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- Tonight on History's
Greatest Mysteries:
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ERIC:
Ready to find D.B. Cooper?
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WOMAN: Do you think
that he could be
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00:00:20,734 --> 00:00:22,334
-D.B. Cooper?
-Yeah, I do.
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ERIC: I think I've pinpointed
where it is.
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ERIC: This could be our
smoking gun.
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WOMAN: They've got to take
this back and reopen it.
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- It's a mystery that's
confounded law enforcement
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for 48 years.
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[♪♪]
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On November 24th, 1971,
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a man who would become known
as D.B. Cooper
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00:00:46,900 --> 00:00:49,800
hijacks a plane
and then jumps out,
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00:00:49,934 --> 00:00:53,534
taking with him a ransom
of $200,000.
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00:00:55,300 --> 00:00:58,300
I'm Laurence Fishburne
and tonight;
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00:00:58,433 --> 00:01:00,733
Who is D.B. Cooper,
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and how did he escape?
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Neither his identity nor his
body has ever been recovered.
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It's impossible.
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Or is it?
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(helicopter blades chop)
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- Can investigator
Eric Ulis finally close
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the only unsolved skyjacking
in US history?
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Eric and his team
will reexamine
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the plane's alleged
flight path.
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They'll search alternate
landing sites for fresh clues
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and profile
a possible suspect.
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Tonight, a search
for new answers
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to one of history's
greatest mysteries.
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Who is D.B. Cooper?
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[♪]
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FISHBURNE: D.B. Cooper
investigator Eric Ulis
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00:02:02,533 --> 00:02:04,633
is on his way
to Washington State,
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00:02:04,767 --> 00:02:07,097
but his research
and investigation started
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12 years earlier in Arizona.
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ERIC: I've always had
a fascination with aviation,
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which is what I believe
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00:02:14,900 --> 00:02:16,470
ultimately drew me
into the case.
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Here was a man who developed
a cult-like following
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over the years,
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despite the fact
that nobody really knew
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anything about the guy at all.
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He became a legend overnight.
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MAN: I think D.B. is
like coolest guy in America.
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He did the ultimate crime.
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ERIC: Eventually, I found
the case was being hijacked
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by conspiracy theories
and so forth,
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and I just ended up
getting sucked in
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to this D.B. Cooper vortex.
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And, ultimately, I decided
that I was gonna undertake
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an investigation of my own
into the case.
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MAN: Over the years,
more than 1,000 suspects
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have been scrutinized.
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GEOFFREY: When this case
happened in the 1970s,
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the era of DNA was not upon us,
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and agents really didn't look
out to preserve
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this evidence in the way
that we do now.
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ERIC: In order to identify
where the FBI and others
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went sideways with this case,
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I knew that I was going
to have to personally read
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all 20,000 pages
of redacted FBI files
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regarding the case.
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FISHBURNE: Thanks to a
Freedom of Information Act
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lawsuit filed in 2016,
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every few months,
the FBI releases files
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from the case
in chronological order.
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This constant drip
of new information
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and new sources
is key to Eric's theory
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about what really happened
on Northwest Flight 305.
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[JET ENGINE HUMS]
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ERIC:
The night of the skyjacking,
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we know a man boarded
Northwest Orient Flight
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in Portland destined
for Seattle.
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He bought the ticket
with a $20 bill at the airport.
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There was no ID required.
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And he gave the name
Dan Cooper to the ticket agent.
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He would end up taking a seat
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in the very back row
of the jet,
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18E to be exact.
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The flight attendants recall
D.B. Cooper
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being a guy
who is in his mid-40s,
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dressed as a business person
wearing a black suit,
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wearing loafers
with a skinny black tie,
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and a raincoat.
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And he would later put on
a pair of dark sunglasses
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as the jet
was about to take off.
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By his side,
he had a black attache case.
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As the plane starts taxiing
toward the runway,
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D.B. Cooper hands
one of the flight attendants,
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Florence Schaffner, a note.
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Which says that he has a bomb.
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MAN: Thirty-six passengers
got off the jetliner
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in Seattle last night.
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Left aboard four crew members
and the hijacker,
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dressed in a business suit,
demanding $200,000
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with the full ransom collected
from the Seattle banks,
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and four parachutes aboard.
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The plane headed for Reno.
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ERIC: What many people
don't know was that
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Reno was not the intended
destination.
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Cooper actually requested
that the plane fly
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to Mexico nonstop.
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But the problem is, is that
he wanted the jet to fly
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with the landing gear down.
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He wanted the jet to fly
with the flaps down.
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He wanted the jet to fly
at a very slow speed,
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and not fly over 10,000 feet
in altitude.
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So there was simply no way
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that they could fly nonstop
to Mexico City.
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They would need
to refuel somewhere.
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And they decided Reno.
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- According to Eric,
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Cooper's request to be flown
to Mexico was a ruse.
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Seven minutes after the plane
left Seattle,
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the flight crew received
an alert.
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The rear airstairs
were activated.
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ERIC: The Boeing
727 was unique
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in that it had airstairs
that would deploy
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from the back bottom
of the fuselage.
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00:05:44,934 --> 00:05:46,434
In fact, it's these air stairs
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that the passengers
actually boarded the jet with.
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FISHBURNE: Roughly
27 minutes
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after the airstairs'
deployment alert,
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the crew experienced a cabin
pressure disturbance.
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00:05:58,433 --> 00:06:03,273
ERIC: At approximately 8:12 PM,
the pilots experienced
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what they described
as a pressure bump on the plane.
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What felt like a popping
in the ears.
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This pressure bump was created
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when D .B. Cooper jumped off
the back airstairs
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and the airstairs
snapped back up
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00:06:18,667 --> 00:06:20,327
into the bottom of the fuselage.
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That bump holds the key
to everything.
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-
Estimating where and when
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that bump took place is key.
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It determined the area
in which FBI, Air Force,
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00:06:31,233 --> 00:06:34,833
and local law enforcement
members looked for Cooper
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in a coordinated ground search
that lasted for months.
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ERIC: The FBI
never found anything
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00:06:44,700 --> 00:06:46,770
in their original search area.
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And my research indicates
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that the reason
they came up empty-handed
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was because they were actually
searching in the wrong place.
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Why were they searching
in the wrong place?
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Because the flight path
was off.
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Understanding that pressure bump
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and identifying
the correct search area
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will allow us to ask the basic
fundamental questions.
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- To test his theory
about the plane's path,
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Eric is meeting
with the person charged
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with tracking Flight 305
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on the night of the hijacking.
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The air traffic controller
on duty, Cliff Ammerman.
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CLIFF: My name
is Cliff Ammerman.
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And, uh, I'm a retired
air traffic controller.
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I worked at the Seattle Center
Air Route Traffic Control
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from 1969 till 1998.
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ERIC: Did the FBI
or law enforcement at all
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ever reach out to you?
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Never did.
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I never got a request
like that at all.
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What did you know about 305?
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I mean, I assume you knew
it was a skyjacked jet?
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CLIFF: We knew
it was a hijacking.
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We didn't have
a flight plan on it
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because nobody knew exactly
what the routing was gonna be,
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so we were told,
"Just follow him.
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Keep everybody else
away from him."
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00:07:58,333 --> 00:08:02,173
It became fairly obvious
that he was on Victor 23.
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Victor 23 is one airway in
a low-altitude airway structure
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00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:08,300
that's nationwide.
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It's a system of ground-based
navigational aids
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that pilots can follow,
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00:08:13,967 --> 00:08:17,797
and it allows them to hold
a track over the ground.
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Just like when you're on
Interstate 5 in a car,
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Victor 23 is a highway
in the sky.
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ERIC: The first priority here
when tackling this case
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is trying to figure out the path
that the jet took.
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00:08:29,633 --> 00:08:33,033
Can you gauge how precisely
you could identify
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the exact location
of Flight 305?
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Yeah.
What I'm looking at is a map
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on a video screen.
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Aircrafts are
being presented in
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00:08:42,700 --> 00:08:44,830
what would look to you
like an equal sign.
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00:08:44,967 --> 00:08:46,867
And on the leading slash,
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the aircraft itself could be
anyplace on that line.
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So it could be in the center,
it might be at the left side
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00:08:51,967 --> 00:08:54,667
of the line, it might be at
the right side. We don't know.
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00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:57,000
Any idea of roughly
what kind of distance
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00:08:57,133 --> 00:08:58,873
you're looking at there?
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00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:01,900
I would guess four to five
nautical miles long,
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00:09:02,033 --> 00:09:03,603
that line is.
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00:09:03,734 --> 00:09:07,074
How do you know that
he's actually within Victor 23
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00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:08,470
if you've got sort of that much
196
00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:10,330
-play there?
-CLIFF: Sure. Sure.
197
00:09:10,467 --> 00:09:14,327
It's very uncertain just exactly
where the airplane was
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00:09:14,467 --> 00:09:18,067
within that target area
that we're seeing.
199
00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:20,730
So, uh, where's
the airplane actually?
200
00:09:20,867 --> 00:09:23,527
ERIC: There's quite a bit
of variance in there.
201
00:09:23,667 --> 00:09:27,397
Indeed, the jet could have
actually been a handful of miles
202
00:09:27,533 --> 00:09:31,433
outside of this
Victor 23 airway,
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00:09:31,567 --> 00:09:34,467
and not have been noticed
by anyone.
204
00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:37,730
It seems to indicate
that the jet indeed took a path
205
00:09:37,867 --> 00:09:39,727
that was more along
the western side,
206
00:09:39,867 --> 00:09:42,697
that lines it up with the money
find and all that good stuff,
207
00:09:42,834 --> 00:09:44,434
that is not at all consistent
208
00:09:44,567 --> 00:09:47,897
with the official version
of the flight path.
209
00:09:48,033 --> 00:09:50,773
The pilot of Northwest 305
also said
210
00:09:50,900 --> 00:09:53,270
that they were not looking
far enough west.
211
00:09:55,066 --> 00:09:56,366
ERIC: Well,
that confirms it for me.
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00:09:56,500 --> 00:09:58,570
-Yeah.
-That's an area that
213
00:09:58,700 --> 00:10:01,200
they should have looked,
but they didn't look.
214
00:10:02,867 --> 00:10:05,667
[♪]
215
00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:08,400
FISHBURNE: Convinced the
plane was actually eight miles
216
00:10:08,533 --> 00:10:10,973
west of the original
FBI search zone,
217
00:10:11,100 --> 00:10:14,400
Eric and his team head up
to a remote wilderness refuge
218
00:10:14,533 --> 00:10:16,433
that's never been searched.
219
00:10:16,567 --> 00:10:19,567
They're looking for any
evidence of D.B. Cooper,
220
00:10:19,700 --> 00:10:22,970
including possible remains
of his parachute.
221
00:10:23,100 --> 00:10:24,370
-Hey. Hey. How's it going?
-How's it going?
222
00:10:24,500 --> 00:10:26,230
-Eric Ulis.
-Hey. Ryan.
223
00:10:26,367 --> 00:10:28,727
FISHBURNE: To maximize the
time he'll have on the ground,
224
00:10:28,867 --> 00:10:30,927
Eric first takes to the sky
225
00:10:31,066 --> 00:10:33,226
to see how closely
his search lines up
226
00:10:33,367 --> 00:10:36,397
with an area known
as Tina Bar.
227
00:10:36,533 --> 00:10:40,703
In 1980, the FBI found
important evidence there.
228
00:10:40,834 --> 00:10:43,574
MAN: A child has led the FBI
to the start of a trail
229
00:10:43,700 --> 00:10:45,100
it hopes it'll help them solve
230
00:10:45,233 --> 00:10:47,933
the eight-and-a-half-year-old
mystery of skyjacker
231
00:10:48,066 --> 00:10:49,396
D.B. Cooper.
232
00:10:49,533 --> 00:10:51,003
The first break
in the only unsolved
233
00:10:51,133 --> 00:10:53,873
airplane hijacking
in United States history
234
00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:55,370
came on a Columbia River beach,
235
00:10:55,500 --> 00:10:57,530
along the
Oregon-Washington border
236
00:10:57,667 --> 00:10:58,927
where an eight-year-old boy
237
00:10:59,066 --> 00:11:02,496
dug up the shreds
of $3,000 on Sunday.
238
00:11:02,633 --> 00:11:04,603
The money was found
about 20 miles
239
00:11:04,734 --> 00:11:07,474
from the FBI's original
search zone.
240
00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:10,170
Also, it was found
about eight or nine miles
241
00:11:10,300 --> 00:11:13,300
against the current
along the Columbia River.
242
00:11:13,433 --> 00:11:16,173
So there was no possible way
243
00:11:16,300 --> 00:11:18,430
that the money
just washed ashore.
244
00:11:18,567 --> 00:11:20,327
The bundles of 20s were found
245
00:11:20,467 --> 00:11:22,967
just below the surface
of the sand,
246
00:11:23,100 --> 00:11:24,770
neatly stacked upon each other
247
00:11:24,900 --> 00:11:28,100
with the original
rubber band still intact.
248
00:11:28,233 --> 00:11:30,003
So by all appearances,
249
00:11:30,133 --> 00:11:32,933
it looks like somebody
actually buried
250
00:11:33,066 --> 00:11:36,466
those three packets of 20s.
251
00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:39,300
FISHBURNE: Since it's
impossible to know the precise
252
00:11:39,433 --> 00:11:41,673
altitude at which Cooper pulled
his parachute ripcord,
253
00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:46,130
Eric plans to search
a wide area the FBI missed.
254
00:11:48,100 --> 00:11:52,130
The first is an island
a few miles north of Tina Bar.
255
00:11:54,734 --> 00:11:57,804
[HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING]
256
00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:12,170
- The second zone
is an extended meadow
257
00:12:12,300 --> 00:12:16,870
along the tree line on the west
side of the train tracks.
258
00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:18,500
If Cooper landed there,
259
00:12:18,633 --> 00:12:20,903
Eric believes
he could have walked south
260
00:12:21,033 --> 00:12:22,403
along these train tracks
261
00:12:22,533 --> 00:12:24,273
crossing over from the mainland
262
00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:27,330
at the River S Bridge
to Tina Bar.
263
00:12:27,467 --> 00:12:30,667
Eric thinks Cooper might have
buried the ransom here
264
00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:33,670
temporarily, and then fled.
265
00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:36,230
The third zone,
private properties
266
00:12:36,367 --> 00:12:38,497
across from the refuge
provide access
267
00:12:38,633 --> 00:12:40,573
to a large untouched ravine
268
00:12:40,700 --> 00:12:44,100
which could have given
perfect cover for D.B. Cooper.
269
00:12:47,266 --> 00:12:48,896
ERIC:
Part of what has guided me
270
00:12:49,033 --> 00:12:51,673
to these three specific
search areas
271
00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:54,900
is that they're pristine
and largely untouched
272
00:12:55,033 --> 00:12:57,233
in the last 50 years.
273
00:12:57,367 --> 00:12:59,067
Eric Ulis.
Good to meet you.
274
00:13:00,900 --> 00:13:02,630
I'm thinking about, you know,
275
00:13:02,767 --> 00:13:04,567
the 12 years of research
276
00:13:04,700 --> 00:13:07,230
I have put into this case.
277
00:13:07,367 --> 00:13:08,997
This is what I have
been waiting for,
278
00:13:09,133 --> 00:13:13,673
the opportunity to actually
get boots on the ground
279
00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:15,130
and dig through the brush
280
00:13:15,266 --> 00:13:17,926
and look for those
missing parachutes,
281
00:13:18,066 --> 00:13:21,726
look for any sign
of D.B. Cooper.
282
00:13:23,266 --> 00:13:24,466
FISHBURNE: Coming up.
283
00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:25,770
Eric Ulis and his team
284
00:13:25,900 --> 00:13:28,430
put 12 years of research
to the test
285
00:13:28,567 --> 00:13:30,497
as they battle
the Pacific Northwest...
286
00:13:30,633 --> 00:13:32,973
[GRUNTS]
The search just got real
287
00:13:33,100 --> 00:13:34,370
when you draw
a little bit of blood.
288
00:13:34,500 --> 00:13:35,400
- ...and time.
289
00:13:35,533 --> 00:13:36,433
ERIC: Fighting our way
290
00:13:36,567 --> 00:13:37,767
through that stuff
291
00:13:37,900 --> 00:13:40,130
really, really slows us down.
292
00:13:40,266 --> 00:13:42,796
I'm aware that we're marching
against time here.
293
00:13:42,934 --> 00:13:44,734
FISHBURNE: Later,
Eric gets his hands
294
00:13:44,867 --> 00:13:48,097
on possible DNA taken
from D.B. Cooper's tie.
295
00:13:48,233 --> 00:13:49,803
ERIC: The tie knot seems like
296
00:13:49,934 --> 00:13:51,734
the most logically place
to look.
297
00:13:51,867 --> 00:13:54,597
The place that would have been
touched the most by D.B. Cooper.
298
00:13:54,734 --> 00:13:57,474
- Will Eric finally
be able to reveal the identity
299
00:13:57,600 --> 00:14:00,800
of history's
most mysterious skyjacker?
300
00:14:02,133 --> 00:14:05,333
[♪]
301
00:14:19,100 --> 00:14:20,800
FISHBURNE:
Eric Ulis has investigated
302
00:14:20,934 --> 00:14:23,704
the D.B. Cooper case
for 12 years.
303
00:14:23,834 --> 00:14:26,004
CLIFF:
The pilot of Northwest 305
304
00:14:26,133 --> 00:14:28,633
also said that they were not
looking far enough west.
305
00:14:28,767 --> 00:14:30,967
FISHBURNE: Convinced the FBI
misjudged
306
00:14:31,100 --> 00:14:32,800
the hijacked plane's
flight path,
307
00:14:32,934 --> 00:14:35,774
Eric's assembled a team
to look for new evidence.
308
00:14:35,900 --> 00:14:39,900
They hope to find something
to reopen this cold case.
309
00:14:42,100 --> 00:14:43,230
ALEX: Hey.
310
00:14:43,367 --> 00:14:44,727
ERIC: Hey, you guys.
How you doing?
311
00:14:44,867 --> 00:14:46,567
ALEX: Alex Gall
with Archeological Services.
312
00:14:46,700 --> 00:14:49,830
This area was home to thousands
of Native American's villages.
313
00:14:49,967 --> 00:14:51,367
So in order for the project
314
00:14:51,500 --> 00:14:53,270
to have special access
to the refuge,
315
00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:55,570
it needed an archeologist
to join the project,
316
00:14:55,700 --> 00:14:58,100
and, uh,
that archeologist is me.
317
00:14:58,233 --> 00:15:01,133
Given the terrain,
it's gonna be, uh--
318
00:15:01,266 --> 00:15:02,566
require a lot of luck.
319
00:15:02,700 --> 00:15:04,630
FISHBURNE: Accompanying Eric
on his mission,
320
00:15:04,767 --> 00:15:06,867
geophysicist, Colin Miazga,
321
00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:08,970
who will help examine
any ground disturbance
322
00:15:09,100 --> 00:15:12,870
or man-made materials
left behind by the skyjacker.
323
00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:14,670
COLIN:
With my geoscience background,
324
00:15:14,800 --> 00:15:17,530
you look for man-made objects.
325
00:15:17,667 --> 00:15:20,067
In this case though,
there's a very small object
326
00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:22,870
in a very big area,
so it's incredibly challenging.
327
00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:25,330
There's just so much
ground to cover,
328
00:15:25,467 --> 00:15:28,497
and the only real best way
to do that
329
00:15:28,633 --> 00:15:31,133
is by physically walking
over the area.
330
00:15:31,266 --> 00:15:34,066
Who wouldn't wanna be the person
responsible for solving,
331
00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:36,830
uh, a 50-year-old case
that the FBI gave up on,
332
00:15:36,967 --> 00:15:38,167
essentially?
333
00:15:38,300 --> 00:15:39,670
FISHBURNE: He's also enlisted
the help of
334
00:15:39,800 --> 00:15:41,630
local search and rescue
volunteers,
335
00:15:41,767 --> 00:15:44,197
Jason Cole and Barry Wells.
336
00:15:44,333 --> 00:15:47,003
Both have a vast knowledge
of the area.
337
00:15:47,133 --> 00:15:48,773
- I was here
when the event happened,
338
00:15:48,900 --> 00:15:50,800
and there was a lot of theories
going around.
339
00:15:50,934 --> 00:15:52,334
ERIC: So, today,
what we're gonna be doing
340
00:15:52,467 --> 00:15:53,827
is getting on the boats.
341
00:15:53,967 --> 00:15:55,727
We're gonna be traveling
along the Lake River
342
00:15:55,867 --> 00:15:57,027
up to the Columbia River.
343
00:15:57,166 --> 00:15:58,496
Then once we're
on the Columbia River,
344
00:15:58,633 --> 00:16:00,703
we're gonna go upstream
a little bit.
345
00:16:00,834 --> 00:16:02,074
This area
we're talking about here
346
00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:03,670
was not part
of the original search area.
347
00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:06,200
And obviously, the fact
that it's a refuge as well
348
00:16:06,333 --> 00:16:08,033
and is off-limits to people,
349
00:16:08,166 --> 00:16:09,396
-essentially--
-Jason: Yeah.
350
00:16:09,533 --> 00:16:10,803
--provides a real opportunity
351
00:16:10,934 --> 00:16:12,774
where the stuff
would have never been found.
352
00:16:12,900 --> 00:16:14,600
Ready to find D.B. Cooper?
353
00:16:14,734 --> 00:16:16,404
FISHBURNE: With restrictions
in place
354
00:16:16,533 --> 00:16:17,733
to protect the local wildlife,
355
00:16:17,867 --> 00:16:20,227
Eric and his team
must also contact
356
00:16:20,367 --> 00:16:21,927
the state environmental expert
357
00:16:22,066 --> 00:16:25,366
before they can begin
their search on the island.
358
00:16:25,500 --> 00:16:27,130
Hey, Brent.
How you doing? Um...
359
00:16:27,266 --> 00:16:28,166
BRENT: Good, Eric.
360
00:16:28,300 --> 00:16:29,570
We'll work our way north,
361
00:16:29,700 --> 00:16:31,430
see if we can actually get over
to where you are
362
00:16:31,567 --> 00:16:34,097
because I think the refuge
is where we wanna start
363
00:16:34,233 --> 00:16:35,833
versus the DNR land.
364
00:16:35,967 --> 00:16:37,267
-And then we'll, uh--
-BRENT: Right.
365
00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:39,270
--we'll go from there.
366
00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:42,230
Let's get these guys over
on this shoreline here.
367
00:16:42,367 --> 00:16:45,027
-Landfall, here we go.
-Right now, we're on, uh,
368
00:16:45,166 --> 00:16:47,626
Washington Department
of Natural Resources land.
369
00:16:47,767 --> 00:16:50,367
And basically
at the tree line there
370
00:16:50,500 --> 00:16:52,770
is where the wildlife refuge
starts.
371
00:16:52,900 --> 00:16:55,570
- They'll be limited
in the tools they can use,
372
00:16:55,700 --> 00:16:57,600
and are forbidden
to dig anything up
373
00:16:57,734 --> 00:17:00,774
or remove any evidence
from the refuge.
374
00:17:00,900 --> 00:17:03,670
If you wanna go over
some of these, uh,
375
00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:06,430
-maps that I pulled.
-ERIC: This is 1970.
376
00:17:06,567 --> 00:17:08,167
ALEX: So this '70.
377
00:17:09,467 --> 00:17:11,697
Compared to now,
the footprint...
378
00:17:11,834 --> 00:17:13,434
ALEX: It's pretty--
it looks pretty stable.
379
00:17:13,567 --> 00:17:15,427
ERIC:
Looks pretty consistent.
380
00:17:15,567 --> 00:17:16,867
So the only-- the only thing
381
00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:19,970
that might give us
a little pause
382
00:17:20,100 --> 00:17:22,630
is the 1996 aerial.
383
00:17:22,767 --> 00:17:25,327
ERIC: I know there was quite
a bit of flooding in '96.
384
00:17:25,467 --> 00:17:28,097
So it looks like to me
that this area here
385
00:17:28,233 --> 00:17:29,603
is actually under water.
386
00:17:29,734 --> 00:17:31,504
In 1996, there was actually
387
00:17:31,633 --> 00:17:35,633
a very big flood
in the area.
388
00:17:35,767 --> 00:17:38,297
In reality, if the parachutes
were in that area,
389
00:17:38,433 --> 00:17:41,503
they could have easily been
swept out to the Columbia River
390
00:17:41,633 --> 00:17:43,803
and out to the Pacific Ocean.
391
00:17:43,934 --> 00:17:45,474
I believe that the parachutes
392
00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:48,000
were placed a little bit
farther inland
393
00:17:48,133 --> 00:17:50,573
which wasn't affected
nearly as much.
394
00:17:50,700 --> 00:17:52,270
ALEX: So you said the parachute
was white and the--
395
00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:53,730
ERIC:
The parachute itself was white.
396
00:17:53,867 --> 00:17:55,497
---and the pack was green?
-That's correct.
397
00:17:55,633 --> 00:17:56,873
ALEX: Always helps me to know
what colors to be looking for.
398
00:17:57,000 --> 00:17:58,830
It's dark green. Yeah. Yeah.
399
00:17:58,967 --> 00:18:00,897
FISHBURNE: Eric's team
is looking for D.B. Cooper's
400
00:18:01,033 --> 00:18:04,003
missing parachutes
and other evidence,
401
00:18:04,133 --> 00:18:05,833
including his attache case,
402
00:18:05,967 --> 00:18:08,827
ransom notes,
or unrecovered money.
403
00:18:08,967 --> 00:18:11,067
They must notify
local authorities
404
00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:12,700
and the FBI immediately
405
00:18:12,834 --> 00:18:15,534
if they find anything.
406
00:18:15,667 --> 00:18:17,367
But Eric's search permit
for the refuge
407
00:18:17,500 --> 00:18:20,070
is limited and will expire.
408
00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:22,270
- We'll just start working off
from this direction
409
00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:23,670
and work our way through.
410
00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:26,600
[♪♪]
411
00:18:26,734 --> 00:18:28,234
-ERIC: A little bit of rain.
-WOMAN: Today.
412
00:18:28,367 --> 00:18:30,027
Until end of day and tomorrow.
413
00:18:30,166 --> 00:18:32,266
ERIC: I think we got to go
a little farther down
414
00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:35,070
to the open field basically.
415
00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:36,370
BRENT: I was surprised-- or is.
416
00:18:36,500 --> 00:18:38,630
At how he was dressed
as businessman.
417
00:18:38,767 --> 00:18:40,067
ERIC:
You bring up a great point
418
00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:42,530
because a lot of people said,
you know,
419
00:18:42,667 --> 00:18:44,567
"Who in their right mind
would jump
420
00:18:44,700 --> 00:18:47,170
into the middle of the woods
wearing, uh, loafers
421
00:18:47,300 --> 00:18:48,770
-and a-- and a tie."
-BRENT: Uh-hmm. Uh-hmm.
422
00:18:48,900 --> 00:18:51,430
ERIC:
And I've always argued, nobody.
423
00:18:53,400 --> 00:18:55,830
I believe that the evidence
clearly shows
424
00:18:55,967 --> 00:18:57,897
that D.B. Cooper
intended to jump
425
00:18:58,033 --> 00:19:01,403
initially in the outskirts
of Seattle.
426
00:19:01,533 --> 00:19:03,133
FISHBURNE: After the skyjacking,
427
00:19:03,266 --> 00:19:04,866
flight attendant, Tina Mucklow,
428
00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:06,770
told authorities
that D.B. Cooper
429
00:19:06,900 --> 00:19:09,830
was visibly frustrated
and complained to her
430
00:19:09,967 --> 00:19:12,297
about how the money
was delivered.
431
00:19:12,433 --> 00:19:15,273
TINA:
He, uh, made me feel very sure
432
00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:18,100
that, uh, we had a very real
433
00:19:18,233 --> 00:19:19,933
and horrifying threat.
434
00:19:20,066 --> 00:19:20,896
ERIC: When the money showed up,
435
00:19:21,033 --> 00:19:22,373
it was not in a knapsack
436
00:19:22,500 --> 00:19:23,430
as he requested.
437
00:19:23,567 --> 00:19:25,067
It was actually just delivered
438
00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:27,170
in a white open-top
439
00:19:27,300 --> 00:19:29,130
canvas bank bag.
440
00:19:29,266 --> 00:19:30,996
It didn't have any zippers,
didn't have any snaps,
441
00:19:31,133 --> 00:19:32,703
didn't even have a handle
on it.
442
00:19:32,834 --> 00:19:34,774
Cooper needed
to figure out a way
443
00:19:34,900 --> 00:19:37,770
to secure the top
of that bank bag.
444
00:19:37,900 --> 00:19:40,270
If he didn't,
the force of the free fall
445
00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:41,900
would have immediately ejected
446
00:19:42,033 --> 00:19:44,403
all of the cash out of that bag.
447
00:19:44,533 --> 00:19:48,203
- It was also reported
by copilot, Bill Rataczek,
448
00:19:48,333 --> 00:19:50,903
that Cooper had difficulties
lowering the airstairs.
449
00:19:51,033 --> 00:19:53,133
He called us on the interphone
and requested that, uh,
450
00:19:53,266 --> 00:19:54,466
he was having trouble
with the stairs.
451
00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:56,070
"I can't get the stairs down."
452
00:19:56,200 --> 00:19:58,330
- Eric believes
these delays forced Cooper
453
00:19:58,467 --> 00:20:00,067
to jump into rougher terrain
454
00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:01,800
than originally planned.
455
00:20:01,934 --> 00:20:03,434
ERIC: I think
that's really ground zero,
456
00:20:03,567 --> 00:20:05,127
-as far as--
-ALEX: Yeah.
457
00:20:05,266 --> 00:20:06,666
ERIC: --searching for
the D .B. Cooper's parachutes
458
00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:08,300
if he landed in this area.
459
00:20:08,433 --> 00:20:10,973
And basically we need to start
right around here
460
00:20:11,100 --> 00:20:12,130
where these thicker bushes are,
461
00:20:12,266 --> 00:20:15,596
but start working our way down
462
00:20:15,734 --> 00:20:16,774
around to the south.
463
00:20:16,900 --> 00:20:18,270
ALEX: Along the edges?
464
00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:20,430
FISHBURNE: To ensure
a thorough ground search,
465
00:20:20,567 --> 00:20:22,897
the team walks at arm's length
from each other,
466
00:20:23,033 --> 00:20:25,733
searching in a traditional
grid pattern.
467
00:20:25,867 --> 00:20:26,767
Let's move.
468
00:20:26,900 --> 00:20:29,000
[♪♪]
469
00:20:29,133 --> 00:20:33,733
ERIC: Uh, looks like
a un-penetrable wall back there,
470
00:20:33,867 --> 00:20:36,427
so I'm not even gonna try that.
471
00:20:36,567 --> 00:20:39,397
ALEX: It's pretty thick
in front of us here.
472
00:20:39,533 --> 00:20:40,633
ERIC: This stuff is brutal.
473
00:20:40,767 --> 00:20:41,927
WOMAN: Oh.
474
00:20:43,133 --> 00:20:44,973
Yikes.
475
00:20:45,100 --> 00:20:46,370
ERIC: Yeah.
476
00:20:46,500 --> 00:20:48,830
That looks prime spot
to dump a parachute.
477
00:20:48,967 --> 00:20:50,427
ALEX: Exactly.
478
00:20:50,567 --> 00:20:52,297
FISHBURNE: Eric believes
Cooper left his parachute
479
00:20:52,433 --> 00:20:55,803
behind wherever he landed.
480
00:20:55,934 --> 00:20:58,804
ERIC: All the soil around here
is pretty packed clay.
481
00:20:58,934 --> 00:21:00,234
Um, there's no way he's digging
482
00:21:00,367 --> 00:21:02,667
more than whatever he could kick
with his boot.
483
00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:04,200
ALEX: Right.
And it's dark too,
484
00:21:04,333 --> 00:21:05,633
-right?
-ERIC: Yeah.
485
00:21:05,767 --> 00:21:06,827
ALEX: So he couldn't get
too far in there.
486
00:21:06,967 --> 00:21:08,027
ERIC: No.
487
00:21:08,166 --> 00:21:09,296
-
Although the parachute
488
00:21:09,433 --> 00:21:10,873
may have deteriorated,
489
00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:14,070
metallic and nylon material
could have survived.
490
00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:16,300
-Alex found some, uh...
-Let's check it out.
491
00:21:16,433 --> 00:21:18,333
It's really the first sign
of human activity
492
00:21:18,467 --> 00:21:20,627
I've seen in here.
493
00:21:20,767 --> 00:21:21,667
Oh, yeah.
494
00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:23,870
This could be promising.
495
00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:25,470
- Coming up.
496
00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:28,000
A retired FBI agent
joins the investigation...
497
00:21:28,133 --> 00:21:29,903
MARY JEAN: I received,
uh, communication
498
00:21:30,033 --> 00:21:31,133
from the Seattle office
499
00:21:31,266 --> 00:21:33,866
to obtain
a voluntary DNA sample.
500
00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:36,000
- ...and revisits
a person of interest
501
00:21:36,133 --> 00:21:37,333
from her past.
502
00:21:37,467 --> 00:21:38,697
ASHLEY: Do you think
he could be D.B. Cooper?
503
00:21:38,834 --> 00:21:39,804
Yeah, I do.
504
00:21:39,934 --> 00:21:43,074
[♪♪]
505
00:21:55,433 --> 00:21:57,373
FISHBURNE: Searching on
federally-protected land
506
00:21:57,500 --> 00:22:01,030
on an island along
the Washington-Oregon border,
507
00:22:01,166 --> 00:22:02,596
investigator, Eric Ulis,
508
00:22:02,734 --> 00:22:04,704
and his team make
what they hope
509
00:22:04,834 --> 00:22:06,774
is a significant discovery.
510
00:22:08,500 --> 00:22:10,300
-Alex found some, uh...
-Let's check it out.
511
00:22:10,433 --> 00:22:12,573
It's really the first sign
of human activity
512
00:22:12,700 --> 00:22:14,870
I've seen in here.
513
00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:15,930
Oh, yeah.
514
00:22:16,066 --> 00:22:17,366
This could be promising.
515
00:22:17,500 --> 00:22:18,970
ALEX: Uh, I don't know anything
about parachutes
516
00:22:19,100 --> 00:22:20,530
-and the kinds of--
-Yeah.
517
00:22:20,667 --> 00:22:23,067
--shroud lines they would use.
518
00:22:25,166 --> 00:22:27,526
The problem is the color
of the shroud lines
519
00:22:27,667 --> 00:22:32,367
were, uh, either white
or light pink.
520
00:22:32,500 --> 00:22:33,770
And so that would not be
part of...
521
00:22:33,900 --> 00:22:35,230
-[INDISTINCT]
-Okay.
522
00:22:35,367 --> 00:22:37,097
D.B. Cooper's parachute.
523
00:22:37,233 --> 00:22:38,903
This area is clear.
524
00:22:46,033 --> 00:22:48,433
FISHBURNE: After 10
grueling hours,
525
00:22:48,567 --> 00:22:51,527
the team ends the search
for the day.
526
00:22:53,367 --> 00:22:56,567
ERIC: With the restrictions
that we have from the refuge,
527
00:22:56,700 --> 00:22:57,830
limiting the number of people
528
00:22:57,967 --> 00:22:59,897
that we can actually
search with,
529
00:23:00,100 --> 00:23:03,370
and seeing
how vast this area is,
530
00:23:03,500 --> 00:23:05,470
and how dense the growth is
531
00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:07,170
that we have to fight through,
532
00:23:07,300 --> 00:23:09,130
it just made me realize
533
00:23:09,266 --> 00:23:11,496
how difficult this search
534
00:23:11,633 --> 00:23:12,803
is actually going to be.
535
00:23:12,934 --> 00:23:16,104
[♪♪]
536
00:23:17,767 --> 00:23:19,767
FISHBURNE: With only a few days
remaining to search
537
00:23:19,900 --> 00:23:22,300
what he believes
is the landing area,
538
00:23:22,433 --> 00:23:25,633
Eric reviews the mystery
of D.B. Cooper.
539
00:23:25,767 --> 00:23:27,527
ERIC:
There are really two parts
540
00:23:27,667 --> 00:23:29,267
to the D.B. Copper mystery.
541
00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:32,770
There's the part that relates
to what actually happened...
542
00:23:32,900 --> 00:23:34,300
MAN: All these years later,
543
00:23:34,433 --> 00:23:36,503
they're still looking
for D.B. Cooper.
544
00:23:36,633 --> 00:23:38,973
Everything FBI Special Agent
Larry Carr
545
00:23:39,100 --> 00:23:42,430
has on Cooper
fits in one battered box,
546
00:23:42,567 --> 00:23:45,027
mostly what Cooper left
on the plane.
547
00:23:45,166 --> 00:23:46,826
ERIC:
...and there is this other part
548
00:23:46,967 --> 00:23:49,597
that relates
to who the guy actually was.
549
00:23:49,734 --> 00:23:51,034
LARRY:
D.B. Cooper came from someone.
550
00:23:51,166 --> 00:23:52,426
He came from somewhere.
551
00:23:52,567 --> 00:23:54,527
You know, he just didn't
miracle himself here.
552
00:23:54,667 --> 00:23:59,267
Uh, and so, uh,
someone has information.
553
00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:01,570
FISHBURNE: During the 45 years
that D.B. Cooper's
554
00:24:01,700 --> 00:24:03,630
skyjacking case remained open,
555
00:24:03,767 --> 00:24:06,327
the FBI investigated
more than a thousand
556
00:24:06,467 --> 00:24:08,397
possible suspects.
557
00:24:08,533 --> 00:24:11,033
Some simply matched
the crime sketch.
558
00:24:11,166 --> 00:24:14,226
Others confessed
on their death beds.
559
00:24:14,367 --> 00:24:17,197
Hospitalized here in Florida
with kidney disease,
560
00:24:17,333 --> 00:24:20,003
Duane Weber motioned
to his wife to come close.
561
00:24:20,133 --> 00:24:23,133
He says I have a secret
to tell you.
562
00:24:23,266 --> 00:24:24,296
I said, "What?"
563
00:24:24,433 --> 00:24:26,803
He says, "I'm Dan Cooper."
564
00:24:26,934 --> 00:24:29,234
FISHBURNE: Even a woman was
investigated,
565
00:24:29,367 --> 00:24:31,227
pilot Barbara Dayton.
566
00:24:31,367 --> 00:24:33,897
Eric's determined to provide
a definitive answer
567
00:24:34,033 --> 00:24:35,903
about one person of interest,
568
00:24:36,033 --> 00:24:38,733
a man DNA-tested in 2003
569
00:24:38,867 --> 00:24:40,897
but never publicly eliminated.
570
00:24:41,033 --> 00:24:45,033
Eric believes this man
could be D.B. Cooper.
571
00:24:45,166 --> 00:24:48,226
His name is Sheridan Peterson.
572
00:24:48,367 --> 00:24:50,267
ERIC:
He actually became a suspect
573
00:24:50,400 --> 00:24:53,830
within one week
of the skyjacking.
574
00:24:53,967 --> 00:24:56,827
However,
it wasn't even until 2003,
575
00:24:56,967 --> 00:25:00,067
the FBI was actually able
to interview him.
576
00:25:00,200 --> 00:25:05,500
That FBI agent was a woman
named Mary Jean Fryar.
577
00:25:05,633 --> 00:25:08,773
And what she told me
when I first reached out to her
578
00:25:08,900 --> 00:25:12,430
has completely changed
the trajectory in my case.
579
00:25:12,567 --> 00:25:13,597
I'm Mary Jean Fryar.
580
00:25:13,734 --> 00:25:15,104
I'm a special agent with the FBI
581
00:25:15,233 --> 00:25:17,633
from 1985 to 2006.
582
00:25:17,767 --> 00:25:20,627
In 2003, I received, uh,
583
00:25:20,767 --> 00:25:22,567
a communication
from the Seattle office
584
00:25:22,700 --> 00:25:26,430
to locate and interview
Sheridan Peterson
585
00:25:26,567 --> 00:25:28,567
who was residing in Santa Rosa
586
00:25:28,700 --> 00:25:31,970
and obtain
a voluntary DNA sample.
587
00:25:32,100 --> 00:25:35,130
ERIC: In late 2007,
the FBI announced
588
00:25:35,266 --> 00:25:38,266
that they had
a partial DNA profile
589
00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:41,970
that they've got
from D.B. Cooper's clip-on tie.
590
00:25:42,100 --> 00:25:44,430
MAN: This is the tie
we got the DNA from.
591
00:25:44,567 --> 00:25:47,827
ERIC: This could explain
why the FBI had Mary Jean Fryar
592
00:25:47,967 --> 00:25:51,067
obtain a DNA sample
from Sheridan Peterson
593
00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:54,300
to compare it against
the partial DNA profile.
594
00:25:54,433 --> 00:25:57,033
MARY JEAN: When I met
with Sheridan Peterson in 2003,
595
00:25:57,166 --> 00:25:59,796
it was special
because it was a historic case.
596
00:25:59,934 --> 00:26:02,934
During my training
at the FBI Academy,
597
00:26:03,066 --> 00:26:04,826
we had instructors
that came in
598
00:26:04,967 --> 00:26:06,367
and, uh, talked about it.
599
00:26:06,500 --> 00:26:09,170
Sheridan's alibi,
since I talked to him in 2003,
600
00:26:09,300 --> 00:26:11,170
was always that he was present
in Nepal
601
00:26:11,300 --> 00:26:12,530
for his children's birth.
602
00:26:12,667 --> 00:26:14,027
He was saying
he wasn't in the country
603
00:26:14,166 --> 00:26:15,866
so he couldn't have been
D.B. Cooper.
604
00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:18,800
He did show me his birth
certificates of his kids,
605
00:26:18,934 --> 00:26:20,834
but his wife could have
very easily given birth
606
00:26:20,967 --> 00:26:21,997
without him there.
607
00:26:22,133 --> 00:26:24,373
Sheridan worked
in the department
608
00:26:24,500 --> 00:26:27,330
that literally wrote
the flight manual
609
00:26:27,467 --> 00:26:29,667
for the Boeing 727 jet.
610
00:26:29,800 --> 00:26:32,500
He worked as a smokejumper
in Montana.
611
00:26:32,633 --> 00:26:34,533
He's an expert skydiver.
612
00:26:34,667 --> 00:26:37,167
He's a former Boeing employee.
613
00:26:37,300 --> 00:26:38,830
Then in 1966,
614
00:26:38,967 --> 00:26:41,327
Sheridan found himself
in Vietnam
615
00:26:41,467 --> 00:26:43,667
working as a refugee adviser
616
00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:46,300
until August of 1970
617
00:26:46,433 --> 00:26:48,773
when he and his wife
moved to Nepal.
618
00:26:48,900 --> 00:26:52,170
There is nothing
that Sheridan can point to
619
00:26:52,300 --> 00:26:55,730
that proves unequivocally
that he was in Nepal
620
00:26:55,867 --> 00:26:58,667
at the time that
the skyjacking took place,
621
00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:01,430
with the exception
of the second wife.
622
00:27:01,567 --> 00:27:04,267
The problem is,
according to Sheridan,
623
00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:07,930
his second wife died in 1977.
624
00:27:08,066 --> 00:27:10,166
[♪♪]
625
00:27:10,300 --> 00:27:12,970
ERIC: Sheridan Peterson
was interviewed for a program
626
00:27:13,100 --> 00:27:15,070
related to D.B. Cooper,
627
00:27:15,200 --> 00:27:17,530
and there are some
inconsistencies in there.
628
00:27:17,667 --> 00:27:21,097
There are things that he stated
that just don't add up.
629
00:27:21,233 --> 00:27:22,973
There are two things
that I found
630
00:27:23,100 --> 00:27:25,300
that could rule Sheridan out
as a suspect.
631
00:27:25,433 --> 00:27:28,203
There's some discrepancy
with respect to eye color.
632
00:27:28,333 --> 00:27:31,273
Specifically,
Sheridan has blue eyes,
633
00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:35,630
and the FBI's very first
description of D.B. Cooper
634
00:27:35,767 --> 00:27:38,027
had him having brown eyes.
635
00:27:38,166 --> 00:27:41,296
However, very quickly
after they put up
636
00:27:41,433 --> 00:27:43,603
the initial description
for D.B. Cooper,
637
00:27:43,734 --> 00:27:46,004
the FBI updated the description
638
00:27:46,133 --> 00:27:47,403
and described D.B. Cooper
639
00:27:47,533 --> 00:27:50,673
as possibly
having brown eyes.
640
00:27:50,800 --> 00:27:53,600
The second being,
we know that D.B. Cooper
641
00:27:53,734 --> 00:27:55,034
definitely smoked cigarettes.
642
00:27:55,166 --> 00:27:57,226
In fact,
he smoked eight cigarettes
643
00:27:57,367 --> 00:27:58,897
during the skyjacking.
644
00:27:59,033 --> 00:28:02,273
I have never been able to prove
that Sheridan Peterson
645
00:28:02,400 --> 00:28:03,970
was ever a smoker.
646
00:28:04,100 --> 00:28:05,970
FISHBURNE: Eric's asked
Mary Jean
647
00:28:06,100 --> 00:28:08,930
to help secure an interview
with Sheridan.
648
00:28:09,066 --> 00:28:12,626
Her goal, get him to request
his DNA test results.
649
00:28:12,767 --> 00:28:14,427
[♪♪]
650
00:28:14,567 --> 00:28:18,297
- Now, we can't use DNA
to prove that he was D.B. Cooper
651
00:28:18,433 --> 00:28:20,773
because the profile
that the FBI has
652
00:28:20,900 --> 00:28:24,300
is only a partial DNA profile.
653
00:28:24,433 --> 00:28:26,433
But if we can get
Sheridan Peterson
654
00:28:26,567 --> 00:28:27,567
to actually request
655
00:28:27,700 --> 00:28:30,330
to get his DNA
comparison results
656
00:28:30,467 --> 00:28:31,967
from the FBI,
657
00:28:32,100 --> 00:28:33,870
we may actually be able to prove
658
00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:37,800
definitively that
he wasn't D .B. Cooper.
659
00:28:37,934 --> 00:28:41,104
[TRAIN HORN HONKING]
660
00:28:42,467 --> 00:28:45,697
[♪]
661
00:28:49,900 --> 00:28:51,170
FISHBURNE: Back on the refuge,
662
00:28:51,300 --> 00:28:53,300
Eric Ulis and his team
of investigators
663
00:28:53,433 --> 00:28:55,573
continue their hunt.
664
00:28:55,700 --> 00:28:58,130
Yesterday, they searched
a remote island.
665
00:28:58,266 --> 00:29:02,126
Today, they're searching
an extended meadow area.
666
00:29:02,266 --> 00:29:05,026
None of this land
has been searched before
667
00:29:05,166 --> 00:29:07,696
because the FBI used
a different flight path
668
00:29:07,834 --> 00:29:11,204
to calculate its search area
in 1971.
669
00:29:11,333 --> 00:29:12,903
If Eric can find any evidence
670
00:29:13,033 --> 00:29:14,673
that D.B. Cooper landed here,
671
00:29:14,800 --> 00:29:16,900
it might lead
to finally identifying
672
00:29:17,033 --> 00:29:18,533
the skyjacker.
673
00:29:18,667 --> 00:29:20,327
[♪♪]
674
00:29:20,467 --> 00:29:22,067
ERIC: All right.
So, uh, today,
675
00:29:22,200 --> 00:29:23,700
uh, we're continuing the search
676
00:29:23,834 --> 00:29:25,604
for the missing parachutes.
677
00:29:25,734 --> 00:29:27,404
We've got our survivalist
678
00:29:27,533 --> 00:29:29,533
with us as well, Dan.
679
00:29:29,667 --> 00:29:31,397
I'm Dan Baird.
I'm a backcountry
680
00:29:31,533 --> 00:29:32,903
guidance survival expert.
681
00:29:33,033 --> 00:29:35,533
I'm not an expert
on D.B. Cooper himself,
682
00:29:35,667 --> 00:29:37,967
but to me, it seems like
it's a survival situation.
683
00:29:38,100 --> 00:29:39,270
I'm looking forward
to the search,
684
00:29:39,400 --> 00:29:40,730
this is gonna be awesome.
685
00:29:40,867 --> 00:29:43,697
There are several copycat jumps
that took place
686
00:29:43,834 --> 00:29:45,574
after Cooper's jump.
687
00:29:45,700 --> 00:29:47,200
Every single person
688
00:29:47,333 --> 00:29:48,933
who did it survived.
689
00:29:50,433 --> 00:29:53,173
FISHBURNE: Although every
copycat jumper survived,
690
00:29:53,300 --> 00:29:55,900
none of them got away
with the crime.
691
00:29:56,033 --> 00:29:59,333
Most notable,
a man named Richard Floyd McCoy
692
00:29:59,467 --> 00:30:01,467
who, in 1972, remained free
693
00:30:01,600 --> 00:30:05,030
for two days
before being arrested.
694
00:30:05,166 --> 00:30:06,366
It seems that the real challenge
695
00:30:06,500 --> 00:30:08,530
comes once he hits the ground,
696
00:30:08,667 --> 00:30:10,567
how he gets out of the area.
697
00:30:13,700 --> 00:30:16,230
DAN: Were these tracks
in place at that time?
698
00:30:16,367 --> 00:30:19,097
-MAN: Yes, they were.
-ERIC: Yeah, they were. Yup.
699
00:30:19,233 --> 00:30:23,103
We're on top
of the BNSF Railway tracks.
700
00:30:23,233 --> 00:30:25,233
If D.B. Cooper landed
in this area,
701
00:30:25,367 --> 00:30:28,197
the railroad tracks
provide a perfect corridor
702
00:30:28,333 --> 00:30:30,833
that he could've used
to get to Tena Bar
703
00:30:30,967 --> 00:30:32,727
where the money was found.
704
00:30:32,867 --> 00:30:34,327
DAN: Do you ever think
of looking into
705
00:30:34,467 --> 00:30:36,127
what the train schedule
was like that night?
706
00:30:36,266 --> 00:30:38,396
If he landed,
started walking for 20 minutes,
707
00:30:38,533 --> 00:30:41,103
half hour, I'm sure
the train would've gone by.
708
00:30:41,233 --> 00:30:42,873
ERIC:
There was a railroad conductor
709
00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:44,930
who was driving down
the tracks that night
710
00:30:45,066 --> 00:30:48,026
who actually
did report to the FBI
711
00:30:48,166 --> 00:30:50,526
that there was somebody
on the tracks.
712
00:30:50,667 --> 00:30:52,727
And it's important
to remember
713
00:30:52,867 --> 00:30:54,597
that as the conductor
was bringing this
714
00:30:54,734 --> 00:30:57,204
to the attention of the FBI,
715
00:30:57,333 --> 00:30:58,673
the FBI actually thinks
716
00:30:58,800 --> 00:31:00,900
that D.B. Cooper landed six,
717
00:31:01,033 --> 00:31:03,333
or seven, or eight miles east
718
00:31:03,467 --> 00:31:04,567
of the railroad tracks.
719
00:31:04,700 --> 00:31:06,330
[TRAIN HORN HONKS]
720
00:31:06,467 --> 00:31:09,297
ERIC: Today, we're gonna be
doing half of the meadow,
721
00:31:09,433 --> 00:31:11,233
because there's just
too much territory
722
00:31:11,367 --> 00:31:12,527
to cover in one day.
723
00:31:12,667 --> 00:31:14,297
Tomorrow, we'll deal
with the other half.
724
00:31:14,433 --> 00:31:17,073
That said,
the search starts right here.
725
00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:19,270
BARRY: There's gonna be four
of us that really have to work
726
00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:21,400
as the actual line searchers.
727
00:31:21,533 --> 00:31:23,673
These guys are gonna be
a little bit more independent.
728
00:31:25,967 --> 00:31:27,727
ERIC: I'll look along
the edge here a bit.
729
00:31:27,867 --> 00:31:29,297
That's due north.
730
00:31:29,433 --> 00:31:31,833
ERIC: We need to work our way
and go further north.
731
00:31:31,967 --> 00:31:33,397
COLIN: It's more
of like a pinpoint
732
00:31:33,533 --> 00:31:34,733
-so then it'll open up--
-ERIC: Yeah.
733
00:31:34,867 --> 00:31:36,297
COLIN: --it'll make it
really sensitive
734
00:31:36,433 --> 00:31:37,933
-so you pick up everything.
-Your receiver, yeah.
735
00:31:38,066 --> 00:31:39,766
And then you can kind of do
your crisscross...
736
00:31:39,900 --> 00:31:41,470
And if I left it on that,
it would be like, woo.
737
00:31:41,600 --> 00:31:43,730
-COLIN: Exactly.
-It's messed up. Okay.
738
00:31:45,033 --> 00:31:46,733
ERIC: Somebody landing
in some place like this
739
00:31:46,867 --> 00:31:49,227
in the middle of this thicket,
that would be pretty brutal.
740
00:31:49,367 --> 00:31:50,627
I mean, I just don't see
how you land
741
00:31:50,767 --> 00:31:52,227
in something like this
742
00:31:52,367 --> 00:31:54,227
without getting injured.
743
00:31:54,367 --> 00:31:56,267
FISHBURNE: On the night
D.B. Cooper jumped,
744
00:31:56,400 --> 00:31:59,230
moderate wind gust upwards
of 11 miles per hour
745
00:31:59,367 --> 00:32:00,997
were reported on the ground
746
00:32:01,133 --> 00:32:03,333
with sporadic rainfall.
747
00:32:03,467 --> 00:32:05,997
When Cooper hit land,
he would've experienced
748
00:32:06,133 --> 00:32:09,633
ground temperatures
dropping into the 30s.
749
00:32:09,767 --> 00:32:10,997
ERIC: It's so swampy
right here.
750
00:32:11,133 --> 00:32:13,333
[♪♪]
751
00:32:14,633 --> 00:32:16,573
ERIC: Is it dry over there,
Jason, or...
752
00:32:16,700 --> 00:32:18,370
JASON: Yeah, if you come
around the north side,
753
00:32:18,500 --> 00:32:21,100
follow the grass.
754
00:32:21,233 --> 00:32:23,833
[MACHINE WAILING]
755
00:32:23,967 --> 00:32:25,997
ALEX: Can I go forward
and back a little bit?
756
00:32:28,800 --> 00:32:30,300
This could be promising.
757
00:32:30,433 --> 00:32:31,703
Found it.
758
00:32:31,834 --> 00:32:33,704
FISHBURNE: Coming up.
Eric's ground team
759
00:32:33,834 --> 00:32:34,934
rose even bigger.
760
00:32:35,066 --> 00:32:37,026
ERIC: All right.
Folks, we ready?
761
00:32:37,166 --> 00:32:39,196
We found what appears
to be like a wire.
762
00:32:39,333 --> 00:32:41,573
It's not shiny, but it doesn't
appear to be rusted.
763
00:32:41,700 --> 00:32:43,830
MARK: In the pilot chute,
there's a spring.
764
00:32:43,967 --> 00:32:45,467
FISHBURNE: As Mary Jean Fryar
765
00:32:45,600 --> 00:32:47,600
prepares for a sit-down
with Sheridan Peterson.
766
00:32:47,734 --> 00:32:48,804
MARY JEAN:
It's been a long time
767
00:32:48,934 --> 00:32:50,004
since we've seen each other.
768
00:32:50,133 --> 00:32:52,203
SHERIDAN: Yes, it has.
[LAUGHS]
769
00:32:52,333 --> 00:32:54,533
[♪♪]
770
00:33:09,266 --> 00:33:10,926
JASON: Yeah, if you come
around the north side,
771
00:33:11,066 --> 00:33:12,396
follow the grass.
772
00:33:12,533 --> 00:33:14,473
FISHBURNE: Eric Ulis
and his search team
773
00:33:14,600 --> 00:33:16,470
are in a protected
wildlife refuge
774
00:33:16,600 --> 00:33:18,370
in Southwest Washington,
775
00:33:18,500 --> 00:33:21,030
searching for evidence
that D.B. Cooper
776
00:33:21,166 --> 00:33:22,796
landed here.
777
00:33:22,934 --> 00:33:25,304
Halfway through searching
a large meadow area,
778
00:33:25,433 --> 00:33:27,903
they uncover something
that could be connected
779
00:33:28,033 --> 00:33:29,533
with this unsolved myself.
780
00:33:29,667 --> 00:33:31,627
ALEX: I think I pinpointed
where it is.
781
00:33:31,767 --> 00:33:33,627
FISHBURNE: Cooper's NB6
parachute
782
00:33:33,767 --> 00:33:35,567
had stainless steel parts.
783
00:33:35,700 --> 00:33:37,030
ALEX: Just, uh,
this must've been an old...
784
00:33:37,166 --> 00:33:38,966
- So a hit
on the metal detector
785
00:33:39,100 --> 00:33:41,800
is encouraging news.
786
00:33:41,934 --> 00:33:43,574
ALEX: Yeah, looks about it.
787
00:33:43,700 --> 00:33:45,170
It's either
two separate objects
788
00:33:45,300 --> 00:33:48,030
or one slightly stretched out
789
00:33:48,166 --> 00:33:49,796
like the backpack
I think would be.
790
00:33:49,934 --> 00:33:52,474
ERIC: All right.
We got something on the ground.
791
00:33:52,600 --> 00:33:54,000
Wow. So what does that mean
792
00:33:54,133 --> 00:33:57,503
as far as, uh, the size
of the piece?
793
00:33:57,633 --> 00:33:59,533
COLIN:
With any metal detection,
794
00:33:59,667 --> 00:34:01,767
it's hard to get size
795
00:34:01,900 --> 00:34:03,300
until you start digging it up
796
00:34:03,433 --> 00:34:06,003
because you could have
something really small
797
00:34:06,133 --> 00:34:08,003
that's really conductive
right at surface
798
00:34:08,133 --> 00:34:11,133
and that's gonna give you
a really solid response.
799
00:34:11,266 --> 00:34:12,966
But if you have
something larger
800
00:34:13,100 --> 00:34:15,100
that-- that's at depth,
it could actually give you a--
801
00:34:15,233 --> 00:34:16,873
it'll give you
a smaller response.
802
00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:19,600
And so it's just how close
the object is to the sensors.
803
00:34:19,734 --> 00:34:21,274
FISHBURNE: Although the
metal detector
804
00:34:21,400 --> 00:34:23,470
registered a strong hit,
805
00:34:23,600 --> 00:34:26,370
the size of the object,
how conductive it is
806
00:34:26,500 --> 00:34:28,230
and how close it is
to the surface,
807
00:34:28,367 --> 00:34:31,827
can all influence
the strength of the signal.
808
00:34:31,967 --> 00:34:33,097
ALEX:
It seems really pinpointed
809
00:34:33,233 --> 00:34:36,573
at that little soft spot
right there.
810
00:34:36,700 --> 00:34:38,030
I mean, that's a robust signal.
811
00:34:38,166 --> 00:34:40,126
I mean, clearly,
there's something down there.
812
00:34:40,266 --> 00:34:42,296
[MACHINE WAILING]
813
00:34:43,767 --> 00:34:45,497
COLIN: Well then maybe...
814
00:34:45,633 --> 00:34:46,573
ALEX: Oh, there we are.
815
00:34:46,700 --> 00:34:49,670
-Oh, wire.
-COLIN: A wire.
816
00:34:49,800 --> 00:34:51,400
What kind of wire though?
817
00:34:51,533 --> 00:34:54,273
Parachute pull cord?
818
00:34:54,400 --> 00:34:57,330
ALEX: So the wire
has to stay on the ground, so...
819
00:34:57,467 --> 00:34:58,527
ERIC: Let me--
let me try to see
820
00:34:58,667 --> 00:34:59,797
if I got cell service in here.
821
00:34:59,934 --> 00:35:01,834
I'll give Mark
a really quick call.
822
00:35:03,066 --> 00:35:06,626
Mark Meltzer
is an expert skydiver.
823
00:35:06,767 --> 00:35:08,367
He's gonna know this parachute
824
00:35:08,500 --> 00:35:09,870
inside and out.
825
00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:12,670
So, he's the perfect person
to reach out to
826
00:35:12,800 --> 00:35:16,330
to see if he recognizes
this piece of wire
827
00:35:16,467 --> 00:35:18,367
and if he thinks
it has anything
828
00:35:18,500 --> 00:35:20,900
to do with the parachute.
829
00:35:21,033 --> 00:35:22,373
-MARK: Eric?
-ERIC: Hey, Mark.
830
00:35:22,500 --> 00:35:24,070
Yeah, it's Eric.
So we found what appears
831
00:35:24,200 --> 00:35:27,130
to be like a wire,
uh, buried,
832
00:35:27,266 --> 00:35:29,066
kind of half buried in here.
833
00:35:29,200 --> 00:35:31,170
Is there any sort of wire?
834
00:35:31,300 --> 00:35:32,970
Uh, it's a little heavier
gauge wire,
835
00:35:33,100 --> 00:35:35,200
anything like that
in the-- in the parachutes,
836
00:35:35,333 --> 00:35:38,033
uh, either the reserve
or the, uh, the main
837
00:35:38,166 --> 00:35:39,596
that would--
that's consistent with that?
838
00:35:39,734 --> 00:35:41,304
MARK: Uh, in the pilot--
in the pilot chute,
839
00:35:41,433 --> 00:35:43,103
there's a spring,
it's not stranded.
840
00:35:43,233 --> 00:35:45,303
It's solid wire,
but it's springy.
841
00:35:45,433 --> 00:35:46,773
So what kind of gauge
are we talking about,
842
00:35:46,900 --> 00:35:48,600
relative to, like, the size
843
00:35:48,734 --> 00:35:51,934
of a, uh, a hangar, for example?
844
00:35:52,066 --> 00:35:53,126
MARK: About the same.
845
00:35:53,266 --> 00:35:55,126
Okay. Is it okay
if we take a picture
846
00:35:55,266 --> 00:35:56,326
and send the picture to you
847
00:35:56,467 --> 00:35:58,927
and just kind of get
your impression?
848
00:35:59,066 --> 00:36:00,166
MARK: Yeah, that's fine.
849
00:36:00,300 --> 00:36:03,030
Okay.
Hold on a second here, Mark.
850
00:36:03,166 --> 00:36:04,696
MARK: Uh, is it-- is it rusty?
851
00:36:04,834 --> 00:36:06,504
ERIC: I mean, it's not shiny,
but it doesn't appear
852
00:36:06,633 --> 00:36:08,833
to be rusted to me, but...
853
00:36:09,834 --> 00:36:11,174
let me send this over to you.
854
00:36:11,300 --> 00:36:13,070
Hopefully, it lets me
855
00:36:13,200 --> 00:36:14,700
send it out to you here.
856
00:36:14,834 --> 00:36:16,234
And then you can
just shoot me a callback
857
00:36:16,367 --> 00:36:17,667
as soon as you have a chance
to take a look at it.
858
00:36:17,800 --> 00:36:19,130
-MARK: Okay. Try that.
-All right.
859
00:36:19,266 --> 00:36:20,996
-Thanks, Mark.
-MARK: All right.
860
00:36:21,133 --> 00:36:22,803
ERIC: There's an old road
in here, too,
861
00:36:22,934 --> 00:36:25,404
about a hundred yards in.
862
00:36:25,533 --> 00:36:27,703
-MAN: Hmm.
-ERIC: Had a gate on it even.
863
00:36:27,834 --> 00:36:31,504
Let's see what kind of metal
they used on the fencing here.
864
00:36:31,633 --> 00:36:33,673
But that's what it looks like
actually right there.
865
00:36:33,800 --> 00:36:34,930
ERIC: Yeah.
866
00:36:35,066 --> 00:36:36,426
BARRY: That's what
it looks like.
867
00:36:36,567 --> 00:36:37,897
Yeah, as you can see
down there-- down there,
868
00:36:38,033 --> 00:36:39,903
that's how they secure
the post together
869
00:36:40,033 --> 00:36:42,033
-and make them stand up.
-ERIC: Yeah.
870
00:36:42,166 --> 00:36:43,526
BARRY:
It looked just like that.
871
00:36:43,667 --> 00:36:47,467
It looked just like that,
exactly like that.
872
00:36:47,600 --> 00:36:50,000
ALEX: At least we have an idea
of what it is now, so--
873
00:36:50,133 --> 00:36:52,703
Yeah, that appears
to be the case.
874
00:36:52,834 --> 00:36:55,704
I was hoping that we would
have found something
875
00:36:55,834 --> 00:36:58,174
a little bit more concrete
at this point.
876
00:36:58,300 --> 00:37:00,470
We've only got more day left
877
00:37:00,600 --> 00:37:02,070
to search the refuge,
878
00:37:02,200 --> 00:37:04,730
then it's onto searching
the private property.
879
00:37:04,867 --> 00:37:07,767
[♪♪]
880
00:37:07,900 --> 00:37:10,400
FISHBURNE: While Eric
and the team call it a day,
881
00:37:10,533 --> 00:37:12,803
retired FBI agent,
Mary Jean Fryar,
882
00:37:12,934 --> 00:37:14,934
is in Santa Rosa.
883
00:37:15,066 --> 00:37:17,226
She's spoken
with Sheridan Peterson.
884
00:37:17,367 --> 00:37:19,027
Eric's key person of interest.
885
00:37:19,166 --> 00:37:21,596
And now, she said
she has even more reason
886
00:37:21,734 --> 00:37:25,474
to believe
he could be D.B. Cooper.
887
00:37:25,600 --> 00:37:27,770
In September, I received
888
00:37:27,900 --> 00:37:29,970
communication
from Sheridan Peterson,
889
00:37:30,100 --> 00:37:31,630
which was very strange.
890
00:37:31,767 --> 00:37:33,867
I've never had another person
I've ever interviewed
891
00:37:34,000 --> 00:37:35,800
in my 21.4 years
892
00:37:35,934 --> 00:37:37,574
ever contact me again.
893
00:37:37,700 --> 00:37:39,600
And he sent me two messages
894
00:37:39,734 --> 00:37:42,004
about things
that were upsetting him
895
00:37:42,133 --> 00:37:45,573
and signed them both D.B.
896
00:37:45,700 --> 00:37:49,230
I think Sheridan
loves the simulation,
897
00:37:49,367 --> 00:37:51,767
the engagement,
the thrill of him
898
00:37:51,900 --> 00:37:54,300
being a suspect as D.B. Cooper.
899
00:37:54,433 --> 00:37:56,303
ASHLEY: Do you think
that he could be D.B. Cooper?
900
00:37:56,433 --> 00:37:58,633
Yeah, I do.
901
00:37:58,767 --> 00:38:00,327
FISHBURNE: To prepare for
her meeting,
902
00:38:00,467 --> 00:38:02,827
Mary Jean watches
an interview Sheridan did
903
00:38:02,967 --> 00:38:06,167
for a 2016 documentary.
904
00:38:06,300 --> 00:38:08,670
In it, Sheridan acknowledges
he sky jumped
905
00:38:08,800 --> 00:38:10,500
at Issaquah Skyport,
906
00:38:10,633 --> 00:38:12,833
the place that supplied
the parachutes D.B. Cooper
907
00:38:12,967 --> 00:38:17,467
requested during flight 305
skyjacking.
908
00:38:17,600 --> 00:38:19,470
SHERIDAN:
Oh, I was the most obvious,
909
00:38:19,600 --> 00:38:21,930
uh, suspect of anyone.
910
00:38:22,066 --> 00:38:24,796
I have jumped in Issaquah
911
00:38:24,934 --> 00:38:27,804
and I got
my instructor's license there.
912
00:38:27,934 --> 00:38:33,034
And that is where the guy
got the parachutes
913
00:38:33,166 --> 00:38:35,826
and I had worked
for, um, Boeing.
914
00:38:35,967 --> 00:38:37,367
MARY JEAN: He's building
a very good case
915
00:38:37,500 --> 00:38:38,700
against himself.
916
00:38:38,834 --> 00:38:42,574
SHERIDAN: She said,
"Where were you?"
917
00:38:42,700 --> 00:38:44,400
And I said,
"I was in the park."
918
00:38:44,533 --> 00:38:46,133
"Oh, in the park. Come on.
919
00:38:46,266 --> 00:38:48,496
You can think
of a better one then."
920
00:38:48,633 --> 00:38:50,203
No, I did not say that.
921
00:38:50,333 --> 00:38:51,803
And they didn't keep track
of people
922
00:38:51,934 --> 00:38:53,474
going back and forth
from the country.
923
00:38:53,600 --> 00:38:54,870
If he was there, that's great.
924
00:38:55,000 --> 00:38:56,830
But, that doesn't prove
that he was there.
925
00:38:56,967 --> 00:38:58,997
SHERIDAN:
And then I told them, I said,
926
00:38:59,133 --> 00:39:01,203
"He had four parachutes."
927
00:39:01,333 --> 00:39:04,303
He had one parachute
with a red X cross
928
00:39:04,433 --> 00:39:05,533
and that was a reserve.
929
00:39:05,667 --> 00:39:08,797
Another reserve
was perfectly good.
930
00:39:08,934 --> 00:39:11,174
Which reserve do you take?
931
00:39:11,300 --> 00:39:14,070
The one that was daisy-chained.
I remember that one.
932
00:39:14,200 --> 00:39:16,200
This is interesting
that he's so detailed.
933
00:39:16,333 --> 00:39:18,533
MAN: Took more than taking
the right parachute,
934
00:39:18,667 --> 00:39:21,197
it also meant that the person
would have to know
935
00:39:21,333 --> 00:39:23,503
those stairs come down
on the 727.
936
00:39:23,633 --> 00:39:25,033
SHERIDAN: I wouldn't know
what's on the--
937
00:39:25,166 --> 00:39:26,566
MAN: So that's what I--
that's what I'm saying,
938
00:39:26,700 --> 00:39:28,070
so anybody is saying
that you would've been
939
00:39:28,200 --> 00:39:29,700
a great D.B. Cooper,
940
00:39:29,834 --> 00:39:31,574
not if you didn't know
how to get off the airplane.
941
00:39:31,700 --> 00:39:33,400
Oh, yeah.
942
00:39:33,533 --> 00:39:34,803
That made him nervous, you know,
943
00:39:34,934 --> 00:39:35,874
with that conversation.
944
00:39:36,000 --> 00:39:37,370
Didn't know about the stairs
945
00:39:37,500 --> 00:39:40,030
and he's kind of fidgeting
with his cup.
946
00:39:40,166 --> 00:39:43,366
MAN: And did you ever hear
from Mary Jean again?
947
00:39:43,500 --> 00:39:46,630
She came back for some reason
948
00:39:46,767 --> 00:39:50,197
and told me
that, uh, there's no match.
949
00:39:50,333 --> 00:39:51,873
Well, it's very fortunate
for me.
950
00:39:52,000 --> 00:39:53,570
MARY JEAN: I'm about to go
see Sheridan Peterson
951
00:39:53,700 --> 00:39:55,870
for the first time since 2003
952
00:39:56,000 --> 00:39:58,030
and I'm hoping
that maybe at this point,
953
00:39:58,166 --> 00:40:00,796
he's finally ready to accept
954
00:40:00,934 --> 00:40:02,874
that he's gonna tell us
that he's D.B. Cooper.
955
00:40:03,000 --> 00:40:04,100
Don't take it to your death.
956
00:40:04,233 --> 00:40:05,573
Set the record straight.
957
00:40:05,700 --> 00:40:08,030
Put this to rest
so that everyone can appreciate
958
00:40:08,166 --> 00:40:09,566
what you did and got away with,
959
00:40:09,700 --> 00:40:12,300
and not let anyone else
take credit for it.
960
00:40:14,066 --> 00:40:16,296
[♪]
961
00:40:32,033 --> 00:40:34,373
FISHBURNE: With their permit
expired at the refuge,
962
00:40:34,500 --> 00:40:37,570
Eric and his team arrive
at their final search zone,
963
00:40:37,700 --> 00:40:40,900
a ravine on private property.
964
00:40:41,033 --> 00:40:42,473
It's on Lake River
965
00:40:42,600 --> 00:40:44,300
and Eric believes Cooper
could have used it
966
00:40:44,433 --> 00:40:47,233
for cover as he made his way
to Tena Bar
967
00:40:47,367 --> 00:40:49,927
where some ransom money
was uncovered in 1980.
968
00:40:50,066 --> 00:40:51,466
-ERIC: How's it going, man?
-It's going good.
969
00:40:51,600 --> 00:40:53,070
-Good to see you.
-ERIC: Good to see as well.
970
00:40:53,200 --> 00:40:55,230
MAN: Yup. Yup. How you doing?
971
00:40:55,367 --> 00:40:57,867
Good morning.
Uh, so my name is Eric.
972
00:40:58,000 --> 00:41:00,200
Barry, I wanna thank you
very much for, um,
973
00:41:00,333 --> 00:41:02,073
getting these group
of people together
974
00:41:02,200 --> 00:41:03,800
and why don't you give me
an idea of who we've got here?
975
00:41:03,934 --> 00:41:05,504
Because clearly
we have two different teams.
976
00:41:05,633 --> 00:41:07,803
We have, uh, as you see
by the different colors of blue
977
00:41:07,934 --> 00:41:10,234
and the red, so, uh, I'm with
the Southwest Washington
978
00:41:10,367 --> 00:41:11,497
Search and Rescue
979
00:41:11,633 --> 00:41:13,473
and, uh, these folks here
in the red
980
00:41:13,600 --> 00:41:15,930
are with the Clark County
Sheriff's Office.
981
00:41:16,066 --> 00:41:18,126
ERIC: How many of you
have actually heard
982
00:41:18,266 --> 00:41:21,026
of D.B. Cooper or haven't heard
of D.B. Cooper
983
00:41:21,166 --> 00:41:22,966
who are familiar with the case?
984
00:41:23,100 --> 00:41:24,670
-[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
-ERIC: I know you guys are.
985
00:41:24,800 --> 00:41:25,970
It'd be more surprising
if somebody
986
00:41:26,100 --> 00:41:28,130
-hadn't ever heard of that.
-Yeah.
987
00:41:28,266 --> 00:41:30,466
-I'd know.
-[LAUGHTER]
988
00:41:30,600 --> 00:41:32,800
I'm from the East Coast,
so this is--
989
00:41:32,934 --> 00:41:34,334
I-- I've read
a little bit about it
990
00:41:34,467 --> 00:41:36,127
and thought it was interesting
and being here
991
00:41:36,266 --> 00:41:37,296
with the rest of the team is,
992
00:41:37,433 --> 00:41:39,503
it's exciting and it's fun.
993
00:41:39,633 --> 00:41:41,303
So, um, you know, hopefully
994
00:41:41,433 --> 00:41:42,803
we do come across something
995
00:41:42,934 --> 00:41:44,174
and, you know, get to learn
a little bit more
996
00:41:44,300 --> 00:41:46,470
about the Pacific
Northwest legend.
997
00:41:46,600 --> 00:41:47,500
ERIC: There's a lot of evidence
998
00:41:47,633 --> 00:41:50,073
that suggests that D.B. Cooper
999
00:41:50,200 --> 00:41:53,030
landed somewhere
in this vicinity.
1000
00:41:53,166 --> 00:41:55,426
We did some searching
on the refuge side
1001
00:41:55,567 --> 00:41:57,027
of Lake River.
1002
00:41:57,166 --> 00:41:59,896
Now it's time to focus
on this side of Lake River.
1003
00:42:00,100 --> 00:42:01,870
My thought is that Cooper,
1004
00:42:02,000 --> 00:42:04,330
you know, if he landed
in this area here,
1005
00:42:04,467 --> 00:42:06,827
would have, you know,
walked his way down
1006
00:42:06,967 --> 00:42:09,267
to the ravine looking
for a path
1007
00:42:09,400 --> 00:42:10,430
out of the area,
1008
00:42:10,567 --> 00:42:13,197
a path toward
he railroad tracks.
1009
00:42:13,333 --> 00:42:16,603
FISHBURNE: Today's search
will cover over 12 acres.
1010
00:42:16,734 --> 00:42:18,774
So they've doubled
their search team.
1011
00:42:18,900 --> 00:42:21,830
Each member is outfitted
with a GPS tracker
1012
00:42:21,967 --> 00:42:24,627
and monitored
from a mobile command center.
1013
00:42:24,767 --> 00:42:26,867
ERIC: All right.
Folks, we ready?
1014
00:42:27,000 --> 00:42:29,370
FISHBURNE: If evidence
of D.B. Cooper is here,
1015
00:42:29,500 --> 00:42:31,600
Eric's confident
his team can find it.
1016
00:42:31,734 --> 00:42:33,974
[♪♪]
1017
00:42:38,000 --> 00:42:39,030
MAN: Right side good?
1018
00:42:39,166 --> 00:42:40,096
ERIC: Right good.
1019
00:42:40,233 --> 00:42:41,733
-Left side.
-Left side good.
1020
00:42:41,867 --> 00:42:44,427
MAN: Okay. Moving.
All right. Slow, methodical.
1021
00:42:44,567 --> 00:42:47,397
ERIC: Just follow this ravine
straight down.
1022
00:42:47,533 --> 00:42:50,033
MAN: Low and slow, folks.
Low and slow.
1023
00:42:50,166 --> 00:42:51,196
Make sure you clear under trees
1024
00:42:51,333 --> 00:42:52,973
and things like that.
1025
00:42:54,367 --> 00:42:56,467
Look up every once in a while.
1026
00:42:56,600 --> 00:42:58,530
WOMAN: Yeah,
look behind you, too.
1027
00:42:58,667 --> 00:43:00,927
MAN: And you can break
as much as you need to.
1028
00:43:01,066 --> 00:43:03,626
Okay. We got permission.
1029
00:43:03,767 --> 00:43:04,897
ERIC: Keep going.
Yeah, looking good.
1030
00:43:05,033 --> 00:43:06,173
-MAN: Keep going.
-ERIC: Think,
1031
00:43:06,300 --> 00:43:08,030
where would I hide a parachute?
1032
00:43:09,600 --> 00:43:10,830
One other thing
to consider as I look
1033
00:43:10,967 --> 00:43:12,597
at these trees up here,
1034
00:43:12,734 --> 00:43:15,474
one of the premier suspects
1035
00:43:15,600 --> 00:43:18,500
in this case
was actually a smokejumper.
1036
00:43:18,633 --> 00:43:20,833
If he happened to land
in this type of environment,
1037
00:43:20,967 --> 00:43:22,297
he would have known
exactly what to do
1038
00:43:22,433 --> 00:43:23,673
and how to handle the situation
1039
00:43:23,800 --> 00:43:25,530
if he had caught up
in these trees, you know,
1040
00:43:25,667 --> 00:43:26,967
60, 70 feet up.
1041
00:43:27,100 --> 00:43:28,500
We know that he had
a pocket knife on him
1042
00:43:28,633 --> 00:43:29,833
and how he actually used that
1043
00:43:29,967 --> 00:43:31,627
to cut some
of the shroud lines.
1044
00:43:31,767 --> 00:43:33,427
So, uh, he would have
figured out a way to get down.
1045
00:43:33,567 --> 00:43:37,167
It wouldn't have been
an issue for him.
1046
00:43:37,300 --> 00:43:38,430
MAN: Oh, yeah, something.
1047
00:43:38,567 --> 00:43:40,167
BARRY: They got, uh, something.
1048
00:43:40,300 --> 00:43:42,370
They're digging in something
over there, Eric. I'm not sure.
1049
00:43:42,500 --> 00:43:43,970
COLIN: Eric,
do you wanna come over here?
1050
00:43:44,100 --> 00:43:45,470
ERIC: Yeah. Hold on.
1051
00:43:45,600 --> 00:43:47,870
WOMAN: Right. Holding.
1052
00:43:48,000 --> 00:43:49,800
Yes. That's the same area.
1053
00:43:51,467 --> 00:43:53,527
Hold this.
1054
00:43:53,667 --> 00:43:57,597
The wine bottle
like the piece of aluminum.
1055
00:43:57,734 --> 00:43:59,134
Yeah, I think that's all it is.
1056
00:43:59,266 --> 00:44:00,896
ERIC: Yeah, some cork on it.
Yeah, it's definitely
1057
00:44:01,033 --> 00:44:03,533
like a top of a wine cork.
1058
00:44:03,667 --> 00:44:04,897
We know the guy was drinking.
1059
00:44:05,033 --> 00:44:07,703
Um, had a bourbon
on the flight, you know.
1060
00:44:07,834 --> 00:44:09,134
This is one of those things
I'm just curious
1061
00:44:09,266 --> 00:44:10,896
-if he took a couple.
-COLIN: Yeah.
1062
00:44:11,033 --> 00:44:12,703
Yeah. I mean you never know
he's got many bottles
1063
00:44:12,834 --> 00:44:15,234
with him you don't know,
so it'd be the kind items
1064
00:44:15,367 --> 00:44:18,027
to save, uh, for the heck of it,
1065
00:44:18,166 --> 00:44:19,796
but, yeah.
1066
00:44:19,934 --> 00:44:21,874
Seems unlikely
that there's any significance,
1067
00:44:22,000 --> 00:44:25,800
-but, uh, an idea...
-COLIN: Gives an idea of how--
1068
00:44:25,934 --> 00:44:27,074
how sensitive
this instrument is.
1069
00:44:27,200 --> 00:44:28,670
ERIC: Yeah. All right.
1070
00:44:28,800 --> 00:44:30,700
-COLIN: We'll continue.
-ERIC: Let's just pocket that
1071
00:44:30,834 --> 00:44:32,274
and we'll continue, yeah.
1072
00:44:32,400 --> 00:44:34,330
COLIN: Does that look like
something part of a plane?
1073
00:44:40,033 --> 00:44:42,533
Cabinet or something?
1074
00:44:42,667 --> 00:44:45,427
-Hey, Eric.
-ERIC: Yeah.
1075
00:44:45,567 --> 00:44:47,667
Do you wanna come here
for a second?
1076
00:44:47,800 --> 00:44:49,470
-ERIC: Yeah.
-COLIN: Large metal box
1077
00:44:49,600 --> 00:44:51,930
and I assume
somebody's filled it with rocks,
1078
00:44:52,066 --> 00:44:53,566
but I just wanna make sure
that...
1079
00:44:53,700 --> 00:44:55,400
-you don't have any...
-ERIC: I'm gonna [INDISTINCT]
1080
00:44:55,533 --> 00:44:56,603
with me.
You see it anywhere.
1081
00:44:56,734 --> 00:44:57,804
COLIN: This right here.
1082
00:44:57,934 --> 00:44:59,334
Oh, yeah. Yeah.
That's the kind of thing
1083
00:44:59,467 --> 00:45:01,767
that, uh-- I don't know
how it ended up here,
1084
00:45:01,900 --> 00:45:03,730
but it's certainly not
associated with the parachute
1085
00:45:03,867 --> 00:45:05,027
-or anything like that.
-COLIN: Yeah.
1086
00:45:05,166 --> 00:45:06,326
And it's not associated
with anything...
1087
00:45:06,467 --> 00:45:07,827
Nothing that I'm aware of,
yeah.
1088
00:45:07,967 --> 00:45:09,927
It doesn't, uh--
it's certainly much bigger
1089
00:45:10,066 --> 00:45:11,726
than the attache case
would have been.
1090
00:45:11,867 --> 00:45:13,597
It looks just-- up here,
it looks to me
1091
00:45:13,734 --> 00:45:16,434
just like a, uh, you know,
old metal box, so...
1092
00:45:16,567 --> 00:45:18,427
COLIN: Yeah.
It's an old metal box, yeah.
1093
00:45:18,567 --> 00:45:20,067
Yeah. Okay.
1094
00:45:20,200 --> 00:45:22,670
All right.
Good to check out though.
1095
00:45:26,033 --> 00:45:28,633
FISHBURNE: Although they've yet
to find definitive evidence,
1096
00:45:28,767 --> 00:45:31,927
the search team has recovered
a few items of interest,
1097
00:45:32,066 --> 00:45:33,526
including this small gauge wire
1098
00:45:33,667 --> 00:45:35,067
which could have been part
1099
00:45:35,200 --> 00:45:37,370
of the NB6 parachute.
1100
00:45:37,500 --> 00:45:39,300
They also found nylon rope
1101
00:45:39,433 --> 00:45:40,803
hanging from a tree
1102
00:45:40,934 --> 00:45:43,634
and aluminum
that could be from beverages
1103
00:45:43,767 --> 00:45:46,067
served on Flight 305.
1104
00:45:48,433 --> 00:45:51,203
ERIC: A few, you know,
falls positive, so to speak,
1105
00:45:51,333 --> 00:45:53,433
it helps keep a little fresh
in your mind
1106
00:45:53,567 --> 00:45:55,597
that this is a very real case.
1107
00:45:55,734 --> 00:45:57,434
Uh, this guy
really did really exist.
1108
00:45:57,567 --> 00:45:59,927
He really did jump somewhere
in this area.
1109
00:46:00,133 --> 00:46:02,633
Those parachutes are somewhere
in this vicinity,
1110
00:46:02,767 --> 00:46:04,827
uh, and it's just a matter
of finding them.
1111
00:46:06,000 --> 00:46:07,330
FISHBURNE: Coming up.
1112
00:46:07,467 --> 00:46:09,827
A possible suspect
becomes more in focus.
1113
00:46:09,967 --> 00:46:11,927
You didn't have these
when I interviewed you way back.
1114
00:46:12,066 --> 00:46:14,126
When you pulled out
the passports, I said,
1115
00:46:14,266 --> 00:46:15,966
"Oh, I think it might be him."
1116
00:46:16,100 --> 00:46:17,830
FISHBURNE: A break in
Washington State.
1117
00:46:17,967 --> 00:46:19,827
There's some light
something here.
1118
00:46:19,967 --> 00:46:21,727
ERIC: What is that?
Oh, what's this?
1119
00:46:21,867 --> 00:46:23,827
This had to be on something
with some serious tension.
1120
00:46:23,967 --> 00:46:25,467
SHERIDAN: It has
sort of a ripstop weave.
1121
00:46:25,600 --> 00:46:26,700
I certainly can't rule it out.
1122
00:46:26,834 --> 00:46:28,974
ERIC: This could be
our smoking gun.
1123
00:46:29,100 --> 00:46:31,270
FISHBURNE: And findings
from an unlikely source
1124
00:46:31,400 --> 00:46:34,270
could force the FBI
to reopen the case.
1125
00:46:34,400 --> 00:46:37,470
ERIC: He actually got
special access to the evidence.
1126
00:46:37,600 --> 00:46:40,700
MAN: This DNA sample may infect
crack the case wide open.
1127
00:46:40,834 --> 00:46:42,134
MARY JEAN: You would think
this is enough
1128
00:46:42,266 --> 00:46:43,766
that if we need
law enforcement,
1129
00:46:43,900 --> 00:46:46,330
they've got to take this back
and reopen it.
1130
00:46:46,467 --> 00:46:48,627
[♪♪]
1131
00:47:05,533 --> 00:47:07,773
FISHBURNE: Investigator
Eric Ulis is on the last day
1132
00:47:07,900 --> 00:47:10,970
of his search for evidence
that could solve
1133
00:47:11,100 --> 00:47:13,470
the mystery of D.B. Cooper.
1134
00:47:13,600 --> 00:47:16,770
Eric believes the FBI
got it wrong
1135
00:47:16,900 --> 00:47:19,570
and Cooper actually landed
eight miles west
1136
00:47:19,700 --> 00:47:22,630
of law enforcement's
original search zone.
1137
00:47:22,767 --> 00:47:25,197
If he can find
any sign of Cooper,
1138
00:47:25,333 --> 00:47:27,673
it would prove
he survived the jump,
1139
00:47:27,800 --> 00:47:30,130
and may be alive today.
1140
00:47:33,333 --> 00:47:35,203
WOMAN: I wonder
what this area looked like
1141
00:47:35,333 --> 00:47:37,033
for 48 years ago.
1142
00:47:37,166 --> 00:47:39,396
ERIC: I think
it looked just like this.
1143
00:47:39,533 --> 00:47:41,403
FISHBURNE: The ravine
the team's searching
1144
00:47:41,533 --> 00:47:45,133
has remained untouched
by loggers for 50 years.
1145
00:47:45,266 --> 00:47:46,866
Eric believes decades
of overgrowth
1146
00:47:47,000 --> 00:47:50,030
could have helped
preserve evidence.
1147
00:47:50,166 --> 00:47:52,466
There's an awful lot
of vegetation, uh,
1148
00:47:52,600 --> 00:47:53,870
and this is exactly
the kind of area
1149
00:47:54,000 --> 00:47:55,630
that we would expect
to find something
1150
00:47:55,767 --> 00:47:58,567
if he was in this area
and happened to stash up.
1151
00:47:58,700 --> 00:48:00,570
WOMAN: It wouldn't be fun
to land a parachute in.
1152
00:48:00,700 --> 00:48:02,470
-ERIC: Yeah.
-WOMAN: You'd get caught up.
1153
00:48:02,600 --> 00:48:04,230
ERIC: This is actually
a pretty long property.
1154
00:48:04,367 --> 00:48:06,067
-Is it a long line?
-MAN: Yeah, we're about
1155
00:48:06,200 --> 00:48:08,370
-a fifth of the way right now.
-ERIC: Oh, wow.
1156
00:48:11,000 --> 00:48:12,030
Watch to your right, folks.
1157
00:48:12,166 --> 00:48:13,296
Don't outwalk your flanks.
1158
00:48:13,433 --> 00:48:14,703
-Hey, Joe.
-JOE: Yeah.
1159
00:48:14,834 --> 00:48:16,404
ERIC: See that big tree
on the other side
1160
00:48:16,533 --> 00:48:18,073
of that ravine right there?
1161
00:48:18,200 --> 00:48:20,270
-That one right there? Yeah.
-ERIC: So once we get to that,
1162
00:48:20,400 --> 00:48:21,870
we wanna spread out
to the right.
1163
00:48:22,000 --> 00:48:24,730
-JOE: Okay. There you go, Eric.
-ERIC: All right.
1164
00:48:24,867 --> 00:48:25,997
-BARRY: All right.
-ERIC: So you tug like this?
1165
00:48:26,133 --> 00:48:27,233
BARRY: There you go. Yeah.
1166
00:48:27,367 --> 00:48:28,597
And it'd catch you
if you fall, yeah.
1167
00:48:28,734 --> 00:48:30,204
-MAN: Excellent.
-BARRY: There you go.
1168
00:48:30,333 --> 00:48:32,673
ERIC: All right.
This one's still like that.
1169
00:48:32,800 --> 00:48:33,830
-MAN: All right.
-MAN: All right.
1170
00:48:33,967 --> 00:48:35,227
MAN: Good job.
1171
00:48:35,367 --> 00:48:37,227
[♪♪]
1172
00:48:37,367 --> 00:48:40,697
WOMAN: $200,000 in 1971,
what would be the value
1173
00:48:40,834 --> 00:48:43,204
-of that today?
-MAN: It would be 1.2 million
1174
00:48:43,333 --> 00:48:45,603
-today. So, he'd be--
-WOMAN: Wow.
1175
00:48:45,734 --> 00:48:47,474
MAN: --be a millionaire
in today's dollar.
1176
00:48:47,600 --> 00:48:49,070
WOMAN: All of that
for one million?
1177
00:48:49,200 --> 00:48:51,430
ERIC: The FBI's never been
able to prove one way
1178
00:48:51,567 --> 00:48:54,427
or the other whether any
of the ransom was spent.
1179
00:48:54,567 --> 00:48:57,697
If D.B. Cooper
did actually spend his money,
1180
00:48:57,834 --> 00:49:00,204
my research indicates that
there would be approximately
1181
00:49:00,333 --> 00:49:02,833
50 of those bills
still out there
1182
00:49:02,967 --> 00:49:05,467
in circulation today.
1183
00:49:05,600 --> 00:49:08,330
There is a very strong chance
1184
00:49:08,467 --> 00:49:11,767
that someone out there
right now has
1185
00:49:11,900 --> 00:49:15,100
one of those bills,
but they just don't know it.
1186
00:49:15,233 --> 00:49:16,503
As you can see here,
1187
00:49:16,633 --> 00:49:19,773
this is not a complete $20 bill.
1188
00:49:19,900 --> 00:49:22,800
In fact, I estimate that what
we're looking at is only about
1189
00:49:22,934 --> 00:49:26,674
25% of the original bill.
1190
00:49:28,200 --> 00:49:29,830
FISHBURNE: After a difficult
grid search,
1191
00:49:29,967 --> 00:49:32,967
the team finally reaches
the ravine.
1192
00:49:33,100 --> 00:49:34,670
BARRY: Okay, guys.
You're gonna have to--
1193
00:49:34,800 --> 00:49:36,800
a little slower. It's a little
bit more brushier here
1194
00:49:36,934 --> 00:49:38,804
for both sides, so...
1195
00:49:38,934 --> 00:49:41,034
FISHBURNE: From here, Eric
believes
1196
00:49:41,166 --> 00:49:44,126
Cooper could hear trains
running on the BNSF
1197
00:49:44,266 --> 00:49:48,496
Railway tracks,
tracks leading to Tena Bar.
1198
00:49:48,633 --> 00:49:52,033
ERIC: Oh, look at right here
right in front of you.
1199
00:49:52,166 --> 00:49:55,566
WOMAN: There's some white
something here.
1200
00:49:55,700 --> 00:49:56,630
I don't know.
1201
00:49:56,767 --> 00:49:59,427
[♪♪]
1202
00:50:02,567 --> 00:50:04,567
MAN: The material
is interesting.
1203
00:50:04,700 --> 00:50:06,770
ERIC: We have
a parachute expert.
1204
00:50:06,900 --> 00:50:09,600
Um, I'm gonna,
well, ask him about it.
1205
00:50:09,734 --> 00:50:11,574
-MAN: Where'd you find it?
-ERIC: Uh, just right under
1206
00:50:11,700 --> 00:50:13,430
the log here.
1207
00:50:13,567 --> 00:50:17,467
[♪♪]
1208
00:50:19,767 --> 00:50:21,167
MAN: It looks like
a mixed material,
1209
00:50:21,300 --> 00:50:22,630
some of which could be
on a parachute's...
1210
00:50:22,767 --> 00:50:24,127
ERIC: I'll ask the expert
and, uh--
1211
00:50:24,266 --> 00:50:25,626
-MAN: Yeah.
-ERIC: --he'll be able to tell
1212
00:50:25,767 --> 00:50:27,427
-us definitively.
-MAN: Something with tension.
1213
00:50:27,567 --> 00:50:29,627
This had to be on something
with some serious tension.
1214
00:50:29,767 --> 00:50:32,367
- The team sets up
a GPS locator on the spot
1215
00:50:32,500 --> 00:50:34,770
where the cloth fragment
was found
1216
00:50:34,900 --> 00:50:38,630
to provide coordinates
they can plot on a map.
1217
00:50:38,767 --> 00:50:41,327
ERIC: The situation we find
ourselves in right now
1218
00:50:41,467 --> 00:50:44,167
is rare, unique
in a very limited time.
1219
00:50:44,300 --> 00:50:47,430
So, we just cannot afford to
pass up on situations like this.
1220
00:50:47,567 --> 00:50:48,967
We have to thoroughly vet this.
1221
00:50:49,100 --> 00:50:51,500
We have to figure out
what we're working with here
1222
00:50:51,633 --> 00:50:53,203
because this may be it.
1223
00:50:53,333 --> 00:50:55,973
This may be the one
final golden opportunity
1224
00:50:56,100 --> 00:50:57,830
to figure out once and for all
1225
00:50:57,967 --> 00:50:59,667
what happened to D.B. Cooper.
1226
00:50:59,800 --> 00:51:01,470
We'll get it checked out.
We'll see what the--
1227
00:51:01,600 --> 00:51:04,000
-BARRY: Yup.
-ERIC: --expert says.
1228
00:51:04,133 --> 00:51:05,803
MAN: Yeah. We'll see.
1229
00:51:05,934 --> 00:51:08,204
FISHBURNE: Could this fabric
be part of D.B. Cooper's
1230
00:51:08,333 --> 00:51:09,703
missing parachutes?
1231
00:51:09,834 --> 00:51:11,804
[♪♪]
1232
00:51:11,934 --> 00:51:14,574
ERIC: It appears
to be nylon and canvas,
1233
00:51:14,700 --> 00:51:15,900
which looked very durable.
1234
00:51:16,033 --> 00:51:18,233
It resembled a piece
of a parachute.
1235
00:51:18,367 --> 00:51:21,397
It certainly looked like it
could be, but I'm not sure.
1236
00:51:21,533 --> 00:51:23,203
So, now that we've got
the piece in hand,
1237
00:51:23,333 --> 00:51:24,573
we've marked where we found it,
1238
00:51:24,700 --> 00:51:26,430
we'll present it
to our parachute expert,
1239
00:51:26,567 --> 00:51:28,697
Mark Meltzer,
and he'll be able to tell us
1240
00:51:28,834 --> 00:51:31,004
definitively whether or not this
is a piece of a parachute
1241
00:51:31,133 --> 00:51:31,873
or not.
1242
00:51:32,000 --> 00:51:34,070
[♪♪]
1243
00:51:34,200 --> 00:51:36,570
FISHBURNE: To learn more
about the fabric he found,
1244
00:51:36,700 --> 00:51:40,330
Eric heads to LA to meet
with Mark Meltzer.
1245
00:51:40,467 --> 00:51:41,897
ERIC: Not only
is he very knowledgeable
1246
00:51:42,033 --> 00:51:44,533
about the Cooper case,
he's also got something like
1247
00:51:44,667 --> 00:51:46,927
1,500, 2,000 parachute jumps.
1248
00:51:47,066 --> 00:51:48,766
It gives us the opportunity
to give him
1249
00:51:48,900 --> 00:51:51,000
that piece of evidence
that we found
1250
00:51:51,133 --> 00:51:53,273
during the search,
see if he thinks
1251
00:51:53,400 --> 00:51:55,470
that could possibly
come from a parachute,
1252
00:51:55,600 --> 00:51:57,700
either the main parachute
or the reserve parachute
1253
00:51:57,834 --> 00:51:59,234
or something else.
1254
00:51:59,367 --> 00:52:03,897
And he actually personally
knows Sheridan Peterson.
1255
00:52:04,033 --> 00:52:06,473
I wanted to start out
talking to you a little bit
1256
00:52:06,600 --> 00:52:09,200
about D.B. Cooper's skill level
1257
00:52:09,333 --> 00:52:11,033
with respect to parachutes
given everything
1258
00:52:11,166 --> 00:52:13,566
you know about this case
specifically in skydiving
1259
00:52:13,700 --> 00:52:15,130
-in particular.
-What indicates to me
1260
00:52:15,266 --> 00:52:17,996
that he probably
had some experience
1261
00:52:18,133 --> 00:52:19,203
with military parachute gear
1262
00:52:19,333 --> 00:52:22,333
is the type of main
parachute rigs
1263
00:52:22,467 --> 00:52:25,727
that were brought to him
were either Navy NB6
1264
00:52:25,867 --> 00:52:29,597
or NB8 containers
and harnesses and parachute
1265
00:52:29,734 --> 00:52:31,334
instructions were brought
to the plane,
1266
00:52:31,467 --> 00:52:32,967
printed instructions
on how to use the gear.
1267
00:52:33,100 --> 00:52:34,730
He didn't need them.
And Tina Mucklow,
1268
00:52:34,867 --> 00:52:37,797
the stewardess that spent
the most time with Cooper,
1269
00:52:37,934 --> 00:52:40,634
noted Cooper taking out
a packing card out
1270
00:52:40,767 --> 00:52:41,967
of one of the parachute rigs.
1271
00:52:42,100 --> 00:52:45,330
And to me,
that's a huge clue that Cooper
1272
00:52:45,467 --> 00:52:47,227
was most likely a skydiver.
1273
00:52:47,367 --> 00:52:49,567
I mean, skydivers know
what a packing card is.
1274
00:52:49,700 --> 00:52:52,230
Nobody else does.
Very well concealed.
1275
00:52:52,367 --> 00:52:55,367
So, if Cooper actually found
the packing card
1276
00:52:55,500 --> 00:52:58,300
and knew how to put on
an NB8 or NB6,
1277
00:52:58,433 --> 00:53:01,833
-that's very telling.
-ERIC: We did find something
1278
00:53:01,967 --> 00:53:05,167
that may or may not be related
to a parachute.
1279
00:53:05,300 --> 00:53:07,870
-MARK: I'd like to see it.
-ERIC: I'll take it out.
1280
00:53:08,000 --> 00:53:09,300
Get this open here.
1281
00:53:09,433 --> 00:53:13,373
[♪♪]
1282
00:53:20,667 --> 00:53:23,767
MARK: Well, it's interesting
and it has sort of a ripstop
1283
00:53:23,900 --> 00:53:26,300
weave in the--
in the fabric material here,
1284
00:53:26,433 --> 00:53:28,003
the porous fabric material.
1285
00:53:28,133 --> 00:53:29,973
It has nylon webbing.
1286
00:53:30,100 --> 00:53:32,030
And I see nothing
in the materials
1287
00:53:32,166 --> 00:53:35,666
that's inconsistent
with the late '60s, early '70s.
1288
00:53:35,800 --> 00:53:36,870
[♪♪]
1289
00:53:37,000 --> 00:53:38,130
FISHBURNE: Coming up.
1290
00:53:38,266 --> 00:53:39,966
ERIC: Could you describe
the nature
1291
00:53:40,100 --> 00:53:43,630
of your relationship during
that seven years with Sheridan?
1292
00:53:43,767 --> 00:53:46,667
The relationship was bumpy.
1293
00:53:46,800 --> 00:53:49,130
When you sent me the message,
1294
00:53:49,266 --> 00:53:50,666
you signed it D.B.
1295
00:53:52,266 --> 00:53:55,296
FISHBURNE: And later,
Eric collects a DNA sample.
1296
00:53:55,433 --> 00:53:57,203
MAN: Hopefully we can apply
some new technology
1297
00:53:57,333 --> 00:53:58,833
to the Cooper case here and...
1298
00:53:58,967 --> 00:54:01,327
FISHBURNE: To test
at a high-tech forensics lab.
1299
00:54:01,467 --> 00:54:05,027
ERIC: This is really
the only opportunity
1300
00:54:05,166 --> 00:54:07,366
that we have to try to establish
1301
00:54:07,500 --> 00:54:10,230
a DNA profile for D.B. Cooper.
1302
00:54:10,367 --> 00:54:14,297
[♪♪]
1303
00:54:30,266 --> 00:54:33,066
FISHBURNE: Investigator
Eric Ulis is in Los Angeles
1304
00:54:33,200 --> 00:54:35,970
meeting with parachute expert,
Mark Meltzer.
1305
00:54:36,100 --> 00:54:37,830
He hopes Mark can shed light
1306
00:54:37,967 --> 00:54:40,797
on a piece
of possible evidence.
1307
00:54:40,934 --> 00:54:42,804
ERIC: Looking for the missing
parachute,
1308
00:54:42,934 --> 00:54:47,304
we did find something
that may or may not be related
1309
00:54:47,433 --> 00:54:48,833
to a parachute.
1310
00:54:48,967 --> 00:54:52,897
[♪♪]
1311
00:54:59,834 --> 00:55:01,804
MARK: Well, it's interesting
and that it has sort
1312
00:55:01,934 --> 00:55:04,204
of a ripstop,
uh, weave in the--
1313
00:55:04,333 --> 00:55:07,203
in the fabric material here,
the porous fabric material.
1314
00:55:07,333 --> 00:55:09,033
It has nylon webbing.
1315
00:55:09,166 --> 00:55:11,296
FISHBURNE: A ripstop weave
is commonly found
1316
00:55:11,433 --> 00:55:14,273
in fabrics made
to resist tearing.
1317
00:55:14,400 --> 00:55:17,370
Yarns are interwoven
at regular intervals
1318
00:55:17,500 --> 00:55:19,700
in a crosshatch pattern.
1319
00:55:19,834 --> 00:55:22,704
MARK: I see nothing in the
materials that's inconsistent
1320
00:55:22,834 --> 00:55:25,074
with the late '60s, early'70s.
1321
00:55:25,200 --> 00:55:27,500
But it's not the right color
for a military parachute gear.
1322
00:55:27,633 --> 00:55:30,873
This is a turquoise blue
and it apparently has leather
1323
00:55:31,000 --> 00:55:34,130
over-sewn on the perimeter
of the, uh, thing.
1324
00:55:34,266 --> 00:55:37,396
And there is no leather on the--
on the type of gear that Cooper
1325
00:55:37,533 --> 00:55:39,233
jumped with.
It does have components
1326
00:55:39,367 --> 00:55:40,427
in common with a parachute gear.
1327
00:55:40,567 --> 00:55:41,797
There's nylon webbing.
1328
00:55:41,934 --> 00:55:44,234
It has some sort of ripstop
weave fabric.
1329
00:55:44,367 --> 00:55:45,927
But I can say with a hundred
percent certainty
1330
00:55:46,066 --> 00:55:48,526
that this was not from
D.B. Cooper's parachute gear.
1331
00:55:48,667 --> 00:55:49,927
So you've
pretty much established
1332
00:55:50,066 --> 00:55:52,596
that it's absolutely not related
1333
00:55:52,734 --> 00:55:55,074
to the parachute
that he jumped with.
1334
00:55:55,200 --> 00:55:56,930
What's the possibility
that there's some sort of
1335
00:55:57,066 --> 00:55:59,526
relation to the dummy
reserve parachute?
1336
00:55:59,667 --> 00:56:01,327
Yeah. That's an interesting
question, Eric.
1337
00:56:01,467 --> 00:56:04,397
I've seen some crude things done
to those trainee reserves
1338
00:56:04,533 --> 00:56:07,273
that the only thing you want
to do is have it be able
1339
00:56:07,400 --> 00:56:09,470
to be deployed and packed up
really quickly.
1340
00:56:09,600 --> 00:56:10,930
So, they cut panels out.
1341
00:56:11,066 --> 00:56:13,166
They sometimes cut some
of the suspension lines off.
1342
00:56:13,300 --> 00:56:15,130
It doesn't have to be done
to FAA specs.
1343
00:56:15,266 --> 00:56:18,166
And so, I can't definitively
say this wasn't part
1344
00:56:18,300 --> 00:56:19,470
of a trainee reserve.
1345
00:56:19,600 --> 00:56:20,700
I think it's unlikely.
1346
00:56:20,834 --> 00:56:22,774
But I certainly
can't rule it out.
1347
00:56:22,900 --> 00:56:24,170
ERIC:
This is very exciting for me
1348
00:56:24,300 --> 00:56:25,800
because there's a possibility
1349
00:56:25,934 --> 00:56:28,434
that this piece could be part
1350
00:56:28,567 --> 00:56:31,497
of the modification
that was made
1351
00:56:31,633 --> 00:56:33,303
to the dummy reserve parachute.
1352
00:56:33,433 --> 00:56:35,973
You personally know
Sheridan Peterson.
1353
00:56:36,100 --> 00:56:38,800
What are your overall
impressions of Peterson
1354
00:56:38,934 --> 00:56:43,604
as they pertain
to the possibility of this guy
1355
00:56:43,734 --> 00:56:46,304
being the real D.B. Cooper?
1356
00:56:46,433 --> 00:56:51,173
Sheridan Peterson is absolutely
a qualified candidate.
1357
00:56:51,300 --> 00:56:54,300
There is no aspect to that jump
that he wasn't a master of.
1358
00:56:54,433 --> 00:56:57,633
He knew how to jump
into the wilderness and egress.
1359
00:56:57,767 --> 00:56:59,267
Do I think he's D.B. Cooper?
1360
00:56:59,400 --> 00:57:00,670
I just don't know.
1361
00:57:00,800 --> 00:57:03,930
[♪♪]
1362
00:57:05,700 --> 00:57:07,070
FISHBURNE: To further
his investigation,
1363
00:57:07,200 --> 00:57:10,700
Eric Ulis next visits
Claire Peterson,
1364
00:57:10,834 --> 00:57:13,034
Sheridan Peterson's first wife.
1365
00:57:13,166 --> 00:57:15,196
He hopes she may have
some insight into whether
1366
00:57:15,333 --> 00:57:17,903
Sheridan could've pulled off
the skyjacking.
1367
00:57:18,033 --> 00:57:21,373
She also has details
about Sheridan's second wife,
1368
00:57:21,500 --> 00:57:24,830
the key person who could
corroborate his alibi.
1369
00:57:24,967 --> 00:57:27,067
ERIC: Sheridan
has three children,
1370
00:57:27,200 --> 00:57:29,070
all grown, with Claire.
1371
00:57:29,200 --> 00:57:30,900
They were married in the '50s
1372
00:57:31,033 --> 00:57:33,873
and divorced in 1962
1373
00:57:34,000 --> 00:57:37,930
which is right before
Sheridan moved up to Seattle
1374
00:57:38,066 --> 00:57:39,496
and got the job at Boeing.
1375
00:57:39,633 --> 00:57:42,403
Actually Sheridan started
working at Boeing
1376
00:57:42,533 --> 00:57:44,133
in May of 1962.
1377
00:57:44,266 --> 00:57:47,896
So, they went their separate
ways right before that.
1378
00:57:48,033 --> 00:57:50,873
So, this is gonna be fascinating
to speak with Claire
1379
00:57:51,000 --> 00:57:53,200
about her time with Sheridan.
1380
00:57:53,333 --> 00:57:56,003
Claire Peterson was interviewed
1381
00:57:56,133 --> 00:57:59,173
by the FBI in 1974
1382
00:57:59,300 --> 00:58:01,900
about Sheridan
and about this case.
1383
00:58:02,033 --> 00:58:05,303
And at that time,
Sheridan was living in Asia.
1384
00:58:05,433 --> 00:58:10,403
So, she knew as of 1974
that Sheridan was a suspect
1385
00:58:10,533 --> 00:58:12,973
in the D.B. Cooper skyjacking.
1386
00:58:13,100 --> 00:58:16,170
- Sheridan was 45
at the time of the skyjacking.
1387
00:58:16,300 --> 00:58:18,430
And Eric believes
his appearance is similar
1388
00:58:18,567 --> 00:58:21,627
to the original sketch
of D.B. Cooper.
1389
00:58:21,767 --> 00:58:24,097
Sheridan lived in Seattle
prior to the skyjacking
1390
00:58:24,233 --> 00:58:26,833
and was photographed
in a suit and tie
1391
00:58:26,967 --> 00:58:29,727
while posing as a skydiver.
1392
00:58:29,867 --> 00:58:31,067
As a Boeing employee,
1393
00:58:31,200 --> 00:58:32,930
it's also likely
that Sheridan knew
1394
00:58:33,066 --> 00:58:35,596
the inner workings
of the Boeing 727.
1395
00:58:35,734 --> 00:58:38,874
And finally, Eric does not
believe that Sheridan's alibi
1396
00:58:39,000 --> 00:58:42,100
can be corroborated for
the time of the skyjacking.
1397
00:58:42,233 --> 00:58:46,173
[♪♪]
1398
00:58:56,900 --> 00:58:58,400
-ERIC: Hi, Claire.
-CLAIRE: Hi.
1399
00:58:58,533 --> 00:59:00,173
-ERIC: Hi. Eric Ulis.
-CLAIRE: You must be Eric.
1400
00:59:00,300 --> 00:59:02,500
-ERIC: I am Eric. How are you?
-CLAIRE: Fine. Thank you.
1401
00:59:02,633 --> 00:59:04,873
ERIC: Good to meet you.
1402
00:59:05,000 --> 00:59:08,000
FISHBURNE: Claire agreed to help
Eric obtain a DNA profile
1403
00:59:08,133 --> 00:59:09,873
from one of their children.
1404
00:59:10,000 --> 00:59:13,170
It will be compared to the DNA
from D.B. Cooper's tie
1405
00:59:13,300 --> 00:59:15,370
left aboard flight 305.
1406
00:59:15,500 --> 00:59:18,170
If it's a match, Eric
could finally have the answer
1407
00:59:18,300 --> 00:59:21,030
to the mystery
of D.B. Cooper's identity.
1408
00:59:22,667 --> 00:59:24,497
ERIC: First of all, Claire,
thank you very much
1409
00:59:24,633 --> 00:59:27,533
for taking the time
to sit down with me
1410
00:59:27,667 --> 00:59:30,297
and talk a little bit
about your life
1411
00:59:30,433 --> 00:59:32,133
and your life with Sheridan.
1412
00:59:32,266 --> 00:59:36,526
Could you describe just
the nature of your relationship
1413
00:59:36,667 --> 00:59:40,627
during that seven years
with Sheridan?
1414
00:59:40,767 --> 00:59:43,667
The relationship was bumpy.
1415
00:59:43,800 --> 00:59:46,530
He did have tirades of anger.
1416
00:59:46,667 --> 00:59:48,627
I don't think
he could control it.
1417
00:59:48,767 --> 00:59:51,367
So, I knew there was a time
that I was gonna have to say
1418
00:59:51,500 --> 00:59:52,970
goodbye to him.
1419
00:59:53,100 --> 00:59:56,300
And that's the way it went,
1420
00:59:56,433 --> 01:00:00,073
something had to be done
'cause I didn't wanna get hurt.
1421
01:00:00,200 --> 01:00:03,330
ERIC: In terms of being
clever and deceptive
1422
01:00:03,467 --> 01:00:07,127
when there's something that
he wanted or what have you,
1423
01:00:07,266 --> 01:00:10,126
did you detect
any of that in him,
1424
01:00:10,266 --> 01:00:12,166
the ability to be deceptive?
1425
01:00:12,300 --> 01:00:15,430
I think he was deceptive, yes,
1426
01:00:15,567 --> 01:00:18,667
in a way that would work
for him.
1427
01:00:18,800 --> 01:00:21,130
FISHBURNE: As Eric speaks
with Claire Peterson,
1428
01:00:21,266 --> 01:00:24,296
former FBI Agent
Mary Jean Fryar is in route
1429
01:00:24,433 --> 01:00:26,703
to visit Sheridan Peterson.
1430
01:00:26,834 --> 01:00:30,474
In 2003, she interviewed him
as a person of interest
1431
01:00:30,600 --> 01:00:33,170
and collected a DNA sample.
1432
01:00:33,300 --> 01:00:36,170
This is the first time
they've met since then.
1433
01:00:36,300 --> 01:00:40,530
[♪♪]
1434
01:00:40,667 --> 01:00:42,467
MARY JEAN: I was glad
you reached out to me
1435
01:00:42,600 --> 01:00:44,030
and, uh, on Twitter.
1436
01:00:44,166 --> 01:00:46,866
When you sent me
that message that you wish
1437
01:00:47,000 --> 01:00:49,670
I was still in the FBI
because you had things
1438
01:00:49,800 --> 01:00:51,900
that were happening
to your computer.
1439
01:00:52,033 --> 01:00:53,233
-Yeah.
-MARY JEAN: Do you remember
1440
01:00:53,367 --> 01:00:55,727
that in September?
1441
01:00:55,867 --> 01:00:57,467
-With your book, with your book.
-SHERIDAN: Oh, yeah.
1442
01:00:57,600 --> 01:01:01,200
MARY JEAN: Yeah.
You signed it D.B.
1443
01:01:01,333 --> 01:01:03,133
[LAUGHS]
Well, because I thought
1444
01:01:03,266 --> 01:01:04,496
I'd amuse you.
1445
01:01:04,633 --> 01:01:05,933
Yeah. You did amuse me.
1446
01:01:06,066 --> 01:01:08,666
Twice you sent-- you signed D.B.
1447
01:01:08,800 --> 01:01:11,430
[LAUGHS] Yeah.
1448
01:01:11,567 --> 01:01:15,367
I was so surprised to find you.
1449
01:01:15,500 --> 01:01:17,100
MARY JEAN: It's been
a long time since we've
1450
01:01:17,233 --> 01:01:19,133
-seen each other.
-SHERIDAN: Yes, it has,
1451
01:01:19,266 --> 01:01:20,926
that was 20 years ago, huh?
1452
01:01:21,066 --> 01:01:25,896
-MARY JEAN: Long time ago.
-Uh, heisting of aircraft
1453
01:01:26,033 --> 01:01:27,503
and that wasn't me.
1454
01:01:27,633 --> 01:01:30,533
[CHUCKLES]
There were easier ways
1455
01:01:30,667 --> 01:01:32,927
to get 200,000 I would say,
1456
01:01:33,066 --> 01:01:35,196
I'm surprised that you guys
are still interested.
1457
01:01:35,333 --> 01:01:36,633
MARY JEAN:
They never caught the guy.
1458
01:01:36,767 --> 01:01:38,097
Sheridan: Uh-huh.
They didn't? [CHUCKLES]
1459
01:01:38,233 --> 01:01:40,203
MARY JEAN: The FBI gave up
on it and closed it.
1460
01:01:40,333 --> 01:01:42,003
-Oh, did they?
-MARY JEAN: The fact that
1461
01:01:42,133 --> 01:01:44,733
people think that you could be
D.B. Cooper makes sense.
1462
01:01:44,867 --> 01:01:47,827
D.B. Cooper
was a-- was a gangster.
1463
01:01:47,967 --> 01:01:50,067
He was a thief.
1464
01:01:50,200 --> 01:01:52,530
-He stole $200,000 and he...
-MARY JEAN: Yeah. He did.
1465
01:01:52,667 --> 01:01:55,697
And he also-- he wanted
to blow up a plane.
1466
01:01:55,834 --> 01:01:57,804
He would've killed
a lot of people.
1467
01:01:57,934 --> 01:01:59,704
MARY JEAN: Do you think
the bombs were real?
1468
01:01:59,834 --> 01:02:02,734
Oh, they weren't real. No.
1469
01:02:02,867 --> 01:02:04,467
MARY JEAN:
How do you know that?
1470
01:02:04,600 --> 01:02:06,970
FISHBURNE: Coming up. Eric turns
to science for answers
1471
01:02:07,100 --> 01:02:08,500
surrounding Cooper's identity.
1472
01:02:08,633 --> 01:02:10,433
ERIC: We are working
with Special Agent Curtis Ang.
1473
01:02:10,567 --> 01:02:12,597
He allowed us then
to have access to the tie.
1474
01:02:12,734 --> 01:02:16,104
FISHBURNE: And later an alibi
is brought into question.
1475
01:02:16,233 --> 01:02:19,133
MARY JEAN: Now, after August
of '71 then where did you go?
1476
01:02:19,266 --> 01:02:20,926
SHERIDAN: I don't want them
to know anything.
1477
01:02:21,066 --> 01:02:24,196
[♪♪]
1478
01:02:36,667 --> 01:02:39,167
FISHBURNE: Retired FBI
Investigator Mary Jean Fryar
1479
01:02:39,300 --> 01:02:41,800
is meeting
with Sheridan Peterson.
1480
01:02:41,934 --> 01:02:45,304
A man she interviewed in 2003
as a person of interest
1481
01:02:45,433 --> 01:02:46,803
in the D.B. Cooper case.
1482
01:02:46,934 --> 01:02:48,604
MARY JEAN: Do you think
the bombs were real?
1483
01:02:48,734 --> 01:02:50,904
Oh, they weren't real. No.
1484
01:02:51,033 --> 01:02:54,633
The FBI [CHUCKLES]
found proofs that they--
1485
01:02:54,767 --> 01:02:56,627
-the bombs weren't real.
-MARY JEAN: They did?
1486
01:02:56,767 --> 01:02:58,827
I don't think-- I don't--
didn't hear that.
1487
01:02:58,967 --> 01:03:01,027
SHERIDAN: Oh, yeah.
They've-- they--
1488
01:03:01,166 --> 01:03:05,166
once he had jumped,
uh, he left the stuff behind.
1489
01:03:05,300 --> 01:03:08,200
MARY JEAN: He only left
the tie behind.
1490
01:03:08,333 --> 01:03:10,373
FISHBURNE: The only items
recovered from the hijacked
1491
01:03:10,500 --> 01:03:14,170
plane were a long skinny
black clip-on tie.
1492
01:03:14,300 --> 01:03:17,700
A gold tie clip
and eight cigarette butts.
1493
01:03:17,834 --> 01:03:20,774
It's believed Cooper jumped
with everything else
1494
01:03:20,900 --> 01:03:22,730
including the handwritten note
exchanged
1495
01:03:22,867 --> 01:03:25,767
between he
and the flight attendants.
1496
01:03:25,900 --> 01:03:27,230
Why would he do it?
1497
01:03:27,367 --> 01:03:31,197
I feel that-- my personal
opinion that he, uh,
1498
01:03:31,333 --> 01:03:33,973
ended up in the Columbia river.
1499
01:03:34,100 --> 01:03:36,430
That money all rotted
and everything
1500
01:03:36,567 --> 01:03:38,067
was in the sand along
1501
01:03:38,200 --> 01:03:41,430
the bank up north of The Dalles.
1502
01:03:41,567 --> 01:03:44,567
MARY JEAN: Actually, I think
the money was buried not lost.
1503
01:03:44,700 --> 01:03:46,800
Buried?
1504
01:03:46,934 --> 01:03:49,534
MARY JEAN: Because it was like
in a stack in the sand,
1505
01:03:49,667 --> 01:03:52,767
not like just drifted there.
1506
01:03:52,900 --> 01:03:55,630
If he jumped and then just, uh,
1507
01:03:55,767 --> 01:03:57,997
and entirely he was wearing,
1508
01:03:58,133 --> 01:03:59,703
he was crazy.
1509
01:03:59,834 --> 01:04:01,404
And I'm not crazy.
1510
01:04:01,533 --> 01:04:03,803
That took a lot of guts
to do what he did.
1511
01:04:03,934 --> 01:04:05,934
Oh, yeah. I think so.
1512
01:04:06,066 --> 01:04:08,296
Uh, uh, yeah. [LAUGHS]
1513
01:04:08,433 --> 01:04:10,003
[♪♪]
1514
01:04:10,133 --> 01:04:11,933
MARY JEAN: You know, your life
story is fascinating.
1515
01:04:12,066 --> 01:04:15,526
Can we start after
your first wife Claire?
1516
01:04:15,667 --> 01:04:19,127
Yeah.
So, right after my first wife,
1517
01:04:19,266 --> 01:04:21,966
I took a sabbatical
in the Philippines.
1518
01:04:22,100 --> 01:04:24,430
I was just an English teacher
1519
01:04:24,567 --> 01:04:29,197
and I met Zeny she lived
in a very poor area.
1520
01:04:29,333 --> 01:04:33,933
She wasn't, um,
uh, well-educated.
1521
01:04:34,066 --> 01:04:37,196
But I married Zeny
and we had two children.
1522
01:04:37,333 --> 01:04:41,373
And then I went to Vietnam,
with the express purpose
1523
01:04:41,500 --> 01:04:44,830
of writing a documentary
on the Vietnam War.
1524
01:04:44,967 --> 01:04:47,027
You know, I needed a passport.
1525
01:04:47,166 --> 01:04:49,166
Oh, I have those passports.
1526
01:04:49,300 --> 01:04:51,170
-MARY JEAN: Oh, you do?
-ASHLEY: Can we see them?
1527
01:04:51,300 --> 01:04:53,900
SHERIDAN: Yeah.
1528
01:04:54,033 --> 01:04:56,003
MARY JEAN: This is the--
all your travel everywhere?
1529
01:04:56,133 --> 01:04:57,473
-ASHLEY: Wow.
-SHERIDAN: Well, I'm not--
1530
01:04:57,600 --> 01:04:59,500
I'm not sure
it's all of them, but...
1531
01:04:59,633 --> 01:05:01,903
MARY JEAN: You keep everything.
I love that.
1532
01:05:02,033 --> 01:05:04,973
So, here's Kathmandu
in August of '71.
1533
01:05:05,100 --> 01:05:06,970
-ASHLEY: Yup.
-MARY JEAN: Now after
1534
01:05:07,100 --> 01:05:10,730
August of '71,
then where did you go?
1535
01:05:10,867 --> 01:05:13,967
SHERIDAN: Oh, I went back
to Vietnam. [LAUGHS]
1536
01:05:14,100 --> 01:05:16,600
Yeah. I remember that,
we went--
1537
01:05:16,734 --> 01:05:20,374
I went back and I left
the family in,
1538
01:05:20,500 --> 01:05:23,170
uh, Malaysia in Penang.
1539
01:05:23,300 --> 01:05:26,000
MARY JEAN:
Your wife died in 1977?
1540
01:05:28,700 --> 01:05:30,170
SHERIDAN: Well, yeah.
1541
01:05:30,300 --> 01:05:33,530
I don't want them to know
where I am.
1542
01:05:33,667 --> 01:05:35,827
I don't want them to know
anything.
1543
01:05:37,834 --> 01:05:38,734
FISHBURNE: Back in Idaho,
1544
01:05:38,867 --> 01:05:40,397
Eric Ulis continues his meeting
1545
01:05:40,533 --> 01:05:42,803
with Sheridan's first wife,
Claire.
1546
01:05:42,934 --> 01:05:45,574
- He was not money crazy.
1547
01:05:45,700 --> 01:05:48,170
But he did not wanna work
but, you know,
1548
01:05:48,300 --> 01:05:49,670
he wanted to have a living
1549
01:05:49,800 --> 01:05:52,900
and I knew he wanted to go
to Asia.
1550
01:05:53,033 --> 01:05:56,733
And it looked like he was doing
what he wanted to do.
1551
01:05:56,867 --> 01:06:00,227
So, you were made aware
at some point that he, like,
1552
01:06:00,367 --> 01:06:01,867
headed to Asia?
1553
01:06:02,000 --> 01:06:03,630
I did know that he left
1554
01:06:03,767 --> 01:06:05,227
and he went overseas.
1555
01:06:05,367 --> 01:06:07,867
And was there any contact
with him
1556
01:06:08,000 --> 01:06:09,900
-while he was over there?
-Um,
1557
01:06:10,934 --> 01:06:13,174
probably a couple of letters.
1558
01:06:13,300 --> 01:06:16,600
And then-- but for years
and years, no contact.
1559
01:06:16,734 --> 01:06:18,434
One thing that was intriguing
1560
01:06:18,567 --> 01:06:20,397
that we talked about...
1561
01:06:20,533 --> 01:06:24,603
related to,
uh, his second wife.
1562
01:06:24,734 --> 01:06:26,804
And you're talking about a wife
1563
01:06:26,934 --> 01:06:29,774
that he led me to believe
was alive.
1564
01:06:29,900 --> 01:06:32,470
What did he say to you in 2007
1565
01:06:32,600 --> 01:06:35,170
that made you think
she was still alive?
1566
01:06:35,300 --> 01:06:39,100
I met his, uh, daughter,
their daughter,
1567
01:06:39,233 --> 01:06:41,633
and she wanted to see her mother
and she wanted to see her,
1568
01:06:41,767 --> 01:06:44,767
that her mother got over here
to the United States
1569
01:06:44,900 --> 01:06:47,100
-from the Philippines.
-What year was this?
1570
01:06:47,233 --> 01:06:49,773
-CLAIRE: Oh, this was, 2007.
-So, you talked--
1571
01:06:49,900 --> 01:06:51,070
you had a conversation
with Sheridan about this--
1572
01:06:51,200 --> 01:06:52,270
-I did.
---right here at your house,
1573
01:06:52,400 --> 01:06:53,870
-where we are right now?
-I did. Yes.
1574
01:06:54,000 --> 01:06:55,770
-What did Sheridan say about...
-Well, I asked him.
1575
01:06:55,900 --> 01:06:57,130
Why don't you send for her?
1576
01:06:57,266 --> 01:06:59,526
Why don't you see
that she can get here?
1577
01:06:59,667 --> 01:07:01,827
And he laughed
and what he said was,
1578
01:07:01,967 --> 01:07:05,827
"Oh, she wants to bring her
entire family over with her."
1579
01:07:05,967 --> 01:07:07,667
Clearly, you're under
the distinct impression
1580
01:07:07,800 --> 01:07:10,530
that his second wife,
at least as of 2007
1581
01:07:10,667 --> 01:07:12,697
is alive and well and is living
in the Philippines,
1582
01:07:12,834 --> 01:07:14,474
-is that correct?
-Exactly.
1583
01:07:14,600 --> 01:07:17,100
According to Sheridan,
his second wife
1584
01:07:17,233 --> 01:07:18,903
had passed away
1585
01:07:19,033 --> 01:07:22,303
in 1977.
1586
01:07:22,433 --> 01:07:25,333
Well, he's lying
about something.
1587
01:07:25,467 --> 01:07:27,167
If he is...
1588
01:07:27,300 --> 01:07:29,330
possibly Dan Cooper,
1589
01:07:29,467 --> 01:07:31,397
uh, she would know.
1590
01:07:32,700 --> 01:07:35,200
Well, that's where I started
to really think
1591
01:07:35,333 --> 01:07:37,833
perhaps that was he...
1592
01:07:39,467 --> 01:07:40,767
who did it.
1593
01:07:40,900 --> 01:07:43,800
He had the knowledge
and probably--
1594
01:07:45,300 --> 01:07:49,200
he probably had the courage
to do something like that.
1595
01:07:51,133 --> 01:07:53,473
MARY JEAN:
Look, I read Eric's work
1596
01:07:53,600 --> 01:07:54,730
and I have to ask you.
1597
01:07:54,867 --> 01:07:56,627
I want to know how you knew
1598
01:07:56,767 --> 01:07:58,667
the reserve parachute
was daisy-chained.
1599
01:07:58,800 --> 01:08:01,400
I daisy-chained it.
1600
01:08:01,533 --> 01:08:02,733
ASHLEY: You daisy-chained it?
1601
01:08:02,867 --> 01:08:04,097
Yeah, I daisy-chained it.
1602
01:08:04,233 --> 01:08:07,533
We use it there,
at Issaquah, for years.
1603
01:08:08,867 --> 01:08:10,297
FISHBURNE: Sheridan Peterson
worked at the
1604
01:08:10,433 --> 01:08:14,103
Issaquah Skydive Center
in the early 1960s.
1605
01:08:14,233 --> 01:08:16,573
The same place that would
later provide parachutes
1606
01:08:16,700 --> 01:08:19,600
used by Cooper in his escape.
1607
01:08:19,734 --> 01:08:21,434
I daisy-chained it so...
1608
01:08:21,567 --> 01:08:24,267
they throw it down and out, see,
1609
01:08:24,400 --> 01:08:27,670
the reserve,
I put the red x on it.
1610
01:08:27,800 --> 01:08:29,730
ASHLEY: You hadn't been
to Issaquah in five years.
1611
01:08:29,867 --> 01:08:30,867
How did you know that...
1612
01:08:31,000 --> 01:08:32,430
that's the same reserve
you made?
1613
01:08:32,567 --> 01:08:34,397
Well, I was sure it was.
1614
01:08:34,533 --> 01:08:36,233
Why would they change it?
1615
01:08:36,367 --> 01:08:38,227
Who gave it to him?
1616
01:08:38,367 --> 01:08:39,527
ASHLEY: Linn Emrich.
1617
01:08:39,667 --> 01:08:42,127
SHERIDAN: Well,
that's why Linn Emrich
1618
01:08:42,266 --> 01:08:43,766
figured it was me.
1619
01:08:43,900 --> 01:08:46,700
- Linn Emrich
worked at Issaquah Skyport
1620
01:08:46,834 --> 01:08:48,734
at the same time
of the hijacking.
1621
01:08:48,867 --> 01:08:51,227
But, uh, the others don't--
1622
01:08:51,367 --> 01:08:54,697
no longer think that I'm, uh,
1623
01:08:54,834 --> 01:08:56,334
D.B. Cooper.
1624
01:08:56,467 --> 01:08:59,027
And you still had DNA
out there.
1625
01:08:59,166 --> 01:09:00,626
Yeah. You still have my DNA.
1626
01:09:00,767 --> 01:09:02,097
There-- it's still there. Yeah.
1627
01:09:02,233 --> 01:09:05,003
And I've never heard what--
that it was cleared.
1628
01:09:05,133 --> 01:09:06,633
Well, I thought you said that...
1629
01:09:06,767 --> 01:09:08,767
MARY JEAN: No,
because I never found out.
1630
01:09:08,900 --> 01:09:11,500
But you-- you can find out
yourself.
1631
01:09:11,633 --> 01:09:13,133
I can send you the form.
1632
01:09:13,266 --> 01:09:15,796
You just make the request
and they'll tell you.
1633
01:09:15,934 --> 01:09:18,004
-Well...
-There was a little part of me
1634
01:09:18,133 --> 01:09:19,603
that was hoping
you were gonna confess
1635
01:09:19,734 --> 01:09:21,334
to being D.B. Cooper today.
1636
01:09:21,467 --> 01:09:23,467
-A little part of you?
-MARY JEAN: Yeah.
1637
01:09:23,600 --> 01:09:27,470
Oh. She really is this FBI.
1638
01:09:27,600 --> 01:09:29,830
-Yeah.
-MARY JEAN: I just hope that...
1639
01:09:29,967 --> 01:09:31,797
whoever it is
1640
01:09:31,934 --> 01:09:33,804
takes some credit for it
1641
01:09:33,934 --> 01:09:36,474
before they die,
if they're still alive
1642
01:09:36,600 --> 01:09:39,970
because it's quite
the accomplishment
1643
01:09:40,100 --> 01:09:41,870
and so many people
have claimed it
1644
01:09:42,000 --> 01:09:44,630
or tried to steal it
from this person saying,
1645
01:09:44,767 --> 01:09:46,627
"Oh, I was D.B. Cooper."
Or in their deathbed,
1646
01:09:46,767 --> 01:09:48,497
or family members
who will come out.
1647
01:09:48,633 --> 01:09:51,073
But it'll be nice if the person
1648
01:09:51,200 --> 01:09:54,030
doesn't let it go himself.
1649
01:09:56,800 --> 01:09:59,470
All right. Listen,
I have to say goodbye.
1650
01:09:59,600 --> 01:10:01,600
-SHERIDAN: Yeah. Yeah.
-MARY JEAN: Hey.
1651
01:10:01,734 --> 01:10:02,734
All right.
You take care of yourself.
1652
01:10:02,867 --> 01:10:03,967
SHERIDAN: Yeah.
1653
01:10:04,100 --> 01:10:05,470
MARY JEAN:
I will send you that form.
1654
01:10:05,600 --> 01:10:07,130
-SHERIDAN: All right.
-All right? Is it...
1655
01:10:07,266 --> 01:10:08,596
-SHERIDAN: Uh, I will.
-Then we can put this to rest.
1656
01:10:08,734 --> 01:10:09,674
-I'll go back...
-MARY JEAN: Unless you wanna
1657
01:10:09,800 --> 01:10:11,030
-confess to me.
-Huh?
1658
01:10:11,166 --> 01:10:12,426
MARY JEAN: Unless you wanna
confess to me.
1659
01:10:12,567 --> 01:10:13,667
Oh, I got to get on my knees.
[LAUGHS]
1660
01:10:13,800 --> 01:10:14,800
MARY JEAN: Yeah. [LAUGHS]
1661
01:10:14,934 --> 01:10:16,374
-Quality, sister.
-You take--
1662
01:10:16,500 --> 01:10:18,030
you take care of yourself.
1663
01:10:18,166 --> 01:10:19,666
SHERIDAN: I'm gonna remember
this forever.
1664
01:10:19,800 --> 01:10:21,000
MARY JEAN: Oh, well, good.
I will, too.
1665
01:10:21,133 --> 01:10:22,773
FISHBURNE: Coming up.
1666
01:10:22,900 --> 01:10:26,030
ERIC: A scientist Tom Kaye
and a couple of his associates
1667
01:10:26,166 --> 01:10:29,096
were actually granted
special access
1668
01:10:29,233 --> 01:10:30,633
to the evidence by the FBI.
1669
01:10:30,767 --> 01:10:33,667
It only makes sense
to see if Tom Kaye
1670
01:10:33,800 --> 01:10:36,970
happened to extract
some of D.B. Cooper's DNA.
1671
01:10:37,100 --> 01:10:38,900
MARY JEAN: And I asked him,
"I thought you were gonna do
1672
01:10:39,033 --> 01:10:41,933
the paperwork and follow
through with the DNA filing?"
1673
01:10:42,066 --> 01:10:43,066
And then that was it.
1674
01:10:43,200 --> 01:10:45,530
The conversation ended.
1675
01:11:05,400 --> 01:11:06,930
FISHBURNE: Twelve years
after he began
1676
01:11:07,066 --> 01:11:09,796
his obsessive search
into D.B. Cooper,
1677
01:11:09,934 --> 01:11:11,574
Eric Ulis is in Arizona
1678
01:11:11,700 --> 01:11:13,730
meeting with one of the only
researchers ever
1679
01:11:13,867 --> 01:11:16,097
to be given access
to Cooper evidence
1680
01:11:16,233 --> 01:11:18,773
by the FBI.
1681
01:11:18,900 --> 01:11:20,600
Eric hopes
that he will finally learn
1682
01:11:20,734 --> 01:11:23,574
that the man he believes
could be D.B. Cooper...
1683
01:11:23,700 --> 01:11:25,370
really is.
1684
01:11:26,700 --> 01:11:28,270
ERIC: Tom Kaye is a rockstar
1685
01:11:28,400 --> 01:11:29,500
in the D.B. Cooper world
1686
01:11:29,633 --> 01:11:31,273
and the reason the guy
is a rockstar
1687
01:11:31,400 --> 01:11:35,130
is because he actually got
special access
1688
01:11:35,266 --> 01:11:38,766
to the evidence in 2008
as well as 2011.
1689
01:11:38,900 --> 01:11:41,600
Knowing this,
it only makes sense to see
1690
01:11:41,734 --> 01:11:44,774
if Tom Kaye happened to extract
1691
01:11:44,900 --> 01:11:49,030
some of D.B. Cooper's DNA
while testing the tie.
1692
01:11:53,166 --> 01:11:54,596
-TOM: Eric, glad you made it.
-ERIC: Hey, Tom.
1693
01:11:54,734 --> 01:11:55,874
-How you doing, man?
-Good to see you.
1694
01:11:56,000 --> 01:11:57,400
Good to see you. Come on in.
1695
01:11:57,533 --> 01:12:00,973
Back in 2008, I was approached
by a Cooper group
1696
01:12:01,100 --> 01:12:03,570
that was looking for somebody
to analyze the money
1697
01:12:03,700 --> 01:12:05,070
that was found on Tena Bar
1698
01:12:05,200 --> 01:12:07,430
and have been buried there
for a long time.
1699
01:12:07,567 --> 01:12:11,027
Then we went back to the FBI
in 2011 and by that time,
1700
01:12:11,166 --> 01:12:13,766
we were working
with Special Agent Curtis Ang
1701
01:12:13,900 --> 01:12:16,000
and he allowed us then
to have access to the tie
1702
01:12:16,133 --> 01:12:19,403
specifically so we could do
a series of tests
1703
01:12:19,533 --> 01:12:21,973
and we also vacuumed the tie
for particles.
1704
01:12:22,100 --> 01:12:23,670
What we found
that was really amazing
1705
01:12:23,800 --> 01:12:27,100
is we found metallic titanium
on the tie.
1706
01:12:27,233 --> 01:12:30,233
- Titanium is used
to manufacture aircrafts
1707
01:12:30,367 --> 01:12:33,267
and is found
at plane manufacturing plants
1708
01:12:33,400 --> 01:12:34,930
like the Boeing Facility
1709
01:12:35,066 --> 01:12:39,466
where Sheridan worked
from 1962 to 1964.
1710
01:12:39,600 --> 01:12:41,500
There were very few applications
1711
01:12:41,633 --> 01:12:45,103
for commercially pure titanium
back in 1971.
1712
01:12:45,233 --> 01:12:47,703
And I know that some of my
research has actually shown
1713
01:12:47,834 --> 01:12:51,504
that indeed the 727 itself
specifically the engine
1714
01:12:51,633 --> 01:12:53,133
has commercially pure titanium.
1715
01:12:53,266 --> 01:12:55,726
At that time,
titanium wasn't very common.
1716
01:12:55,867 --> 01:12:57,927
It was used primarily
in aerospace
1717
01:12:58,066 --> 01:12:59,366
and also
in the chemical industry.
1718
01:12:59,500 --> 01:13:02,530
So it goes a long ways
towards narrowing down
1719
01:13:02,667 --> 01:13:04,567
criteria for D.B. Cooper.
1720
01:13:04,700 --> 01:13:06,230
TOM: Now, we knew
how vitally important
1721
01:13:06,367 --> 01:13:07,667
the particles were on the tie
1722
01:13:07,800 --> 01:13:09,570
and we knew
what we were looking for
1723
01:13:09,700 --> 01:13:11,670
is we hooked up a vacuum
1724
01:13:11,800 --> 01:13:13,200
to a filter like this.
1725
01:13:13,333 --> 01:13:16,233
This is a sterile filter
inside of a sterile jar.
1726
01:13:16,367 --> 01:13:19,267
We had a small nozzle coming out
at the end here
1727
01:13:19,400 --> 01:13:21,870
and then we hook a vacuum
to the back end of this
1728
01:13:22,000 --> 01:13:25,670
and we vacuum the tie
including the knot of the tie.
1729
01:13:25,800 --> 01:13:29,200
The tie knot seems like
the most logical place to look.
1730
01:13:29,333 --> 01:13:31,173
The place that would've been
touched the most
1731
01:13:31,300 --> 01:13:32,500
by D.B. Cooper.
1732
01:13:32,633 --> 01:13:35,273
This filter that remains
unopened to this day
1733
01:13:35,400 --> 01:13:38,100
has particles
from D.B. Cooper's tie in it
1734
01:13:38,233 --> 01:13:41,773
but most importantly
it also has Cooper's DNA in it.
1735
01:13:41,900 --> 01:13:44,330
The thing is there's only
one shot with the DNA here.
1736
01:13:44,467 --> 01:13:45,897
I will never see that again.
1737
01:13:46,033 --> 01:13:48,503
It is destroyed in the process
of getting the DNA.
1738
01:13:48,633 --> 01:13:50,333
I think that the lab
that's been...
1739
01:13:50,467 --> 01:13:52,497
appropriated for this job
is a good one
1740
01:13:52,633 --> 01:13:53,903
and they'll do a good job.
1741
01:13:54,033 --> 01:13:55,703
The extent of the job
that they can do
1742
01:13:55,834 --> 01:13:58,204
nobody knows yet,
not even the lab.
1743
01:13:58,333 --> 01:14:01,233
Tom, I wanna thank you
for entrusting us
1744
01:14:01,367 --> 01:14:05,727
with this very valuable
D.B. Cooper evidence.
1745
01:14:05,867 --> 01:14:08,097
We're gonna take it,
send it right off to the lab,
1746
01:14:08,233 --> 01:14:10,073
see what they can find out
and I'll get back to you
1747
01:14:10,200 --> 01:14:11,570
with the results
as soon as I have something.
1748
01:14:11,700 --> 01:14:13,100
-TOM: Absolutely.
-All right. All right, Tom.
1749
01:14:13,233 --> 01:14:14,233
-TOM: Let's go get him.
-Thanks. All right.
1750
01:14:14,367 --> 01:14:15,767
[TOM LAUGHS]
1751
01:14:15,900 --> 01:14:17,270
FISHBURNE: While Eric waits
to send
1752
01:14:17,400 --> 01:14:19,930
the Envac tie sample
to a Florida lab
1753
01:14:20,066 --> 01:14:22,696
specializing
in older forensics cases.
1754
01:14:22,834 --> 01:14:24,774
Former FBI Agent
Mary Jean Fryar
1755
01:14:24,900 --> 01:14:26,830
receives an unexpected call
1756
01:14:26,967 --> 01:14:28,827
from Sheridan.
1757
01:14:28,967 --> 01:14:30,467
MARY JEAN: When I met
with Sheridan Peterson,
1758
01:14:30,600 --> 01:14:33,800
I thought it was intriguing
and kind of confusing.
1759
01:14:33,934 --> 01:14:37,234
They evidently found the guy
that made the heist.
1760
01:14:37,367 --> 01:14:38,797
MARY JEAN: No.
They never caught the guy.
1761
01:14:38,934 --> 01:14:40,304
Uh-huh. They didn't?
1762
01:14:40,433 --> 01:14:41,973
MARY JEAN: The FBI gave up
on it and closed it.
1763
01:14:42,100 --> 01:14:43,770
-Oh, did they?
-During the interview
1764
01:14:43,900 --> 01:14:45,270
I thought it wasn't him.
1765
01:14:45,400 --> 01:14:48,800
And then when he pulled out
the passports, I said,
1766
01:14:48,934 --> 01:14:50,804
"Oh. I think it be might him ."
1767
01:14:50,934 --> 01:14:54,434
So here's Kathmandu
in August of '71.
1768
01:14:54,567 --> 01:14:55,827
MARY JEAN:
Now, you didn't have these
1769
01:14:55,967 --> 01:14:58,267
when I interviewed you
way back when.
1770
01:14:58,400 --> 01:15:01,130
There are two faded stamps
for Nepal, for Kathmandu
1771
01:15:01,266 --> 01:15:04,326
one ended late in 1971
1772
01:15:04,467 --> 01:15:05,997
before the hijacking
1773
01:15:06,133 --> 01:15:09,603
and then the other one
started in April of 1972.
1774
01:15:09,734 --> 01:15:11,574
By the time
the interview was over
1775
01:15:11,700 --> 01:15:14,530
I walked out thinking
"I don't know anymore.
1776
01:15:14,667 --> 01:15:16,527
I'm totally confused."
1777
01:15:16,667 --> 01:15:19,227
Probably about a month
after I was up in Santa Rosa.
1778
01:15:19,367 --> 01:15:21,667
I called Sheridan
and I asked him,
1779
01:15:21,800 --> 01:15:23,370
"I thought you were
gonna do the paperwork
1780
01:15:23,500 --> 01:15:26,230
and follow through
with the DNA filing."
1781
01:15:26,367 --> 01:15:28,767
And he said,
"Oh, you told me...
1782
01:15:28,900 --> 01:15:31,200
that I wasn't D.B. Cooper
1783
01:15:31,333 --> 01:15:33,703
and, you know,
I don't think I'm gonna do it."
1784
01:15:33,834 --> 01:15:34,774
And then that was it.
1785
01:15:34,900 --> 01:15:37,000
The conversation ended.
1786
01:15:37,133 --> 01:15:39,803
And I hung up thinking,
"Oh, my God.
1787
01:15:39,934 --> 01:15:43,004
Now, that makes me
really suspicious."
1788
01:15:43,133 --> 01:15:46,073
He just wants to keep it
'til he dies
1789
01:15:46,200 --> 01:15:48,870
which is probably
how it's gonna play out.
1790
01:15:50,934 --> 01:15:52,104
FISHBURNE: Five weeks later,
1791
01:15:52,233 --> 01:15:54,803
Eric arrives
back in California.
1792
01:15:54,934 --> 01:15:56,874
He setup
a video conference meeting
1793
01:15:57,000 --> 01:15:58,800
with a senior analyst
at the lab
1794
01:15:58,934 --> 01:16:01,074
comparing D.B. Cooper's DNA
1795
01:16:01,200 --> 01:16:03,570
to one of Sheridan's daughters.
1796
01:16:03,700 --> 01:16:05,030
If his theory is right
1797
01:16:05,166 --> 01:16:07,466
he may finally learn
the true identity
1798
01:16:07,600 --> 01:16:09,100
of D.B. Cooper.
1799
01:16:09,233 --> 01:16:12,573
ERIC: When I first embarked
upon this investigation
1800
01:16:12,700 --> 01:16:15,230
I had no idea
where it's gonna take me.
1801
01:16:15,367 --> 01:16:18,567
I had no idea
who I was going to encounter.
1802
01:16:18,700 --> 01:16:21,430
Let alone
that I'd find a suspect
1803
01:16:21,567 --> 01:16:24,097
who couldn't be ruled out
by the known facts.
1804
01:16:24,233 --> 01:16:27,033
According to Sheridan
his second wife
1805
01:16:27,166 --> 01:16:28,826
had passed away
1806
01:16:28,967 --> 01:16:32,467
in 1977.
1807
01:16:32,600 --> 01:16:35,530
Well, he's lying
about something.
1808
01:16:35,667 --> 01:16:36,967
ERIC: I've often said
1809
01:16:37,100 --> 01:16:40,900
that I believe
with 98% certainty
1810
01:16:41,033 --> 01:16:44,173
that Sheridan Peterson
could be D.B. Cooper.
1811
01:16:44,300 --> 01:16:47,230
But there's always been
that missing two percent.
1812
01:16:47,367 --> 01:16:49,297
Because truthfully,
1813
01:16:49,433 --> 01:16:51,573
I've never been able to find
the smoking gun.
1814
01:16:51,700 --> 01:16:53,700
There's an awful lot riding
1815
01:16:53,834 --> 01:16:56,074
on what the lab comes back with.
1816
01:16:56,200 --> 01:16:57,400
FISHBURNE: Coming up.
1817
01:16:57,533 --> 01:16:59,533
I was very surprised
with the results.
1818
01:16:59,667 --> 01:17:01,167
ERIC: I wanna give
Mary Jean a call
1819
01:17:01,300 --> 01:17:02,770
and I wanna let her know.
1820
01:17:02,900 --> 01:17:04,330
MARY JEAN:
I would think this is enough
1821
01:17:04,467 --> 01:17:05,897
that we need law enforcement.
1822
01:17:06,033 --> 01:17:08,703
They've got to take this back
and reopen it.
1823
01:17:26,266 --> 01:17:27,766
FISHBURNE: After years of
investigating
1824
01:17:27,900 --> 01:17:29,100
the D.B. Cooper case
1825
01:17:29,233 --> 01:17:31,003
and searching
for lost evidence.
1826
01:17:31,133 --> 01:17:33,773
Eric Ulis readies himself
for DNA results
1827
01:17:33,900 --> 01:17:36,400
that could break the case
wide open.
1828
01:17:36,533 --> 01:17:38,933
He'll be speaking
to an analyst at the lab
1829
01:17:39,066 --> 01:17:40,826
tasked with testing a sample
1830
01:17:40,967 --> 01:17:42,167
taken directly from the tie
1831
01:17:42,300 --> 01:17:44,300
Cooper left behind
on the plane.
1832
01:17:44,433 --> 01:17:46,933
Should DNA be found
within the sample
1833
01:17:47,066 --> 01:17:50,396
the results could reopen
a near 50-year-old case
1834
01:17:50,533 --> 01:17:52,403
and confirm Eric's suspicions
1835
01:17:52,533 --> 01:17:54,673
about a person of interest.
1836
01:17:54,800 --> 01:17:56,730
ERIC: How are you?
1837
01:17:56,867 --> 01:17:57,727
I'm good. How are you?
1838
01:17:57,867 --> 01:17:58,967
ERIC: I'm doing well.
1839
01:17:59,100 --> 01:18:00,800
Well, my name
is Samantha Wandzek
1840
01:18:00,934 --> 01:18:03,434
and I currently work
at DNA Labs International,
1841
01:18:03,567 --> 01:18:04,867
we're a private laboratory
1842
01:18:05,000 --> 01:18:06,370
out of Deerfield Beach
in Florida
1843
01:18:06,500 --> 01:18:08,630
and we have clients
in over 40 states.
1844
01:18:08,767 --> 01:18:11,497
So it's very easy to go back
to any cold case
1845
01:18:11,633 --> 01:18:13,203
and find more work to be done.
1846
01:18:13,333 --> 01:18:14,673
So for this case,
I was actually
1847
01:18:14,800 --> 01:18:15,930
the reporting analyst for it.
1848
01:18:16,066 --> 01:18:17,826
And how did you tackle
this material
1849
01:18:17,967 --> 01:18:20,327
that I sent to you to try
to ascertain whether or not
1850
01:18:20,467 --> 01:18:22,197
there's any DNA or not?
1851
01:18:22,333 --> 01:18:23,873
SAMANTHA:
Due to the size of the filter
1852
01:18:24,000 --> 01:18:26,170
we actually cut it out
in teeny-tiny chunks
1853
01:18:26,300 --> 01:18:28,670
and then sent the whole filter
for extraction.
1854
01:18:28,800 --> 01:18:31,470
That's the first stage
of the DNA testing process.
1855
01:18:31,600 --> 01:18:34,030
We then try to determine
how much DNA, if any,
1856
01:18:34,166 --> 01:18:35,466
is present in the sample.
1857
01:18:35,600 --> 01:18:36,930
If we have enough DNA
1858
01:18:37,066 --> 01:18:39,066
we'll then send it forward
for implication.
1859
01:18:39,200 --> 01:18:40,900
When you have cases
that are old,
1860
01:18:41,033 --> 01:18:43,403
um, typically you'll see
a sample will be degraded.
1861
01:18:43,533 --> 01:18:45,633
That DNA is just
gonna break apart over time
1862
01:18:45,767 --> 01:18:48,767
and you're just not gonna have
as much intact DNA.
1863
01:18:48,900 --> 01:18:51,670
But I was very surprised
with the results.
1864
01:18:51,800 --> 01:18:54,100
So there was DNA
1865
01:18:54,233 --> 01:18:55,803
in the filter?
1866
01:18:55,934 --> 01:18:58,004
We did end up with a profile
1867
01:18:58,133 --> 01:19:00,273
from one male individual.
1868
01:19:00,400 --> 01:19:02,870
Is there some way to quantify
like the strength?
1869
01:19:03,000 --> 01:19:04,200
I mean,
is it one of these things
1870
01:19:04,333 --> 01:19:06,403
where one out of a billion
people would...
1871
01:19:06,533 --> 01:19:08,503
match this particular profile,
1872
01:19:08,633 --> 01:19:10,233
like, how strong is it?
1873
01:19:10,367 --> 01:19:11,797
What can it tell us?
1874
01:19:11,934 --> 01:19:14,934
SAMANTHA: Typically,
once you have over 20 locations
1875
01:19:15,066 --> 01:19:16,696
you would have to see hundreds,
1876
01:19:16,834 --> 01:19:18,734
thousands,
millions in planet Earth,
1877
01:19:18,867 --> 01:19:20,527
that are staying
in current population
1878
01:19:20,667 --> 01:19:22,767
to expect to see
that profile one time.
1879
01:19:22,900 --> 01:19:25,070
So once you have
over those 20 locations
1880
01:19:25,200 --> 01:19:26,830
it usually becomes very rare.
1881
01:19:26,967 --> 01:19:28,627
So what you're telling me
1882
01:19:28,767 --> 01:19:31,527
is that we are
the very first people
1883
01:19:31,667 --> 01:19:35,427
outside of the FBI
to actually have
1884
01:19:35,567 --> 01:19:38,097
D.B. Cooper's DNA profile?
1885
01:19:38,233 --> 01:19:41,233
I'm anxious to find out
what that means?
1886
01:19:41,367 --> 01:19:44,897
What can it tell us
in comparison to DNA profile
1887
01:19:45,033 --> 01:19:48,173
for one of Sheridan Peterson's
daughters?
1888
01:19:48,300 --> 01:19:50,770
Does it match?
1889
01:19:53,200 --> 01:19:55,130
She is not
the biological daughter
1890
01:19:55,266 --> 01:19:57,626
of the male donor
that we found.
1891
01:19:57,767 --> 01:19:59,067
Wow.
1892
01:19:59,200 --> 01:20:00,770
That's a-- that's a--
that's stunning.
1893
01:20:00,900 --> 01:20:03,930
I mean, it's really remarkable
1894
01:20:04,066 --> 01:20:08,066
given everything I know
about this guy.
1895
01:20:08,200 --> 01:20:10,330
It's a game changer obviously.
1896
01:20:10,467 --> 01:20:14,027
The one thing that's very
encouraging to me though
1897
01:20:14,166 --> 01:20:17,566
is that we have a very solid
1898
01:20:17,700 --> 01:20:20,530
DNA profile from the tie.
1899
01:20:20,667 --> 01:20:23,767
Getting a DNA profile
is so important
1900
01:20:23,900 --> 01:20:27,000
because it can provide
assurance to me and others
1901
01:20:27,133 --> 01:20:29,933
that this case
is actually solvable.
1902
01:20:30,066 --> 01:20:32,866
I do very much appreciate
all the effort
1903
01:20:33,000 --> 01:20:35,200
that you folks put into this
1904
01:20:35,333 --> 01:20:37,073
and I'm just very grateful
that we've got
1905
01:20:37,200 --> 01:20:39,630
a solid DNA profile
and I'm grateful
1906
01:20:39,767 --> 01:20:41,027
that we have some resolution
1907
01:20:41,166 --> 01:20:42,726
with respect
to Sheridan Peterson.
1908
01:20:42,867 --> 01:20:44,567
So again,
thank you very much
1909
01:20:44,700 --> 01:20:46,030
for your efforts and your time.
1910
01:20:46,166 --> 01:20:47,496
Please feel free to contact me
1911
01:20:47,633 --> 01:20:49,333
with any additional questions
that you have.
1912
01:20:49,467 --> 01:20:50,567
We will do that.
1913
01:20:52,700 --> 01:20:55,400
FISHBURNE: Now, armed with new
information from the lab.
1914
01:20:55,533 --> 01:20:59,773
Eric calls Agent Mary Jean
Fryar to share the results.
1915
01:21:01,233 --> 01:21:02,773
Right now,
1916
01:21:02,900 --> 01:21:04,330
I wanna give Mary Jean a call
1917
01:21:04,467 --> 01:21:05,967
and I wanna let her know
1918
01:21:06,100 --> 01:21:07,830
what I have learned.
1919
01:21:07,967 --> 01:21:10,597
Because Mary Jean
has really helped
1920
01:21:10,734 --> 01:21:12,334
move my investigation forward
1921
01:21:12,467 --> 01:21:14,627
and I'm sure
she's gonna wanna know
1922
01:21:14,767 --> 01:21:17,767
what I've learned
about the DNA.
1923
01:21:17,900 --> 01:21:19,330
Hey, Mary Jean.
How are you doing?
1924
01:21:19,467 --> 01:21:22,297
-It's Eric Ulis calling.
-MARY JEAN: Hey, there.
1925
01:21:22,433 --> 01:21:24,903
ERIC:
I've got a DNA update.
1926
01:21:25,033 --> 01:21:26,503
Finally have some results
1927
01:21:26,633 --> 01:21:28,873
from the lab in Florida.
1928
01:21:29,000 --> 01:21:30,670
They did come up
1929
01:21:30,800 --> 01:21:34,330
with a full DNA profile
1930
01:21:34,467 --> 01:21:35,927
and it's from a male.
1931
01:21:36,066 --> 01:21:37,466
MARY JEAN:
I'm getting really excited.
1932
01:21:37,600 --> 01:21:39,470
My stomach is like a knot
1933
01:21:39,600 --> 01:21:42,430
because I'm hoping
that it's him.
1934
01:21:42,567 --> 01:21:45,897
They proved 100% that the DNA
1935
01:21:46,033 --> 01:21:48,173
does not match.
1936
01:21:48,300 --> 01:21:50,130
MARY JEAN: Oh, damn.
1937
01:21:50,266 --> 01:21:54,796
Sheridan Peterson
is not D.B. Cooper.
1938
01:21:54,934 --> 01:21:56,634
MARY JEAN: Last conversation
I have with Sheridan
1939
01:21:56,767 --> 01:21:59,967
he point blank refused
to go forward with the DNA--
1940
01:22:00,166 --> 01:22:01,426
get the DNA results.
1941
01:22:01,567 --> 01:22:03,567
ERIC:
I am absolutely convinced
1942
01:22:03,700 --> 01:22:05,900
that the DNA that we have
1943
01:22:06,033 --> 01:22:07,903
is D.B. Cooper's DNA.
1944
01:22:08,033 --> 01:22:10,703
So if anybody matches
this DNA profile
1945
01:22:10,834 --> 01:22:12,704
all 20 points that's your guy.
1946
01:22:12,834 --> 01:22:14,374
There's absolutely no doubt
about it.
1947
01:22:14,500 --> 01:22:16,100
MARY JEAN:
Can we run it in databases
1948
01:22:16,233 --> 01:22:19,173
and find him or is this
a lost cause at this point?
1949
01:22:19,300 --> 01:22:21,400
They actually can utilize it
1950
01:22:21,533 --> 01:22:24,373
to run through the CODIS system
but of course that involves,
1951
01:22:24,500 --> 01:22:26,500
uh, you know, law enforcement
getting involved,
1952
01:22:26,633 --> 01:22:28,173
then the courts
getting involved.
1953
01:22:28,300 --> 01:22:30,000
MARY JEAN: Eric, I think
what you've done is...
1954
01:22:30,133 --> 01:22:31,703
more than the FBI ever did.
1955
01:22:31,834 --> 01:22:33,534
And I would think
this is enough
1956
01:22:33,667 --> 01:22:34,997
that if we need law enforcement
1957
01:22:35,133 --> 01:22:37,003
they've got to take
this back and reopen it.
1958
01:22:37,133 --> 01:22:38,733
This is damn good evidence.
1959
01:22:38,867 --> 01:22:40,767
This is better than
I've ever come up with
1960
01:22:40,900 --> 01:22:42,870
and maybe they can actually
solve this case
1961
01:22:43,000 --> 01:22:44,700
-with your help.
-I honestly believe
1962
01:22:44,834 --> 01:22:47,534
we will eventually figure out
who this guy was.
1963
01:22:47,667 --> 01:22:50,227
-Thank you very much.
-MARY JEAN: Take care.
1964
01:22:50,367 --> 01:22:53,267
FISHBURNE: After narrowing down
Cooper's possible landing site
1965
01:22:53,400 --> 01:22:56,500
and eliminating
an FBI person of interest.
1966
01:22:56,633 --> 01:22:58,173
Eric's even more determined
1967
01:22:58,300 --> 01:23:00,370
to continue his mission.
1968
01:23:00,500 --> 01:23:03,530
I feel very empowered
at the moment.
1969
01:23:03,667 --> 01:23:06,097
I feel more motivated
than ever.
1970
01:23:06,233 --> 01:23:09,133
Because having this DNA profile
1971
01:23:09,266 --> 01:23:11,566
provides
an outstanding blueprint
1972
01:23:11,700 --> 01:23:14,800
as I continue to pursue
this case.
1973
01:23:14,934 --> 01:23:16,734
I am now actually armed
1974
01:23:16,867 --> 01:23:19,927
with precisely what I need
1975
01:23:20,066 --> 01:23:23,066
to determine who D.B. Cooper was
1976
01:23:23,200 --> 01:23:26,070
and more importantly
to prove it.
1977
01:23:26,200 --> 01:23:27,930
Time in the D.B. Cooper case
1978
01:23:28,066 --> 01:23:30,926
has served
as a double edge sword.
1979
01:23:31,066 --> 01:23:32,366
In one sense you have,
1980
01:23:32,500 --> 01:23:33,930
you know,
first-hand witnesses
1981
01:23:34,066 --> 01:23:36,766
that pass on
and memories fade.
1982
01:23:36,900 --> 01:23:38,770
But in another sense
1983
01:23:38,900 --> 01:23:41,800
we have advances in science
and technology.
1984
01:23:41,934 --> 01:23:44,304
And I think
when all is said and done
1985
01:23:44,433 --> 01:23:46,733
time is going to be our friend
1986
01:23:46,867 --> 01:23:48,527
because I firmly believe
1987
01:23:48,667 --> 01:23:51,967
that this DNA profile
is ultimately
1988
01:23:52,100 --> 01:23:54,930
what's gonna break this case
wide open
1989
01:23:55,066 --> 01:23:58,596
and is what is going to solve
this case.
1990
01:23:58,734 --> 01:23:59,974
FISHBURNE: The identity of D.B.
Cooper
1991
01:24:00,166 --> 01:24:02,796
has haunted investigators
for nearly five decades.
1992
01:24:02,934 --> 01:24:05,704
Who is the mysterious hijacker?
1993
01:24:05,834 --> 01:24:08,974
And will we ever finally
discover his true identity?
1994
01:24:09,100 --> 01:24:11,870
I'm Laurence Fissburne, thank
you for watching
1995
01:24:12,000 --> 01:24:14,330
History's Greatest Mysteries.
153030
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