SAC Butte to SAC Seattle re Cooper suspect Richard Douglas Shinn and $36,000
Document date 6 January 1973
Report a problem
Email this to [email protected]
Id: Cooper-Part-115:146-150
Subject: Cooper Files: Cooper-Part-115:146-150 Document: Airtel SAC Butte to SAC Seattle re Cooper suspect Richard Douglas Shinn and $36,000 Id: Cooper-Part-115:146-150 Page: https://cooper.theunsolved.net/documents/Cooper-Part-115%3A146-150 What is wrong (title, date, type, which pages belong together, copies)? What does the scan show?
A person reads every report. Corrections are made by hand, to the data — titles, dates, names, which pages belong together — never to the scans, and they can take a while to appear.
FBI 164-81, Vault Part 115 pp. 146–150 (DB Cooper-52623–52627), Airtel, dated 6 Jan 1973 — cooper.theunsolved.net/documents/Cooper-Part-115%3A146-150
1/6/73
---
AIRTEL AIR MAIL
TO : SAC, SEATTLE (164-81) FROM : SAC, BUTTE (164-26) (P) SUBJECT: NORJAK OO: Seattle
Enclosed for Seattle is one photograph of RICHARD DOUGLAS SHINN taken about 1966.
On 1/3/73, Captain of Detectives [REDACTED] (NA), Twin Falls, Idaho, PD referred SA GEORGE E. LEE to [REDACTED] [REDACTED] who allegedly had some information about instant case.
On 1/3/73, [REDACTED] Twin Falls, Idaho [REDACTED] [guess: protect identity at their] request), advised that [REDACTED] also known as [REDACTED] in Twin Falls, Idaho, in 1945. They remained in Twin Falls until 15 years ago when they moved to Seattle, Washington, and SHINN took a job with BOEING. He has continued to work for BOEING as some sort of an engineer or designer; however, he has no college education.
---
Sub 572
---
[guess: Oph To] 164-81-1a (73)
---
(2) - Seattle (Enc. 1) (AM) 1 - Butte GEL/gId (3)
---
Sub 572 164-81-4305 SEARCHED ........INDEXED........ SERIALIZED....✓..FILED....✓.... JAN 1 0 1973 FBI - SEATTLE
---
DB COOPER-52623
BT #164-26
---
During 1972, ELAINE divorced SHINN at Auburn, Washington, and during the divorce it was discovered he had $36,000.00, in one of the banks at Seattle. (It is not known if in safe deposit box or an account.) ELAINE expressed amazement to [redacted] that he would have this money and she was at a loss as to where he obtained it.
He became very unhappy with her when he discovered she knew that he had it and he allegedly moved it from Seattle to some place in Idaho.
---
According to ELAINE, SHINN has a cult of approximately 200 people in the Seattle, Washington, area who follow or look up to him and he has commented to [redacted] that the United States is going to fold up and when it does he and his followers will have nice homes and lead a good life. He has expressed a desire to acquire land or homes for these people to live in.
---
It was the opinion of [redacted] that SHINN could be identical to D. B. COOPER, especially in view of the fact his wife could not account for the money he had saved. They were shown the artist's conception of D. B. COOPER, page 32, December 1972, FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin; however, both advised neither of these two pictures in their minds resemble SHINN. They made available a small snapshot photograph of [redacted] that was taken in 1966.
---
They related that SHINN has been very mean to his six children and former wife and has a violent temper. They did not believe he has had any military or smoke jumper experience.
---
On 1/3/73, [redacted] furnished the following description of RICHARD DOUGLAS SHINN:
---
- 2 -
---
DB COOPER-52624
---
b6 b7C b7D
BT #164-26
---
Race White Sex Male Nationality American Age 51 years Height [redacted/circled, partially legible: 170[illegible]] Place of Birth Nebraska Hair Light Brown, receding Eyes Color unknown, possibly blue Complexion Medium (does not suntan) Former Wife Mrs. ELAINE SHINN, nee WHITAKER, 3719 West Valley Highway North, Auburn, Washington Occupation Designer or engineer, BOEING Education High school graduate Parents Mr. and Mrs. BEN SHINN, Buhl, Idaho (retired farmers)
---
[REDACTED] b6 b7C Boise, Idaho
[REDACTED]
Seattle, Washington;
[REDACTED]
Kimberly, Idaho:
[REDACTED]
Kent, Washington:
[REDACTED]
Auburn, Washington:
[REDACTED]
Auburn, Washington;
[REDACTED]
Washington, [REDACTED]
---
- 3 -
---
DB COOPER-52625
BT #164-26
---
According to [REDACTED]
[REDACTED]
They further advised [REDACTED] ELAINE, would talk to the FBI and furnish additional information concerning SHINN and possible whereabouts of the $36,000.00. Also, her attorney may have some knowledge as to where this money had been kept in Seattle, Washington, by SHINN.
They continued that SHINN flew to Chicago about one year ago, not on business, and ELAINE did not accompany him. They did not know if it was before or after 11/24/71.
[REDACTED] were most concerned how SHINN could accumulate $36,000.00, while raising six children. Further, he was not layed off during the recent BOEING cut-back. They had no knowledge as to his current salary at BOEING. His only known hobby is to associate with members of his cult.
---
LEADS
SEATTLE DIVISION
AT SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
Will determine if RICHARD DOUGLAS SHINN was working at BOEING the afternoon and evening of 11/24/71, and obtain a current photograph of him.
---
AT AUBURN, WASHINGTON
Will interview ELAINE SHINN, 3719 West Valley Highway North, for any information she can furnish concerning her former husband in connection with instant hijacking and whether or not he or members of his cult could be responsible for bank robberies committed in the Seattle Division. (Will not disclose to her that FBI has talked to [REDACTED])
---
- 4 -
---
DB COOPER-52626
---
b6 b7C b7D
BT #164-26
---
The Butte Division will not conduct any investigation to locate the $36,000.00 in Idaho banks until after ELAINE SHINN is interviewed and until it is deemed necessary by the Seattle Division.
---
- 5 -
---
DB COOPER-52627
Serials: BT 164-26, SE 164-81, SE 164-81-1A, SE 164-81-4305