SAC Milwaukee to Director re NORJAK interviews of Merlin Cooper relatives, with leads

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 ☐ UNCLAS Date 7/22/88

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INDICES MANUAL [illegible] FOIMS [illegible] CONFIDENTIAL [illegible]

Sus 1002

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TO: DIRECTOR, FBI (164-2111) FROM: SAC, MILWAUKEE (164A-36)(MRA)(P)

NORJAK; CRIME ABOARD AN AIRCRAFT-HIJACKING; OO: SEATTLE

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Re Milwaukee airtel, 6/9/88, captioned as above.

On 6/16/88, [REDACTED], Wisconsin, advised that he has lived his entire life in [REDACTED] Wisconsin and has never heard of any family named [REDACTED] living in that area.

On the same date, [REDACTED] (protect identity), [REDACTED] Wisconsin, advised that MERLIN GENE COOPER was [REDACTED] She explained that COOPER married [REDACTED] on [REDACTED] at Decorah, Iowa. At the time of the marriage COOPER was in the U.S. Air Force and immediately following the marriage [REDACTED] and MERLIN went to Europe, where COOPER was assigned duties as an Air Traffic Controller. Upon his release from military service in 1955 (approximate), MERLIN and [REDACTED] moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where MERLIN was employed as an Air Traffic Controller at Truax Field. COOPER was almost continuously unfaithful to [REDACTED] and in [REDACTED] filed for divorce.

A review of plaintiff and defendant file, [REDACTED] in [REDACTED] Circuit Court, reveals that [REDACTED] was divorced from MERLIN on [REDACTED] At that time MERLIN COOPER was residing at Truax Park, #6-M, Madison, Wisconsin. The file reflects that MERLIN and [REDACTED] born [REDACTED]

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2-Bureau (164-2111) ②-Seattle 2-Milwaukee (164A-36) KHM/psr (6)

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Approved: [signature] Transmitted __________ Per __________ (Number) (Time)

[handwritten] 164-81-89220

JUL 29 1988

DB Cooper-20215

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b6 b7C b7D

MI 164A-36

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[REDACTED] continued by stating that shortly after MERLIN and [REDACTED] were divorced, MERLIN moved to the western part of the United States, possibly the State of Washington. She stated she did not know what sort of work he did in that region, but she is quite certain that he was married two more times after his divorce from [REDACTED]. She further stated that [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] had no contact with MERLIN COOPER whatsoever after the divorce, which was finalized in [REDACTED].

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According to [REDACTED] has now remarried and she has serious health problems, inasmuch as she is recovering from major surgery following the discovery of an [REDACTED] in [REDACTED] has had a number of problems and for the past several years [REDACTED] has been [REDACTED] She stated that [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] in the past, and she reiterated that neither [REDACTED] has had any contact whatsoever with MERLIN since

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[REDACTED] stated that she did recall MERLIN COOPER committed suicide while living in the western part of the U.S.. She recalled that the year was approximately 1972, and that COOPER apparently had no friends or family in that part of the U.S., so COOPER'S mother, ORPHA COOPER, requested that his body be returned to LaCrosse, Wisconsin for burial.

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[REDACTED] recalled that MERLIN COOPER was commonly called "COOP" by family and friends while he was living in the LaCrosse area. She stated he was a rather handsome individual, about 6'0" of medium to heavy build. She stated that he had dark brown hair and it was her opinion that he somewhat resembled movie actor Paul Newman. She recalled that when she viewed MERLIN COOPER'S body prior to burial, he had lost a considerable amount of weight and his hairline had receded considerably. She added that she thought the reason MERLIN committed suicide was due to the fact that he had been diagnosed as having cancer, but she was not certain of this information.

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[REDACTED] stated that SILAS COOPER, MERLIN'S father, died in 1952.

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She advised that ORPHA COOPER, MERLIN'S mother, is approximately 74 years old and now resides in an apartment complex for elderly people in the community of Delavan, Wisconsin. [REDACTED] stated that she does have some contact with ORPHA COOPER, and she stated that she is quite certain that ORPHA has no knowledge whatsoever of MERLIN COOPER possibly being identical with the subject in captioned matter. She further suggested that extreme tack should be used in any approach to ORPHA COOPER, inasmuch as the matriarchal COOPER is not in good health.

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According to [REDACTED] ORPHA COOPER has [REDACTED] who lives near Baraboo, Wisconsin, and who might

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DB Cooper-20216

MI 164A-36

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[REDACTED] in that community. She added that ORPHA might also have a daughter, but she does not know the daughter's name, nor does she know where she lives.

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LEAD

MILWAUKEE DIVISION

AT DELAVAN, WISCONSIN

Will locate and interview ORPHA COOPER, noting that MERLIN COOPER was allegedly very close to his mother and may have confided information to her relative to the hijacking. Additionally, attempt to identify COOPER'S [REDACTED] and determine her whereabouts for possible interview.

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DUE TO THE DELICATE NATURE OF ORPHA COOPER'S HEALTH, UTMOST DISCRETION SHOULD BE UTILIZED IN THIS INTERVIEW.

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AT BARABOO, WISCONSIN

Will locate and interview [REDACTED] of MERLIN COOPER, regarding any knowledge he might have of COOPER'S involvement in captioned hijacking. Additionally, will attempt to identify COOPER'S [REDACTED] and determine her whereabouts for possible interview.

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3* DB Cooper-20217

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b6 b7C b7D