Part 9, page 207

Transcript

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legendary extortionist who para- chuted from the plane somewhere over southwest Washington, an area of rugged mountains and thick for- ests where a body could remain hidden forever. Many authorities say they think Cooper, whose real identity never has been learned, died in the leap from the plane.

Himmelsbach, the agent who has worked on the Cooper caper since the night it occurred, said he knew of no unidentified bodies, which could be Cooper, that washed up on the Columbia banks in the past eight years.

"We have kept a close liaison with medical authorities on both sides of the river," he said. "If there had been any such body we'd have known about it."

Himmelsbach said when Cooper jumped into the rainy night he had the 21-pound package of money strapped to him with nylon cords from one of three parachutes sup- plied by the airline at his demand.

Himmeslbach outlined a "possible scenario" which would explain the money's presence on the beach.

"Probably the money (in the bag) came down close to the bank of a stream. When the water got high enough it washed downstream, bumping along the bottom. The bag finally degraded.

"Perhaps it could have burst on impact but that is not likely. We think finally, tumbling down the river bottom, it broke open and the money was carried on, wearing off little bits and pieces around the edges, grinding it down like it had been ground with sandpaper or a file, leaving the center portion."

The first money was found in three packages, all bound together, by Brian Ingram, 8, and his cousin, Denise Ingram, 5. Brian's parents, Harold and Pat Ingram of Van- couver, turned the money over to the FBI Monday.

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DB Cooper-911