Post by ICW on Nov 30, 2015 9:28:35 GMT -5
Hey guys,
For those of you unfamiliar with D.B. Cooper:
In November 1971, a man named Dan Cooper highjacked a Boeing 727, received a ransom totaling $200,000 (the equivalent of $1,700,000 in 2015), and parachuted (with the cash) to an unknown fate. To make things even juicer: his identity has never been solved. A stewardess, who Cooper approached during the highjacking, helped the F.B.I. create the following composite sketch:
For those of you unfamiliar with D.B. Cooper:
In November 1971, a man named Dan Cooper highjacked a Boeing 727, received a ransom totaling $200,000 (the equivalent of $1,700,000 in 2015), and parachuted (with the cash) to an unknown fate. To make things even juicer: his identity has never been solved. A stewardess, who Cooper approached during the highjacking, helped the F.B.I. create the following composite sketch:
The F.B.I. has followed hundreds upon hundreds of leads - none of them credible. They've even investigated numerous "deathbed confessions" and have ruled them all out. The F.B.I. believe Cooper could not have survived the jump; in fact, a few years later a child discovered some of the marked money on a piece of land where Cooper would have landed.
There's a new theory regarding his identity from author Robert Richardson, who believes Robert Lepsy - a man who went missing two years prior to the highjacking - is the culprit.
From the article:
"I was stunned to see the physical similarities between the two men," Richardson added. "Both Lepsy and the Cooper suspect were described to be 6-feet-tall, both weighed about 180-pounds and both had black hair and brown eyes."
Robert Richard "Dick" Lepsy (Left); D.B. Cooper composite sketch (Right)
It was at this point that Richardson decided just investigating Lepsy was no longer enough; he also needed to look deeper into the D.B. Cooper case.
"As I dove into the Cooper case, even more similarities between the two men came to light," said Richardson.
"The FBI says the skyjacker spoke with no discernible accent, and they believe he was from the Midwest; Dick Lepsy grew up in Chicago before he moved to Grayling.
"The FBI says the skyjacker left behind a black tie and a tie clasp on the plane; it's the exact same tie that was mandatory neck wear for all Glenn's Market employees.
"The FBI says the skyjacker's shoes were loafers; those were Dick Lepsy's favorite shoes."
The Cooper skyjacking happened two years after Dick Lepsy's disappearance, and the night the Cooper news broke, Lisa Lepsy remembers her family watching and how they all reacted.
"We were all sitting on the couch watching Walter Cronkite," said Lisa. "When the composite sketch of D.B. Cooper came on the TV screen, everyone looked at each other and said, 'That's dad!'
"We were stunned because the resemblance was unbelievable, and my brothers and I were all sure that was our dad."
So, WF, what do you think? Has Robert Richardson finally solved one of the most notorious unresolved mysteries ever?
There's a new theory regarding his identity from author Robert Richardson, who believes Robert Lepsy - a man who went missing two years prior to the highjacking - is the culprit.
From the article:
"I was stunned to see the physical similarities between the two men," Richardson added. "Both Lepsy and the Cooper suspect were described to be 6-feet-tall, both weighed about 180-pounds and both had black hair and brown eyes."
Robert Richard "Dick" Lepsy (Left); D.B. Cooper composite sketch (Right)
"As I dove into the Cooper case, even more similarities between the two men came to light," said Richardson.
"The FBI says the skyjacker spoke with no discernible accent, and they believe he was from the Midwest; Dick Lepsy grew up in Chicago before he moved to Grayling.
"The FBI says the skyjacker left behind a black tie and a tie clasp on the plane; it's the exact same tie that was mandatory neck wear for all Glenn's Market employees.
"The FBI says the skyjacker's shoes were loafers; those were Dick Lepsy's favorite shoes."
The Cooper skyjacking happened two years after Dick Lepsy's disappearance, and the night the Cooper news broke, Lisa Lepsy remembers her family watching and how they all reacted.
"We were all sitting on the couch watching Walter Cronkite," said Lisa. "When the composite sketch of D.B. Cooper came on the TV screen, everyone looked at each other and said, 'That's dad!'
"We were stunned because the resemblance was unbelievable, and my brothers and I were all sure that was our dad."
So, WF, what do you think? Has Robert Richardson finally solved one of the most notorious unresolved mysteries ever?