Interview of parachuting suspect re Flight 305 hijacking

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

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FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

1 Date of transcription 4/21/72

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[REDACTED] St. George, Utah, was advised of the identity of [REDACTED] as a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the fact that Special Agent [REDACTED] desired to interview him concerning the hijacking of a Northwest Air- lines Flight 305, occurring on November 24, 1971. Accompanying Special Agent [REDACTED] was Chief of Police JOE HUTCHINGS, St. George Police Department.

[REDACTED] at the onset of the interview was advised of his rights by Special Agent [REDACTED] as contained on the executed warning and waiver form. [REDACTED] thereafter provided the following information:

It should be noted that [REDACTED] was extremely sluggish, almost incoherent in some of his answers and would respond differently to the same question numerous times during the interview.

[REDACTED] was asked by Special Agent [REDACTED] to provide his whereabouts on November 24 and 25, 1971; namely, Wednesday and Thursday of November of 1971. [REDACTED] first indicated that he was in Des Moines, Iowa, at his residence, the address of which he could not recall. When informed by Special Agent [REDACTED] that investigation indicated he possibly was in Alhambra, California, on Thanksgiving Day of 1971, [REDACTED] stated that it is possible he could have been. [REDACTED] later changed this statement that he had been in Des Moines, Iowa, or at Alhambra, California, on November 24 or 25, 1971, to state that he simply could not remember.

[REDACTED] indicated throughout the interview that he was willing to answer any and all questions to the extent of his memory.

[REDACTED] stated he has been out of work for approx- imately 18 months, following his resignation [REDACTED] for the State of Iowa. He indicated that he had been given the ax because of [REDACTED]

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Interviewed on 4/18/72 at St. George, Utah File # SU 164-24 SE-164-81 by SA [REDACTED] / nsb Date dictated 4/20[illegible]

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SEARCHED INDEXED SERIALIZED FILED APR 24 1972 FBI - SEATTLE

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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-8397

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164-81-3391

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SU 164-24 SE 164-81 2

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In regard to his limp, which was quite noticeable, [REDACTED] indicated he had hurt his ankles in an accident near Des Moines, Iowa, on December 24, 1971, which had been investigated by a [REDACTED] of the Des Moines, Iowa, Police Department. He stated, which he later refuted, he had been driving at that time a 1969 Dodge Polara, a State vehicle, which was involved in the accident. [REDACTED] later refuted this to say that this was not the incident which hurt his ankles; however, he had hurt his ankles approximately five to six months ago in Des Moines, Iowa, when he had parachuted from an aircraft polited by [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Municipal Airport, Mason City, Iowa. [REDACTED] stated in regard to his parachuting experience he had parachuted for the military and since leaving the military he had parachuted several times as an amateur with police officer of Cerro Gordo County and police officers of Mason City, Iowa.

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In response to several questions by Special Agent [REDACTED] exhibited a good knowledge of aircrafts and parachuting techniques to the extent that how you would lower your landing gear and drop full flaps in order to slow an aircraft down to a landing speed and other semi-technical terminology which a person familiar with aircraft and parachuting techniques would use. [REDACTED] stated one would be a fool for jumping from an aircraft over 10,000 feet and would be a fool to come out of an aircraft above 170 to 200 miles per hour as he might be caught in the air stream and be dashed against the fuselage of the aircraft.

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[REDACTED] indicated he had sold his former residence, [REDACTED] Des Moines, Iowa, and had made an undisclosed amount of money from the sale. He further indicated he was divorced; however, he declined to mention his ex-wife's name or whereabouts.

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In regard to his hurt ankles, [REDACTED] stated he had seen a doctor, name not recalled, at the VA (Veterans Administration) Hospital, Des Moines, Iowa, on March 30, 1972, at 9:30 a.m. He provided a slip which verified the place and date as an outpatient.

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DB Cooper-8398

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SU 164-24 SE 164-81 .3

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[REDACTED] stated he definitely had not been involved in the hijacking of Northwest Airlines Flight 305 on November 24, 1971, and further he had never been to the cities of Portland or Seattle, nor had he been to the states of Oregon or Washington. When asked if he had ever flown in a 727 jet aircraft, he stated that most likely he had as he has flown considerably between Des Moines, Iowa, and Alhambra, California.

[REDACTED] stated he owned a [REDACTED] which he stated were in [REDACTED] Alhambra, California.

[REDACTED] stated that presently his finances consisted of approximately [REDACTED] Des Moines, Iowa, and [REDACTED]

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[REDACTED] stated he had recently purchased, date not recalled, a 1969 Mercury Monterey in Las Vegas from an automobile company which he could not recall with a cashier's check in the amount of $1,800 drawn on the Bank of California. This vehicle was determined by Special Agent [REDACTED] to bear Nevada License [REDACTED] Vehicle Identification Number [REDACTED] and to be a four-door sedan with black vinyl top and white body.

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The following descriptive data was obtained from observation and interview:

Name [REDACTED] Date of Birth [REDACTED] Place of Birth [REDACTED] Race White Sex Male Nationality American Height 6 feet Weight 160 pounds Hair Black Eyes Brown, wears brown clear glasses

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DB Cooper-8399

SU 164-24 SE 164-81 4

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Characteristic

Remarks Wearing silver watch with white face and black nylon band

Tattoos

Scars and Marks Permanent Address Des Moines, Iowa

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DB Cooper-8400