DB Cooper Lead Points to Man Who Died 10 Years Ago

But if FBI is right, skyjacker survived his daring jump
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 2, 2011 9:33 AM CDT
DB Cooper Lead Points to Man Who Died 10 Years Ago
A 1971 artist's sketch released by the FBI shows the skyjacker known as 'Dan Cooper' and 'D.B. Cooper', based on descriptions from passengers on the jet he hijacked, Nov. 24, 1971.   (AP Photo/FBI/file)

Don’t expect to see the notorious skyjacker known only as DB Cooper to be doing a perp walk anytime soon. The "promising lead" the FBI touted yesterday points to a man who died of natural causes 10 years ago, the Seattle Times reports. A spokesman said the FBI still isn’t sure they’ve got their man, and they're pursuing other leads as well, but “there is a basic story that seems logical.”

If the FBI is right, it would at least prove that the skyjacker—who called himself “Dan Cooper,” though that name was quickly proven to be false—survived his daring parachute jump from the hijacked plane, something that’s long been in question. The FBI’s suspect reported an auto injury in 1971, which they think may have been to cover injuries from the fall. They’re currently working with the man’s family to find items to lift fingerprints from, after they determined they couldn't get usable prints from a guitar strap that belonged to the suspect. Click for more on the fresh lead. (More DB Cooper stories.)

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