SAC Los Angeles to SAC Seattle re informant Rizor naming Don Brockway and William Charles Smith
Document date 23 December 1974
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Id: Cooper-Part-118:075-080
Subject: Cooper Files: Cooper-Part-118:075-080 Document: Airtel SAC Los Angeles to SAC Seattle re informant Rizor naming Don Brockway and William Charles Smith Id: Cooper-Part-118:075-080 Page: https://cooper.theunsolved.net/documents/Cooper-Part-118%3A075-080 What is wrong (title, date, type, which pages belong together, copies)? What does the scan show?
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FBI 164-81, Vault Part 118 pp. 75–80 (DB Cooper-54052–54057), Airtel, dated 23 Dec 1974 — cooper.theunsolved.net/documents/Cooper-Part-118%3A075-080
[form number, partially illegible: guess: FD-36] (Rev. 5-22-64)
F B I
Date: 12/23/74
Transmit the following in (Type in plaintext or code)
Via: AIRTEL AIR MAIL (Priority)
TO: SAC, SEATTLE (164-81)
FROM: SAC, LOS ANGELES (164-497)(P)
RE: NORJAK OO: Seattle
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[handwritten, uncertain: guess: DoN Brockway] [handwritten, uncertain: guess: Sub 74Y]
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On 12/19/74, in cooperation with officials of the Pacific Telephone Company, Los Angeles, one of a series of telephone calls received by Northwest Airlines, Los Angeles, from an anonymous male requesting $20,000 in exchange for information regarding the identity of "D. B. COOPER," was traced to a telephone booth in Hawthorne, California. Bureau agents dispatched to the location of the booth, detained DONALD LEE RIZOR leaving the booth. RIZOR, a white male, born 8/1/32 in Nevada, Missouri, and currently residing at 943 South Cedar, Inglewood, California, telephone number 671-2912 voluntarily accompanied Bureau Agents to the Los Angeles Office and advised as follows:
He made a series of anonymous telephone calls to Northwest Airlines, Los Angeles, requesting $20,000 in exchange for information concerning the identity of the hijacker of Northwest Airlines plane in Seattle, Washington in 1971. RIZOR admitted he was interested in a reward and also wanted revenge against [REDACTED - b6/b7c] in Oregon and Washington.
He stated he has no first hand knowledge concerning the identity of the hijacker in this matter; however, related a series of circumstances which he believes indicated the [text cut off at bottom of page]
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[illegible cursive handwriting/scribbles]
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2 - Seattle 2 - Portland 2 - Los Angeles
CRS/sam (6)
[handwritten, uncertain: guess: Sub 74Y] [handwritten numbers, uncertain: guess: 164-81-6427]
SEARCHED ____ INDEXED ____ SERIALIZED ____ FILED ____ DEC 28 1974 FBI - SEATTLE
Approved: [signature, illegible] Sent ____ M Per ____ Special Agent in Charge
DB COOPER-54052
* U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1969-O - 346-090 (11)
LA 164-497
perpetrators of the hijacking were [REDACTED] [REDACTED] who have spent their entire lives in the Oregon - Washington area.
He stated details concerning the hijacking first came to his attention about three weeks ago while he was reading an article in the Los Angeles Herald Examiner. After reading the article he recalled a series of facts which convinced him it was entirely possible [REDACTED]
were involved in the hijacking.
He was of the opinion [REDACTED] DON BROCKWAY, a white male, age 36, 5'9", medium build, medium complexion, dark brown straight receding hair, was possibly the parachutist and BROCKWAY's half brother, WILLIAM CHARLES SMITH, also known as Brian Keith Winston could be involved.
BROCKWAY, SMITH, and another man [REDACTED] [REDACTED] with the first name of [REDACTED] (last name unknown) were described as very close associates. RIZOR believes if one was involved in a crime, all would have knowledge of it.
He gave the following reasons why he believed BROCKWAY and SMITH could be involved in the hijacking:
1) BROCKWAY was an enlisted man in the United States Air Force in about 1956-1957, and he was stationed in Reno, Nevada believed working in air freight flying regularly between Reno, Portland, and Seattle.
2) BROCKWAY was a long time employee of Boeing Aircraft in Seattle, having been terminated during a massive layoff a short time prior to the hijacking. He was believed involved in computer programming with Boeing.
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DB COOPER-54053
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[illegible]
LA 164-497
3) BROCKWAY was financially in dire circumstances, would not let the legality of anything stand in the way of making money, and was intelligent enough to concoct plans for the hijacking.
4) About one and a half years ago WILLIAM CHARLES SMITH visited at his home in Redlands, California, for over a month. During a discussion of finances SMITH made a comment, "Hell, if you need money why don't you hijack an airplane? It's been done and got away with."
5) WILLIAM CHARLES SMITH legally changed his name about two years ago to BRIAN KEITH WINSTON and in August 1974 SMITH sent a letter to RIZOR asking for a letter of recommendation to cover the last one and a half years. SMITH wanted RIZOR to claim SMITH had been employed in Redlands for the year and a half. In the letter SMITH stated he had a bout with hard narcotics and was now seeking a job. SMITH graduated from Portland State University in 1973 and at the time the letter was written, was still living on the campus of that school under the name Brian Winston. RIZOR recalled that sometime in late 1971 or early 1972 [REDACTED - b6/b7C] had told him SMITH was in the hospital in Oregon with a back injury.
6) From telephone conversations [REDACTED - b6/b7C] in Oregon, he had gathered the financial circumstances of BROCKWAY had improved greatly in 1972 and 1973. He had heard that BROCKWAY, after being terminated at Boeing in Seattle, had obtained a position with Burroughs Corporation in Portland for a short period of time, but was not believed regularly employed after that.
7) RIZOR noted that the name "COOPER" used by the hijacker is the maiden name of RUTH INGRAHAM, possibly INGRAM, who is DON BROCKWAY's mother in Lakeside, Oregon.
8) He has heard that [REDACTED - b6/b7C] (last name unknown) married to [REDACTED - b6/b7C], owns considerable
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DB COOPER-54054
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[illegible - two black circular marks, possibly redaction dots or stamp impressions]
LA 164-497
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acreage believed on the Washington side of the Oregon - Washington border. He does not know the exact location of this acreage, but it has been described as second growth timber on which cattle is grazed and could possibly be used for a jump site along the plains route.
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RIZOR admits his purpose in furnishing this information is for money and to get revenge on [REDACTED] , [REDACTED - continues into next line, boxed] ago after he had a slight heart attack and had to give up his auto repair business in Redlands. He is currently undergoing treatment for a heart condition and diabetes at the Veterans Hospital, Westwood, California.
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He added that he has not seen DON BROCKWAY for seven years and BROCKWAY's only contact with he and [REDACTED] was an occasional telephone call usually while BROCKWAY was drinking.
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He states the above information came to him through [REDACTED] telephone conversation with DON BROCKWAY's mother, Mrs. ALBERT E. INGRAHAM or INGRAM (RUTH), Box 235 or 236, Lakeside, Oregon. He does not know the exact location of DON BROCKWAY, but RUTH INGRAM had indicated in August 1974 that he was in the Seattle-Tacoma, Washington area.
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While he was in the hospital, [REDACTED] [REDACTED] had broken into a storage warehouse in Redlands and taken about $20,000 worth of equipment he had stored after closing his auto repair business. He had learned through friends in Redlands that an expensive camper bearing Oregon license plates had been seen at the warehouse. From information he received he believes RUTH INGRAHAM and [REDACTED] had broken into the storage area. He filed a burglary report with the Redlands Police Department but since the equipment legally belongs to both he and [REDACTED], he does not anticipate any action.
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DB COOPER-54055
LA 164-497
RIZOR openly admits he wants to get even with [REDACTED], but added he sincerely believes DON BROCKWAY is a likely suspect in this hijacking.
He observed an artist's conception and stated it does not resemble WILLIAM CHARLES SMITH, also known as Brian Keith Winston; however, the hair, eyebrows, and forehead of the artist's conception appear similar to features he recalls of DON BROCKWAY, whom he last saw seven years ago.
He has no knowledge of any parachuting experience on the part of BROCKWAY or SMITH.
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LEADS
SEATTLE
AT SEATTLE, WASHINGTON: In view of statements by RIZOR indicating DON BROCKWAY is a United States Air Force veteran, terminated by Boeing Company in Seattle prior to the hijacking and his mother's maiden name was "COOPER", it would appear all logical investigation should be conducted to ascertain if he should be considered a suspect in this matter.
The setting forth of specific leads to establish the validity of statements made by RIZOR, to establish the whereabouts of, and possible interviews of BROCKWAY and WILLIAM CHARLES SMITH will be left to the discretion of Seattle with exception of the following requests of Portland.
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PORTLAND
AT PORTLAND, OREGON: (1) Conduct credit and criminal checks regarding WILLIAM CHARLES SMITH, also known as Brian Keith Winston, reportedly a student at Portland State University until 1973.
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DB COOPER-54056
LA 164-497
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2) Through logical sources at Portland State University, attempt to establish whereabouts of SMITH during pertinent period noting he allegedly was hospitalized for a back injury sometime in late 1971 or early 1972. SMITH reportedly was a runner in track and a football player at the school, who in 1973 claimed to have had a "bout with hard narcotics."
3) Furnish results of above inquiries to Seattle.
ARMED AND DANGEROUS
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DB COOPER-54057
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Serials: LA 164-497, SE 164-81