Sounds a bit crazy, but quite possible says a Puyallup couple. Seattle Times columnist Danny Westneat interviewed authors Ron and Pat Forman about their yet-to-be-published book on the legendary skyjacker who disappeared in the Northwest in 1971. Their book suggests D.B. Cooper spent 43 years as a man, then underwent a sex-change operation. The Formans said in the mid 1970s they met Barb Dayton, a UW librarian who was a weekend pilot and lived in West Seattle. She told tales of adventures: sky diving, gold mining, boar hunting in the Phillipines. Then in 1979, she told them she was D.B. Cooper, describing in detail how she jumped from the plane over Oregon and hid the ransom money at a farm. The Formans didn't know whether to believe her, but when she died in 2002, they started researching her life. Documents revealed the sex change operation and proved her stories true - all except D.B. Cooper, which only had circumstantial evidence. So far the FBI don't think she's Cooper, citing a height discrepency and mismatched DNA evidence. Still, it's an interesting story. (Via West Seattle Blog)
D.B. Cooper a West Seattle transsexual?
Sounds a bit crazy, but quite possible says a Puyallup couple. Seattle Times columnist Danny Westneat interviewed authors Ron and Pat Forman about their yet-to-be-published book on the legendary skyjacker who disappeared in the Northwest in 1971. Their book suggests D.B. Cooper spent 43 years as a man, then underwent a sex-change operation. The Formans said in the mid 1970s they met Barb Dayton, a UW librarian who was a weekend pilot and lived in West Seattle. She told tales of adventures: sky diving, gold mining, boar hunting in the Phillipines. Then in 1979, she told them she was D.B. Cooper, describing in detail how she jumped from the plane over Oregon and hid the ransom money at a farm. The Formans didn't know whether to believe her, but when she died in 2002, they started researching her life. Documents revealed the sex change operation and proved her stories true - all except D.B. Cooper, which only had circumstantial evidence. So far the FBI don't think she's Cooper, citing a height discrepency and mismatched DNA evidence. Still, it's an interesting story. (Via West Seattle Blog)
My parents are the ones who wrote the book mentioned in this article. The book, titled "The Legend of D.B. Cooper, Death by Natural Causes," is slated for publishing next month. My parents have created an awesome web site that explains why we believe our friend is the real D.B . Cooepr and disputes a lot of myths about the infamous hijacker. We've been working on this story for the past 30 years. It's an amazing tale of an extraordinary WOMAN! Check out the website: http://legendofdbcooper.com. We'd love to hear what you think.
Probably a great story, but he/she wasn't Cooper. DNA doesn't lie.
The problem is that the FBI no longer has the DNA from the cigarette butts. This DNA was mention in a 2003 internet article. Now all the FBI has is a partial profile obtained from saliva found on the tie left on the plane by the skyjacker. There is no proof as to whether the skyjacker slobbered on the tie or someone stood to close and sprayed while they were talking. I don't think there is enough proof left to ever prove this story conclusively.
What an interesting and cool story. I can't wait to buy the book and read more about this unsolved NW mystery.
I knew Barb well. I met her in the early 80s when I dated a private pilot at Thun Field. We spent a lot of time at the airport and I had the opportunity of getting to know her pretty well. I also knew the Formans. I remember the speculation surrounding the possiblity of her actually being DB Cooper. She was a clever woman.
She did bear a striking resemblence to the sketch of DB Cooper. I think there is enough there to not dismiss the claims entirely. From what I have read, the DNA found on the plane might not have been from DB. The "descriptions" of the height of DB could possibly be inaccurate. How many times have you been in a paniced situation and had to give a description of someone, have you been 100% completely accurate? Lots to think about on this case.
I knew Barb well. I met her in the early 80s when I dated a private pilot at Thun Field. We spent a lot of time at the airport and I had the opportunity of getting to know her pretty well. I also knew the Formans. I remember the speculation surrounding the possiblity of her actually being DB Cooper. She was a clever woman.
She did bear a striking resemblence to the sketch of DB Cooper. I think there is enough there to not dismiss the claims entirely. From what I have read, the DNA found on the plane might not have been from DB. The "descriptions" of the height of DB could possibly be inaccurate. How many times have you been in a paniced situation and had to give a description of someone, have you been 100% completely accurate? Lots to think about on this case.
Our book D. B. Cooper, Death by Natural Causes is now available in paperback. We just finished being filmed for a National Geographic Documentary that will be out in August. It was quite an adventure.