Interview of David Arthur Staudt claiming to be D.B. Cooper, Milwaukee Police Department

FD-302 (REV. 11-27-70)

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Date of transcription_____10/17/75

At 12:35 AM, October 7, 1975, DAVID ARTHUR STAUDT was interviewed at the Seventh District, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Police Department Station, 3172 North 36th Street. STAUDT was at this location having been arrested approximately one hour earlier by officers of the Milwaukee Police Department on local charges of armed robbery and Federal charges of Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution. At the outset of the interview STAUDT was advised as to the identities of SA JOHN W. FRAZER, JR. b6 and SA [redacted] He was advised of his rights both b7C orally and by a written waiver which he read, stated he under- stood, and signed. He was thereafter interviewed with respect to a number of criminal matters and voluntarily furnished the following information:

STAUDT was questioned regarding claims which he had allegedly made on previous occasions claiming to be D.B. COOPER, the individual who hijacked Northwest Airlines Flight 305 from Portland, Oregon, to Seattle, Washington, on November 24, 1971. STAUDT made the following claims in this regard:

STAUDT advised that on Thanksgiving Day, 1971, he hijacked the Northwest Orient Airlines Boeing 727 and subsequently parachuted from this aircraft with $200,000.00 in ransom money. STAUDT stated that earlier that day he had made reservations with Northwest Airlines in the name DAVID BRADLEY COOPER which was likely the reason that D.B. COOPER appeared on the manifest.

STAUDT stated that he hijacked the aircraft between Portland and Seattle telling a stewardess that he had a bomb in a briefcase which he would detonate unless his demands were met. He advised he asked for $200,000.00 in bills of 20 dollar denominations and three parachutes (type not specified because he had no knowledge of what type to ask for). He stated that he asked for three parachutes because it was his intention to make a stewardess parachute from the aircraft with him to guarantee against the possibility of the parachute being rigged.

_______________________________________________________________

Interviewed on___10/7/75___at_Milwaukee, Wisconsin___File #_MI 164-36___

SA [redacted] b6 by SA JOHN W. FRAZER, JR/JWF/pmc____Date dictated___10/10/75___ b7C

8

This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.

DB COOPER-53887

MI 164-36 2

STAUDT advised that once the aircraft reached Seattle he let all the passengers off the aircraft except for a stewardess, pilot, co-pilot, and flight engineer. He advised that the money was given to him in a large leather-type briefcase. He stated that he transferred this money into a dark nylon duffel bag which he had with him and subsequently tied this bag to his waist when he parachuted from the aircraft.

STAUDT advised that he instructed the pilot to head directly south at the altitude of 10,000 feet and to fly as slow as possible. He stated he did not give any specific directions as regard to destination or air speed. He advised that he intended to jump in the vicinity of Portland because he felt he would be able to see the lights. He advised that after flying an undetermined amount of time he saw what he thought were lights along the Columbian River in Oregon. He then activated the rear door of the aircraft by pushing a botton and pulling a lever both of which were located in the aft section near the rear door.

STAUDT advised he had previously worked at Sundberg - Ferrar Industrial Design Company in South Hill, Michigan, during late 1967 and the early part of 1968. This company did work for the Lockheed Aircraft Company and in his employment with this design company, STAUDT claims he had blue prints to all Boeing type aircraft, including the 727.

STAUDT advised that after exiting the aircraft he landed near the Columbian River between the river and Mt. Hood in Oregon. He stated he landed several miles from a small town with a funny sounding name possibly being Bor[e]dom.

He advised that it was very cold and that he walked to a road where he was picked up in a van by an unknown individual who took him to Portland where he stayed in a motel, the name of which he was unable to recall. He advised that he paid the man who had given him the ride $20.00.

9

DB COOPER-53888

MI 164-36 3

STAUDT advised that the next day he rented a Ryder Truck in Portland under the name [REDACTED b6/b7C] (Phonetic) and advised that he had a stolen driver's license in that name which he used for identification purposes.

He advised he drove to Joshua Tree Monument near Palm Springs, California, and there buried the money in two locations in metal ammunition canisters, Army surplus type, in the area near the Barker Dam parking lot.

STAUDT provided details as to where the money was located which details were incorporated onto a rough map or design by SA FRAZER.

STAUDT advised that he believes the money to still be at that location and stated that he last saw it in June, 1975. He advised that he had never spent the money inasmuch as he believed it to be "hot" and stated he did not know how to get rid of it. STAUDT further advised that he had transported the parachute with him during all this time and had buried it near the money.

When questioned regarding the discrepancies in the physical appearance in comparing the artist's conception drawing provied [sic] by witness against STAUDT's appearance, STAUDT stated that he did not attempt to disguise himself in any way. He advised that during the hijacking he wore a charcoal colored business-type suit with orange specks and was wearing a dress-type hat.

STAUDT was questioned in detail regarding his knowledge of parachutes and aircraft operations at which time he was very vague regarding his knowledge of these matters. It was noted, however, that he claimed to have no specialized knowledge and stated that the hijacking incident was the first time that he had ever parachuted from an aircraft.

10

DB COOPER-53889

MI 164-36

---

The following is a map which was prepared by SA JOHN W. FRAZER, JR., reflecting the location of the ransom payment in this matter. The map was prepared based on directions furnished by STAUDT. A copy of this map was transmitted to the Los Angeles Division via a facsimile:

---

- 11 -

---

DB COOPER-53890