Part 51, page 319
DB Cooper-21476Serials SE 164-81
Document date 10 October 2000
FBI 164-81, Vault Part 51 p. 319 (DB Cooper-21476), Memo, dated 10 Oct 2000, serial SE 164-81-9350 (as read from the transcript) — cooper.theunsolved.net/parts/Cooper-Part-51/pages/319
Transcript
The scan is the source; the transcript is machine-generated from it.
To: Directors Office From: Seattle Re: SE 164A-81, 10/10/2000
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Channel, a U.S. News & World Report story, and another soon to be filmed production titled "The Ultimate Ten" to be shown on the Learning Channel. In most of these media inquiries, the issue of a reward is invariably raised.
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Previous Rewards Offered
A $25,000 reward offered by Northwest Airlines in the early 1970's was later withdrawn after the airlines was fully reimbursed by its insurer, Royal Globe Insurance. A Seattle area newspaper offered a $5,000 reward for one of the NORJAK $20 bills until the offer was terminated in 1976. There has been no FBI sponsored reward ever offered.
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Timing and Benefit of Offering a $100,000 Reward Now
As this case nears its 30 year anniversary, it is likely that any associates or family members of the unknown subject (as well as the subject himself, if alive) are in their seventies. With the passage of this amount of time it is possible that any such person might be now motivated by such a reward to come forward to resolve this matter. Additionally, it is expected that this approaching anniversary will be the appropriate time to make best use of likely additional media interest. It is undoubtedly in the best interests of this case not to discourage any person with positive and direct information from contacting the FBI due to press accounts of a reward no longer being available.
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To avoid generating large quantities of "looks like" leads, any reward should be specific as to direct evidence or knowledge that could resolve this case. Additionally, it is anticipated that the fact of the existence of a reward, if approved, will be provided to those inquiring, not contained in a press release. It is unlikely that Northwest Airlines would wish to participate in a new reward at this time due to current public relations considerations.
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If someone were to come forward with information that resolved this case, Seattle would, in any event, very likely be able to justify the payment of a significant cash payment after the fact. Approval of a reward now would enable Seattle to use this fact as an investigative tool as this anniversary date approaches.
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DB Cooper-21476