psychos on the loose in the DZ can ruin a fairly good day. No one knows this better than JT.
you got that rite snagglepussy. Jo Weber has been lyin to me since the 1990s when this whol thing got startid. shes finilly ready for the crazy house where she can find beleevers. maybe Blevins will end up there two and be her bigist fan. be good to git rid of the both of them at the same time.
Ya, because there is no way a smart man could figure out how to make himself taller (shoe lifts anyone?), heavier (fat suit anyone?), or darker complexion (makeup anyone?). And really, hazel and brown are almost interchangeable, and was stated that the description given of “DB Cooper” was not reliable! Obviously you would not be smart enough to hijack a plane.
..the tv show about christianson was interesting in the fact that they hinted at Ken’s sexuality and the possiblility that he may have had a realationship with a exec in the corp that pushed any investigation away from him. this would have been embarrassing to the individual to be outed and associated with a thief.
Sorry, I am not going to buy that DB Cooper was 5’10″ – 6″00 and weighed 175-180 lbs. There was no tape measure giving you an exact height. There was no scale giving you his exact weight. Any references to height and weight are merely estimations and little more than speculation by those on the plane. Estimations can be and are most likely wrong and are hardly conclusive evidence.
let’s get back on track. I’m looking for hot MILF’s that want to discuss Cooper. Preferably from outside North America. Clearly, I am the only sane one here. I’m assuming everyone else is getting some. Otherwise, nothing makes sense.
snow……yur the mman. naw, i havint been getting any for quit awhile eether. ever sinse my wife threw george’s damn book at me. we use blevins book up at the outhouse. will have to order a revised copy tho, as toilet paper ran out a long time ago. of corse nothing makes sinse….this is the damn Cooper case, man.
Jerry: Have you bought a Cat D9 yet? With a pair of D9′s you can really get things done. A guy around here will weld some armor on them in case your neighbors aren’t friendly. What’s the price of gold in China? You should be selling on ebay. Go figure.
Flattery is the tool of choice by the sociopathic mind. Be careful, Regina.
Leo1, only a sociopath would know that. Hmmmm.
no, Regina. Sociopaths do not recognize each other for their own afflictions. Sociopaths just need recognition and validation from anyone and everyone for anything. Psychology 101. You got the basic story correct. Just be careful who tries to present you with incorrect information (from their own desires) about the case. Everyone at the DZ knows who the real “sociopath” is. It’s discussed among many through PM’s, e-mails, and on the phone. There’s only one.
REGINA says in part:
‘I keep coming back to the money and everyone else keeps forgetting the FACT that the money has never been in circulation. Anyone that is suspected as DB Cooper would have to STILL have the MONEY in his possession…’
Well, Regina, this only proves you either didn’t see the revised edition of Into The Blast, or you missed that part in the book. I contacted a senior representative at the Treasury Department in 2010. He told me that no one there was ever looking for the Cooper ransom. The only people examining incoming bills were banks in the Northwest. This effort only went on for three-to-six months after the hijacking. After that, most, if not all of the banks gave up th effort.
According to Special Agent Larry Carr’s audio interview from 2008 (see DB Cooper wiki entry) this is why: The issued list of bills was 34 pages long, with several rows of non-sequential numbers per page. It was a teller’s nightmare to try and compare every incoming twenty dollar bill against such a massive list. After six months, no one was really looking anymore.
Treasury said that their usual policy on incoming bills from banks, businesses, and individuals for currency replacement goes like this: They simply check to make sure the bills are genuine (not counterfeit) and that the serial numbers are still visible. Then they issue a check. That’s it.
After Christiansen’s death in 1994, he left the house to Carolyn and Robin Powell, a married couple who had been living at the house. The lot out back was left to Brian McWilliams, the guy who cared for Kenny while he was dying. McWilliams sold the trees from that lot, and then the lot itself, then he moved to Yakima. The Powells lived in the house for a while, and then sold it and moved to Nevada.
The current owner, Dan Rattenbury, claimed that about $2,000 in twenty dollar bills was found hidden in a plastic bag in the stumps left over from the logging. This story was verified by Carolyn Powell (now Tyner) in 2010. She had never met Rattenbury. She is now married to a Boulder, CO police officer. With two witnesses to this event giving the same story, and having never met, I tend to believe it.
As far The Christmas Picture, we think it was actually taken by Bernie Geestman, the person we alleged as Cooper’s accomplice. It was found hidden behind another photo in one of Ken’s albums after he died. There was also a large folder of news clippings about Northwest Airlines. The earliest one is from 1949, when Kenny first went to work for the airline on Shemya Island. The last is from the summer of 1971. Although the hijacking was the biggest thing to ever happen at Northwest, Kenny clipped nothing about it.
I’ve read your article. Perhaps you should see this one: ‘Twenty-Five Best Reasons We Believe Ken Christiansen was the Skyjacker D.B. Cooper’ :
http://adventurebooks.newsvine.com/_news/2011/01/30/5955262-the-25-best-reasons-we-think-kenny-christiansen-was-skyjacker-db-cooper
guess I’m your only true fan, Robert. Just love your name, I guess. Can’t say that you’ve contributed anything to solving the Cooper case, but I just love controversy and strange beings like yourself. I’ll be coming to your big shindig during Auburn Days to get all revised editions of your book signed. When is Edition #24 coming out?
I did some more research and found another Robert Blevins who used to be a patient in the psychiatric unit of the California Corrections system in San Quentin. I wonder………….?
Really? How did you find that out?
I’m just a damn good researcher that’s all. By the way Blevins, keep my name out of your credits and acknowledgement section on your latest revised edition. It would be hugely embarrassing and an insult to have anyone else’s name attached to your product. Cossey wants his name stricken too. Doubt I’ll make Auburn Days, unless of course, 377 decides to pop in. I got a new chute I want him to test. It’s got the new “Blevin’s cord” quick release. The chute is reusable but the wuffo isn’t.
i much prefer Blevins shakin, not stirred. peacemaker just ain’t fittin well. wacko is forever. the mentally ill never quit, they just spread their nuts around. jt rocks. 80.
fucking hilarious……………….
Snowman: i beleeve you that robert blev has not been to the dintest since 12/12/1971. how did you git his dintal records anyweigh? is he wearing dintures after 40 years of no checkups? i no what you meen by “multiple twisted strands.” thers a lot of those strands hanging out at the DZ. sum real twistid ones. he keeps promising to go aweigh, but never does. could you just tell the blev that his ferry tales no longer entertane us and he is laughin stock matereal for everybody. i new we wood find you somewere out there, Snowman. jt.
ps. i found the motherload.
jerry T:
mail some toothpaste and Listerine to old Blev and tell him to gargle hard and swallow.
if he can keep it down for 2o minites, he’s ready to move on to the next witness.
wonder if old blevs girl can keep it down. next witness, pleeze
Hi! This is the co-author of the book on Ken Christiansen. Well, I appreciate the effort that went into this article, but a few items may be inaccurate. For example, Kenny Christiansen was well-tanned, according to both witnesses and pictures. Also, the famous picture was not taken in March of 1972 that you cite in the article. See the Christmas wreath on the door? It was taken less than four weeks after the hijacking and found hidden BEHIND another picture in one of Ken’s photo albums after he died. The time stamp on the front from the developer says it was developed in February of 1972.
It’s true that although the FBI sketch and Christiansen have a lot in common, that Ken does not quite fit the eyewitness descriptions. However, eyewitness descriptions can be notoriously unreliable, and there has been much argument about the sketch itself over the years.
You also quote articles and such mostly dating to 2007. No problem, but at that time Kenny had not yet been seriously investigated as a suspect, nor had his friends and associates been interviewed.
This is what is happening TODAY: In early June of 2011, the Bureau requested a DNA sample on Christiansen. This month, they asked for two copies of the Revised Edition of the book. I also provided them once again with the true names and addresses of the witnesses interviewed for the book. They would not do these things if they had truly eliminated Ken as a suspect. Maybe he was Cooper, maybe not. Looks like they’re going to find out once and for all.
Skipp Porteous and I are willing to live with that. If Ken turns out NOT to be the hijacker, at least we have the satisfaction of knowing we did all we could to help the Bureau figure it out on him one way or another.
Mr. Blevins, it’s come to my attention from multiple sources that you are causing lots of problems for us. I’m only going to give you this fair warning one time. If you continue with your suppositions and use the names of our people, or effectively interfere with law enforcement activities, we will pay you a visit at your home or place of employment (or both) with a valid search warrant. We have been monitoring you and your many intrusions. Be advised to move along quickly.
SSA says in part:
‘Mr. Blevins, it’s come to my attention from multiple sources that you are causing lots of problems for us. I’m only going to give you this fair warning one time. If you continue with your suppositions and use the names of our people, or effectively interfere with law enforcement activities, we will pay you a visit at your home or place of employment (or both) with a valid search warrant. We have been monitoring you and your many intrusions. Be advised to move along quickly…’
You have heard of the First Amendment, right? And the FBI doesn’t generally make threats against private citizens on the Internet. And how could I possibly be ‘making problems’ for you or ‘effectively interfere with law enforcement activities’?
Thanks for the ‘fair warning’. (*laughs*)
Mr. Blevins, does your girlfriend also know that you are one sick fuck? Obviously, your parents knew that you were. Anyone with a sense of morality knows that you don’t go around publishing the location of an FBI witness. You are a stupid man. We will deal with this, Mr. Blevins. Now go back to your little world where you believe you are so important…. Shit for Brains.
Internet trolls are great! I watched the history channel episode and when the news broke i wondered if it was this guy they were looking at. if it is true i would have to say you owe someone an apology. if i remember correctly this is America where everyone can have there own idea any who…………..
I’ve been researching the kernmantle construction of the cut cord shown in the “Ckret snaphsot #341″ which we discussed 9/17/2008. The mantle is woven as expected. The kern consists of multiple twisted strands. Does anyone know off the top of their head how many twisted strands were in parachute cord circa 1963-1968? It appears to be a counter-clockwise twist.
That reminds me, has anyone got any more details on the theory that KC actually chewed the cords? I’ve not seen any update since Robert M. Blevins posted the dental records showing a visit to the dentist around 12/12/1971. Also: dentist offices sometimes have comic books.
if he was clever enough to skydive out of a hijacked airplane with $200,000.00, he may have been clever enough to have somehow washed the money.
there’s absolutely no reason this kenneth guy couldn’t have been the elusive d.b. cooper.
either way, this is just a fascinating story.
The Christianson people are a mixed-up bunch looking for some publicity and a fast buck. Authors Porteous and Blevins are wackos, and I hear that Blevins in particular has some mental issues. I had the misfortune of taking an hour off of my work to read their book. The factual errors were so numerous, I had to discontinue the read. As for Kenny’s little “secret” as told to brother Lyle, folks were still closet-homosexuals back in the early 1990′s. No doubt that Kenny didn’t have the balls to tell his brother that he was a homo and banging younger runaway boys. Kenny certainly didn’t have the balls to jump out of a 727 at night after a heist. Porteous and Blevins need to quit calling our office too. We have a special hotline for them, which is now referred to an outside answering service. We pulled their dociers in total, and there wasn’t enough to spread around as chicken feed for Blevins. Mr. Porteous: you need to get some new friends.
the Blevins book is very poorly written too, and full of factual errors. it’s just a shame that such rank investigators have entered the arena and tout themselves as professionals. it really demeans this case. Christianson was ruled out a long time ago. any attempt to revive him as Cooper is an obfuscation and an insult.
Thanks for the comment. I totally agree with you. Kenneth Christiansen was ruled out a LONG TIME AGO. They, the so-called authors and professionals need to move on to at least someone else. Even Brad Meltzer picked Kenney Christiansen as Dan (DB) Cooper. It was such a laugh. It was very bad investigating and not professional at all. I keep coming back to the money and everyone else keeps forgetting the FACT that the money has never been in circulation. Anyone that is suspected as DB Cooper would have to STILL have the MONEY in his possession. It can’t be someone who just happened to come in to alot of money at the time and then went spending it with no means of how they earned or got the money. It would have been in flagged at a bank. And yes these guys, authors, are doing nothing but insulting our intelligence and just trying to profit.
Regina, yours is the best reply on this site. At this stage I don’t think Mr. Blevins really insults anyone’sintelligence. Its pretty well recognized throughout the various internet sites that Blevins is just one screwed-up puppy……………..running around and trying to act like an authority on just about everything. It was comical for awhile, now its plain pathetic. No one takes him seriously anymore. Its really all for laughs. The Christianson story was cooked-up from start to finish. It doesn’t even deserve honorable mention, and considering Blevins as the proponent in chief of this subject….no one even cares anymore. The History Channel really got screwed and they know it. Christianson is in the tank and Blevins and Porteous are in the toilet where they belong. But you said it best, Rgina………………”it is such a laugh.”
The photo was developed in March of 1972 but it was taken before Christmas 1971. The complete photo of Kenneth walking through the door shows a Christmas tree with presents under it, a wreath on the door, and a newspaper propped up on the chair. Kenneth’s job as a purser for Northwest allowed him to exchange US currency for Japanese currency which is a clever way to launder the cash. Other photos of Kenneth show him with tanned skin. Flight attendant Mucklow has Cooper at 5’10″, 180 to 190 lbs. Schaffner has him 2 inches taller but 10 to 15 lbs lighter than Mucklow. Other passengers noticed Cooper wore insulated underwear under his business suit which could make him appear heavier than he was.
The Ken Christianson story is entirely fabricated and pushed by this guy Blevins who wrote a book on Ken Christianson. I read the book last summer and it was trash. Poorly written and poorly investigated. He couldn’t even get the known facts straight. The suspect William Gossett is intriguing to say the least. He’s the best fit so far, and he’s being investigated by competent investigators.
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