Interview of Los Angeles Times employees re letter from purported hijacker, with envelope and letter copies

FD-302 (Rev. 4-15-64)

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

1 Date 12/16/71

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[REDACTED] "Los Angeles Times" newspaper, 202 West First Street, furnished the following information concerning a letter that was received at the "Los Angeles Times" on December 13, 1971, pertaining to the skyjack and payoff that took place involving the Northwest Orient Airlines:

The letter was received at the "Los Angeles Times" Office during the early morning of December 13, 1971. [REDACTED] explained that letters received from the Post Office are distributed from the "Los Angeles Times" mail room. He said the letter in this situation was eventually routed from the "Times" mail room to the [REDACTED] [REDACTED] for the "Los Angeles Times". [REDACTED] opened the letter and after reading the contents, attached the envelope and brought it to the attention of [REDACTED] said that neither he nor anyone associated with his newspaper has any idea who is responsible for preparing and sending the letter to the newspaper. No one has any idea why the "Los Angeles Times" newspaper was selected to receive the letter. No one associated with the "Los Angeles Times" has any idea what the significance of the number that appears on the last line of the letter which is located opposite to the name "Los Angeles Times".

[REDACTED] made available the original envelope and letter. See the following two pages for a xeroxed copy of these items.

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On 12/14/71 at Los Angeles, California File # Los Angeles 164-497 - 232

by SA [REDACTED] /clp Date dictated 12/15/71

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.

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DB Cooper-23379

[return address area — obscured by heavy photocopy noise, illegible]

[Postmark circle:] AM 2 11 DEC 1971

[Stamp: Christmas-themed postage stamp, upper right]

b6 b7C

Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California

DB Cooper-23380

3 LA 164-497

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Sirs,

I knew from the start that I wouldn't be caught.

I didn't rob Northwest Orient because I thought it would be romantic, heroic or any of the other euphemisms that seem to attach themselves to situations of high risk. I'm no modern day Robin Hood. Unfortunately do have only 14 months to live.

My life has been one of hate, turmoil, hunger and more hate, this seemed to be the fastest and most profitable way to gain a few fast grains of peace of mind.

I don't blame people for hating me for what I've done nor do I blame anybody for wanting me to be caught and punished, though this can never happen.

Here are some (not all) of the things working against the authorities: I'm not a boasting man I left no fingerprints I wore a toupee I wore putty make-up

They could add or subtract from the composite a hundred times and not come up with an accurate description; and we both know it.

I've come and gone on several airline flights already and am not holed up in some obsure backwoods town. Neither am I a psycho-pathic killer. As a matter of fact I've never even received a speeding ticket.

Thank you for your attention.

D.B. COOPER

occcccc Wash Post -

New York Times -

Seattle Times -

Los Angeles Times - 7698QA2753

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3

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DB Cooper-23381