Interview of Lucinda Reyes re her brother Frank Painter as Cooper suspect

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Reyes had no contact with Frank until late November 1971 when he visited Yerington to see his grandmother. He stated he was no longer married to [REDACTED] but had married again, this time to [REDACTED] LNU (Last Name Unknown) and that they were residing in Wyoming. Reyes later learned from her mother that Frank had married [REDACTED] sometime in [REDACTED] and that she was from Rock Springs, Wyoming. Frank and [REDACTED] from this marriage who still reside in the Rock Springs area. They are identified as follows:

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[Blank/empty box - no visible text, likely intended for redacted identifying information]

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In a letter dated November 7, 1971, sent to Mary Nicholson in Yerington, Nevada, [REDACTED] writes about [REDACTED] and states that she is [REDACTED] Wyoming, while she and Nick [REDACTED] She identified [REDACTED]. In this letter there is no other mention of Nick or where he may be.

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Reyes advised that prior to Franks [REDACTED] he changed his name to Nick Leuis, stating to his mother that he did not like the last name of Painter.

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During the visit of Frank to Yerington in late November 1971, Reyes recalled him stating that he was "just passing through" and was hitchhiking. She never saw him in a vehicle and he did not provide her with any details of his life or where he was currently living. Throughout this visit he wore a black suit with white shirt and black shoes which was very unusual for him as he always wore western style clothing including a cowboy hat. She recalled that the suit was very dusty and dirty and that he may have carried a tie in his pocket. Frank carried a small suitcase with him at all time which Reyes described as being

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approximately 24" in length, 18" in height, and 12" in width, black in color with one corner damaged. Reyes asked Frank about the damage and he stated that he had been sleeping near a campfire and while using the suitcase as a pillow had gotten it too close to the fire causing it to burn. She never saw this suitcase opened. Since he did not change clothes during this visit, she assumed that it did not contain clothes.

During this visit, Frank asked Reyes what she would think if he said he was D.B.Cooper. She responded that she did not know who D.B.Cooper was and Frank asked her if she had been reading the newspaper. Frank stated that he could have done it because he was a former paratrooper. Reyes was never aware of what actually happened that involved D.B.Cooper until years later when she saw a television movie about the airplane hijacking. During her conversation with Frank, he never mentioned money, and she could not recall him stating that he had actually committed the crime, only that he could have committed it. During this visit, Frank apparently bragged to other family members that he was in fact D.B.Cooper however Reyes did not hear him make this statement.

Reyes recalled Frank during this time period as being approximately 5'11" tall, 175 pounds, olive complexion with brown eyes and black hair. He wore sunglasses which she could not further describe. He smoked cigarettes however she does not recall the brand. She never observed him with a raincoat during this visit. In 1971 Frank would have been approximately 35 years old.

It was during this November visit that Frank gave to Reyes a blue steel revolver and asked her to keep this gun for him. She did not observe where Frank had kept the gun but assumed it was carried in the black suitcase. She agreed and accepted the gun, placing it into a closet where it has remained. Reyes advised that she and her husband have handled the gun and that several years ago a local gunsmith examined the gun and told her that it was very old and not to fire it as it was probably unsafe.

In recent telephonic conversation with Reyes, Frank has asked her if she still has the gun. He has stated that he wants the gun back along with a sword which has been in the family for

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many years.

Shortly after this November visit, Reyes was telephonically contacted by an FBI agent whose name she could not recall. The FBI agent was asking where Frank could be located. Reyes replied that she did not know where he was living and was not able to further assist. She did not tell the FBI at this time of the recent visit by Frank or the statements Frank had made about D.B.Cooper. She never informed Frank of the FBI inquiry. She learned from other family members that the FBI was trying to locate Frank for an unknown reason but never learned whether this search was successful.

Reyes next saw Frank in approximately 1975 while both were visiting their grandmother Amelia Grefer in Ely, Nevada. They spoke briefly however Frank did not disclose where he was living or working. He ultimately stole numerous items from his grandmothers house when he departed. She did not see any vehicle being utilized by Frank. Grefer died shortly after Franks visit.

Reyes had no contact with Frank for approximately twenty years after the 1975 visit. In 1994, Reyes drove to Montana and visited with Frank and his new wife Bernadette for one week. No mention of D.B.Cooper was made during this visit and no details of Franks life were discussed.

In approximately 1995 or 1996 Frank suddenly appeared at her residence in Yerington with Bernadette, stating that they were still living on the ranch in Montana but were trying to sell it to move to a warmer climate. They were driving a new model Ford pick-up truck and purchased a new travel trailer in Reno during this visit. They stayed in Yerington for several months however during conversation Reyes never learned where they had been or where he had worked. Again no mention of D.B.Cooper was made.

Frank and his wife returned to Montana where they continue to live at 1000-B Cherry Hill Court, in Polson. Recently she has had several telephone conversations with Frank who is apparently interested in the family history as he is putting together a family tree. He also informed her that he was recently corresponding with the Army in an attempt to have his dishonorable discharge changed to honorable and his new name of

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DB COOPER-54457

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Nick Leuis changed from Frank Painter in the Army records.

Reyes recalled that Frank may have worked for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in the Oregon area at one time, year unknown. She has never discussed the FBI inquiry with him and no mention has ever been made of the D.B.Cooper issue.

She described Frank as a dreamer who always thought of big ideas but never followed through with his plans. To her knowledge, Frank has never embraced or supported his children. He was taught outdoor survival by his father and was always an avid camper, hiker, and outdoorsman. He was known to earn money shoeing horses and doing day work for ranches.

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At the conclusion of the interview, Reyes provided the following items to the interviewing agents:

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Letter from Frank postmarked December 7, 1964, from Stateline, Nevada, addressed to Mary Nickolson.

Letter from [REDACTED] to Mary Nicholson dated November 7, 1971, postmarked on November 10, 1971 from Point of Rocks, Wyoming.

Two black and white photographs of Frank with [REDACTED] taken at an unknown time in Germany. (b6, b7c)

Three color photographs depicting Frank and [REDACTED] at [REDACTED] in Rock Springs, Wyoming. (b6, b7c)

One color photograph of Frank and Bernadette which is signed on the back with their names and the date of November 11, 1999.

One R&R Arms Company, model H&R 922, .22 caliber blue steel revolver bearing serial number F1138. This is a nine shot revolver with a 5 ½ inch barrel and simulated wood plastic grips. The revolver is contained in a brown leather Towson belt type holster. The barrel of the revolver protrudes through the bottom of the holster approximately ½ inch.

Reyes requested that the photographs and the firearm be returned to her when no longer needed by the FBI.

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DB COOPER-54458