The Immoral of the Story of D.B. Cooper

The story of our elusive skyjacker is indeed a fascinating tale of an audacious crime,

lots of money, three pretty young ladies, a briefcase bomb, parachute jumps and a

disappearance into the history books. Once sucked into the Cooper Vortex, we’ve all

had our favorite suspects, suspicious characters, crazy stories, bizarre coincidences

and spooky conspiracy theories.

It’s a lot of fun to dig deep into the lives of potential Coopers. Mrs. Kravitz, our favorite

nosy neighbor, would have a field day with all the online resources, archives, and FBI

files. One small problem – to my knowledge, there is no one involved in the Cooper

Vortex today who has any jurisdiction whatsoever to lawfully investigate this case. While

we do have an occasional law enforcement officer join our merry tribe, they are in no

way snooping around with legal authority, but rather as hobbyists or true crime buffs.

Several of the “Usual Suspects” in the case are known criminals or have confessed to

the crime. Many are mentioned in the public domain through the release of the FBI files.

While I take many of these on a case-by-case basis, mostly their names are out there

without any help from amateur sleuths. But what of the men with no criminal record or

dying declaration who have been pulled out of obscurity (and eternal rest)?

There, my friends, is the conundrum. How can we solve the mystery of D.B. Cooper

without digging deep into a current unknown and unsuspected man? Do we have any

right to publicly release a name, photo, life story and hidden secrets? Should we be free

to contact shocked family, friends, elderly former co-workers? Is this ethical? Does it

matter if the guy is deceased? What if he has a family? Are we grave robbing? To be

the morality police: how would you feel if it was your dad, grandfather, uncle?

The lack of moral compass of some in the Cooper Vortex has surprised me. I’m

disappointed when people I like seem to have no problem with accusing men of a

terrible crime with scant or sketchy evidence. Others have taken a huge step further and

put forward a “suspect” into wide release. The power of the internet ensures that they

will forever be associated with the skyjacking of Flight 305.

Am I too thin-skinned to be a true Cooper sleuth? Do I need to leave my ethics at the

bulkhead door? Is all fair in love, war and solving the case?

I know my answer. What’s yours?

-Pat