SAC Portland to SAC Oklahoma City re NORJAK suspect Eugene Cooper
Document date 15 March 1988
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Id: Cooper-Part-49:032-036
Subject: Cooper Files: Cooper-Part-49:032-036 Document: Airtel SAC Portland to SAC Oklahoma City re NORJAK suspect Eugene Cooper Id: Cooper-Part-49:032-036 Page: https://cooper.theunsolved.net/documents/Cooper-Part-49%3A032-036 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 49 pp. 32–36 (DB Cooper-20110–20114), Airtel, dated 15 Mar 1988 — cooper.theunsolved.net/documents/Cooper-Part-49%3A032-036
FD-36 (Rev. 8-29-85)
FBI
TRANSMIT VIA: PRECEDENCE: CLASSIFICATION: ☐ Teletype ☐ Immediate ☐ TOP SECRET ☐ Facsimile ☐ Priority ☐ SECRET ☒ AIRTEL ☐ Routine ☐ CONFIDENTIAL ☐ UNCLAS E F T O INDICES ☐ UNCLAS MANUAL ✓ Date 3/15/88 FOIMS ✓ ─────────── CONFIDENTIAL ───────────
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TO: SAC, OKLAHOMA CITY (164-56) FROM: [initials] SAC, PORTLAND (164-41)(P) Sus: Eugene [guess: Cooper] NORJAK; [illegible] [guess: IO] · [illegible] (OO: Seattle)
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Sus: Eugene [guess: Cooper] [guess: Sub] 1 [illegible]
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For information receiving offices, on 3/7/88, [REDACTED] Pendleton, Oregon, showed SA [REDACTED] a painting which she said was given to her and her husband by an individual by the name of GENE COOPER or M. G. COOPER around 1970 or 1971. She advised that when she went to take the painting down from her wall, in that she was getting tired of it, she noticed on the reverse side the following printing: D. B. COOPER, Route 1, Box 134, Hermiston; name of painting: Final Resting; place of painting, Mind; date of painting, 1970; price, $450.00.
[REDACTED] advised that upon reading the name D. B. Cooper she became quite suspicious, in that this individual was always a unusual person and may have had some of the characteristics of the hijacker, D. B. COOPER. She advised this individual recited poetry to the point of boring people, was an artist, was married to a lady in her seventies, and seemed to have a fascination for death as reflected in the painting, "Final Resting" that he gave her.
She also advised that this individual had been in a bad accident and had become quite crippled around the time of the hijacking, saying he had been in a car accident. She advised that she had always had a question in her mind, because he had disappeared for a period of time, and then came back later, crippled.
Upon being shown a composite photo of the alleged hijacker, "D. B. COOPER", she said, "It really looks like him." She indicated she thought it looked like him seventeen years ago when she first saw the composite.
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2 - Oklahoma City 2 - Butte (164-26) (2) - Seattle 2 - Portland Approved: ___________ Transmitted ___________ (Number) (Time) SMM:mjs (8)
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[handwritten date, partially illegible] [guess: 16] [guess: Apr] 81-[illegible] ☆U.S. GPO: 1987 — 181-486 DB Cooper-20110
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b6 b7C
PD 164-41
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On 3/7/88, [REDACTED] also advised that she knew EUGENE COOPER from contacts in the Eagles Lodge, Pendleton, Oregon, where she had danced with him on several occasions. Both she and her husband, [REDACTED] thought that he was from somewhere in the Midwest, possibly Arkansas or Kansas. They depicted him as a funloving individual who drank heavily and spent a lot of money. [REDACTED] further indicated that she had danced with him on several occasions, but that he left, came back after having been gone three weeks, just before the holidays of Christmas and New Years, 1971. At that time, he was limping and indicated that he had been in a car wreck.
She advised that several people joked with him, referring to him as, "D. B. COOPER." She advised that the episode of D. B. COOPER was still in the news at that time.
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Several other witnesses, including [REDACTED] who had worked with EUGENE COOPER while at Arrow Chevrolet, Pendleton, Oregon, and [REDACTED] also characterized COOPER as having very irregular behavior, very much of a con-man and having been gone for a period of time and came back limping and somewhat crippled up, and having a pin removed from his shoulder in a shoulder injury, which occurred around the end of 1971 to the first part of 1972.
It is noted that the hijacking in the D. B. COOPER case occurred 11/24/71, in Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington.
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On 3/10/88, in Hermiston, Oregon, [REDACTED] of [REDACTED] with whom subject had resided from [REDACTED] approximately, advised that EUGENE COOPER was definitely a con-man whom she could never accept. She advised that [REDACTED] and would defend him on many issues. She advised that EUGENE COOPER was introduced to [REDACTED] [REDACTED] in Eugene, Oregon, in either 1969 or 1970, and took care of [REDACTED] in Hillsboro, Oregon for a period of time, then subsequently moved to [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Eventually, COOPER moved back to Muskogee, Oklahoma, and lived with [REDACTED] also.
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On 3/10/88, [REDACTED] who is [REDACTED] years old, advised that EUGENE COOPER [REDACTED] in the 1970's. She indicated he helped with [REDACTED] for a period and then moved to the [REDACTED] She indicated [REDACTED] She further advised that EUGENE COOPER had served in the military, and had worked in an air traffic control tower. She was very protective of EUGENE COOPER, and when advised that he was a possible suspect in the D. B. COOPER hijacking, she immediately became quite lucid in her recollection of details, and advised that he was there to show her the newspaper when it happened, and to indicate, "Well for heavens sake, look at this?" She recalled her response was, "I'll look at it later" because she was baking something.
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DB Cooper-20111
PD 164-41
She criticized the FBI for "trying to investigate a dead man." It was later determined that EUGENE COOPER committed suicide in approximately 1974, in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Subsequent to a conversation with [REDACTED] b6 advised that she would be very protective of EUGENE COOPER, even b7C though COOPER were dead.
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On 3/11/88, [REDACTED] Newport, Oregon, telephonically advised that she had always thought the composite drawing of D. B. COOPER looked just like EUGENE COOPER, and that she had indicated that to other members of the family at the time of the hijacking. She characterized COOPER as an individual who was always trying to find someone to take advantage of. She indicated that she had immediately come to the decision upon viewing the composite sketch in 1971, that it looked like EUGENE COOPER. Only after she had made that decision did she realize that the last names were in fact the same. She indicated, however, that she did not report that to any law enforcement authority.
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On 3/11/88, [REDACTED] Muskogee, Oklahoma, telephonically advised that EUGENE COOPER had moved out to their area after having been in Hermiston, and later [REDACTED] in Muskogee. COOPER had advised them that he had been in the military, worked in an air traffic control tower and been a paramedic. He ventually shot himself, and died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
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The [REDACTED] advised that he had been trying to gain b6 attention from some girls living in a dormitory, and from [REDACTED] b7C in order to [REDACTED] Help did not arrive on time and he bled to death. He had been an alcoholic for many years and used drugs as well. The [REDACTED] advised that COOPER had been a con-man and had taken over [REDACTED] away from [REDACTED] They indicated that COOPER had painted several different paintings on the death theme. They advised that he would do anything that would give attention to himself. COOPER was hospitalized in the General Hospital in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and died in the time period of 1974 through 1976. They advised that there would be several records with the Muskogee Police Department regarding his death. They further indicated they had photographs and a recording of his voice, which they would make available to the FBI.
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From the information obtained from the individuals contacted, the following information of interest in this matter should be noted:
1. An individual fitting the description of the hijacker, DAN COOPER, resided in Pendleton, Oregon, in the time period 1971-1972. The hijacking occurred 11/24/71.
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DB Cooper-20112
PD 164-41
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2. EUGENE COOPER is described as:
Race White Sex Male Nationality American Age Forty to forty-eight Height 5'11" - 6'2" Weight 165-180 pounds Complexion Light to medium Hair Light to medium brown, greatly receded (had dyed his hair black in the past) Build Medium to well-built Facial Clean shaven Other Very intelligent, very articulate Eyes Light in color Past Occupation Worked in military branch of service in an air traaffic control tower, possibly a paramedic Other Occupations Automobile salesman and mobile home salesman Other Characteristics Wore sunglasses often; possibly from the Midwest; walked with slight limp in early part of 1972; also had recently sustained shoulder injury; had cigarette stains on fingers, right hand; personality very abnormal, described as "goofy", heavy drinker, big spender.
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The following description is taken from the file regarding the hijacker, DAN COOPER:
Race White Sex Male Nationality American Age Mid forties Height 6' Weight 170 - 175 pounds Complexion Olive, or medium to swarthy Hair Black Build Average to well-built Eyes Brown Other Stewardess[REDACTED] said b6 possibly from the Midwest; b7C cigarette stains on right hand; also described as being, "laboring type man" as opposed to "office worker."
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DB Cooper-20113
PD 164-41
It should be further noted that EUGENE COOPER was known at the Eagles Club in Pendleton, Oregon during the time period of 1971, and danced with two to three different women who described him as a good dancer. He left for two to three weeks and returned just prior to the holidays, 1971. During the first of 1972, while employed at the Arrow Chevrolet in Pendleton, Oregon, he had been injured and had to have a pin removed from his shoulder, which he showed another employee at Arrow Chevrolet, indicating he had been to a hospital recently, twice.
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LEADS
BUTTE DIVISION
AT BOISE, IDAHO. Will interview [REDACTED] telephone number [REDACTED] is employed by b6 NBC Clothing, Boise, telephone number [REDACTED] Interview in b7C detail regarding any knowledge and recollection she may have of EUGENE COOPER. Note that [REDACTED] is [REDACTED] with whom COOPER [REDACTED] in Hermiston, Oregon, [REDACTED] through [REDACTED]
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SEATTLE DIVISION
AT SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. Will attempt to determine current b6 location of witnesses [REDACTED] who b7C were stewardesses during the 1971 hijacking for future interview, wherein photos can be shown and tape of COOPER's voice can be played. Will also furnish Portland addresses of any other witnesses.
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OKLAHOMA DIVISION
AT MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA. (1) Will obtain photos and tape of EUGENE COOPER's voice from [REDACTED] b6 Okmulgee, telephone number [REDACTED] and will forward same to b7C Portland.
(2) Will make inquiry at the Muskogee, Oklahoma, Police Department regarding the apparent suicide death of EUGENE COOPER in 1974-75. Will obtain all the identifying data and any information which may be helpful in further identifying military records.
(3) Will inquire at the Muskogee General Hospital for all records, autopsy reports and any available x-ray reports pertaining to deceased suspect, and any and all details pertaining to other relatives or other available information regarding EUGENE COOPER.
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PORTLAND DIVISION
AT PENDLETON, OREGON. Will coordinate investigation, and recontact additional witnesses developed in this matter.
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DB Cooper-20114