Interview re Donald Olney Burgess as possible D.B. Cooper suspect

FD-302 (Rev. 3-8-77)

---

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

-1- Date of transcription 6/1/83

---

[REDACTED] was interviewed in the living room of her residence at [REDACTED], Oregon, telephone number [REDACTED]. She was apprised of the identity of the inter- viewing agents and the purpose of the interview to obtain more information concerning her belief that [REDACTED] Donald Burgess, is D.B. Cooper. [REDACTED] furnished the following in- formation concerning her background. She stated her maiden name is [REDACTED], date of birth [REDACTED], Social Security Account Number [REDACTED], place of birth [REDACTED]. She stated [REDACTED] was [REDACTED] from [REDACTED] was Donald Olney Burgess and [REDACTED] name is [REDACTED] who lives in [REDACTED] and works for [REDACTED].

[REDACTED] advised that she had watched the special on HBO on television concerning D.B. Cooper and the skyjacking. She stated that there was a very strong resemblance in the composite sketch and that of [REDACTED] Donald Burgess. She stated she first met Donald Olney Burgess in [REDACTED] when she was living in [REDACTED], California. She was introduced to Donald Burgess through a friend named [REDACTED] [REDACTED] stated that [REDACTED] is married to a [REDACTED] [REDACTED] and last known address for them was in Redding, California. She further advised that Donald Burgess had been a [REDACTED] of [REDACTED] and their family, [REDACTED] [REDACTED], Nevada. While they lived in [REDACTED], California Don worked part time work painting houses and general carpentry work. Together they [REDACTED] [REDACTED] in [REDACTED], California. The [REDACTED] for the [REDACTED] [REDACTED] was in Medford, Oregon. She stated that Don Burgess claimed that he was in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. She stated he was not a pilot but that he did do some parachuting. She thought that he might have been stationed around the Denver, Colorado area. [REDACTED] stated she was [REDACTED]. After they [REDACTED] [REDACTED] she discovered [REDACTED]. She stated that as far as she knew he had no children by any of the [REDACTED] She advised his [REDACTED] [REDACTED] and discussed one method was [REDACTED]

---

Investigation on 5/25/83 at [REDACTED] Oregon File # PD 164-41 - 1899

by SA [REDACTED] SA [REDACTED]

Date dictated 5/26/83

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.

FBI/DOJ

---

DB Cooper-43458

[REDACTED]. She stated after [REDACTED] Burgess' own parents Al and Florence Burgess who live in Flint, Michigan, [REDACTED] [REDACTED] of [REDACTED] in [REDACTED] From [REDACTED] she moved to [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Oregon with [REDACTED] stated that after [REDACTED] [REDACTED] She stated that on [REDACTED] [REDACTED]. She stated she last saw Donald Burgess in [REDACTED]. She advised she was working for the [REDACTED] and had been filling in [REDACTED]. She was waiting for [REDACTED] to obtain the mail from the Post Office. She was sitting in a motor vehicle in the parking area outside the hotel when she observed Donald Burgess come out of the hotel and stop on the sidewalk and stare at her for several moments. She advised that she was sure that it was Donald Burgess.

---

[REDACTED] gave the following description of Donald Burgess:

Name Donald Olney Burgess Age 61 years Date of Birth May 26, 1922 Place of Birth Unknown city in Texas Race Caucasian Height 6 feet Weight 170 [REDACTED] Hair Light blond, thin consistency Physical Characteristics Teeth in good condition, slightly bowlegged from the hips to the knees, heavy smoker, brand Tarytons, favorite drink vodka

Previous addresses Los Angeles, California area during grade school and high school. Possible present location In the Fairbanks, Anchorage area of Alaska Parents Al and Florence Burgess, Flint, Michigan Brother Robert Burgess, approximate age 63 years, Flint, Michigan

---

DB Cooper-43459

PD 164-41 -3-

---

[REDACTED] advised [REDACTED] [REDACTED]. She ad- vised that since the [REDACTED]

---

[REDACTED] believes that Donald Burgess is D.B. Cooper and explains the alias D.B. Cooper as follows: She stated that the "D" in D.B. Cooper stands for Donald. The "B" for Burgess. She explained the last name of Cooper as follows: She stated that Donald Burgess' uncle was an Olney Craft. She stated that he odolized his uncle who was a financier from Flint, Michigan. She stated that Cooper could have been derived from the first initial of Craft for the "C" in Cooper. The "O" in Cooper from Olney, the first name of his uncle, Olney Craft.

---

[REDACTED] advised that she believes Donald Burgess is living in either Fairbanks or Anchorage, Alaska but has no actual facts to support this. She furnished to agents a black and white photograph dated [REDACTED] depicting four people in a [REDACTED] [REDACTED]. The male subject on the far right of the photograph is Donald Burgess. [REDACTED] advised that she would contact the Bend Office of the FBI if she had any additional information concerning Donald Burgess.

---

DB Cooper-43460

---

b7D b7D b7D