Recommended Posts
In 1979 Rackstraw was 35 yrs old at the time of his arrest. That would have made Rackstraw about 28 yrs old in 1971. That age just doesn't work. Not one witness put Cooper in under thirty.
This was obviously why he was released and no publicity was given to the subject. I will say viewing the photo that he appears to be older than 35 in that 1979 photo.
He was a Vietam Veteran or fall-out veteran. His tour dates are 69-70 - perhaps he was wounded and discharged. I may of course not have the records on the right Rackstraw.
There is also a Robert Wesley Rackstraw out of Nevada and owner of Stealth Constuction - a son is also listed with the company. If any of you guys live in the Reno area, you might want to check on this.
In my opinion Rackstraw could not be Cooper, but then I am also bias because of Duane's past and the many things he disclosed over the yrs.
I was recently contacted and as far as I am concerned SCAMMED by a couple of guys from N.Y.(so they said). I was told they had a suspect and gave them a lot of information I worked very hard for - they promised me a photo of their suspect, but I never got it. Sound familiar - it did to me when I gave them information and the results.
One of them supposedly contacted Shaffner, but when I tried to contact her the person who answered claimed she never heard of her. I do believe I was talking to Florence....but I didn't push the issue. I really thought I had found her. If any one out there knows exactly where she is please private email me that Information.
I followed up on some information I received from you guys at DZ. That information gave me her husbands name, his death, her son and daughters name --- I still think I was talking to her. Can anyone help me with this?
This was obviously why he was released and no publicity was given to the subject. I will say viewing the photo that he appears to be older than 35 in that 1979 photo.
He was a Vietam Veteran or fall-out veteran. His tour dates are 69-70 - perhaps he was wounded and discharged. I may of course not have the records on the right Rackstraw.
There is also a Robert Wesley Rackstraw out of Nevada and owner of Stealth Constuction - a son is also listed with the company. If any of you guys live in the Reno area, you might want to check on this.
In my opinion Rackstraw could not be Cooper, but then I am also bias because of Duane's past and the many things he disclosed over the yrs.
I was recently contacted and as far as I am concerned SCAMMED by a couple of guys from N.Y.(so they said). I was told they had a suspect and gave them a lot of information I worked very hard for - they promised me a photo of their suspect, but I never got it. Sound familiar - it did to me when I gave them information and the results.
One of them supposedly contacted Shaffner, but when I tried to contact her the person who answered claimed she never heard of her. I do believe I was talking to Florence....but I didn't push the issue. I really thought I had found her. If any one out there knows exactly where she is please private email me that Information.
I followed up on some information I received from you guys at DZ. That information gave me her husbands name, his death, her son and daughters name --- I still think I was talking to her. Can anyone help me with this?
Copyright 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 2013, 2014, 2015 by Jo Weber
I don't want any publicity or cameras when I go. I need to retrace the route the plane took that night from Seattle to Reno. I know that when the crew asked if they could go to Reno rather than Mexico - it meant a change in direction. This seems to never be mentioned anymore - WHY?
Changing it for the curve they made in direction. I do not know how much this would cost, but some of you might have an idea - as I am sure there are pilots out there who post to this site.
![[:/]](/uploads/emoticons/dry.png "[:/]"){kind=small}
I would like to do this flight at night, but I am sure that is not a good idea.
My funding for this trip will be limited, but I am determined to do it if at all possible or feasible. I will be terrified flying in a small plane, but I got to do it....a commercial flight would not do the route and I would not have the accessibility of being able to look down and see if I can see the things he pointed out to me that you could see from a plane at night....just because of how they were lit up.
I just thought it was part of his familarity with the area.
I also need to find some other places as I had only one day on my own when I was there in 2001 for the filming crew that did NOT take me to the right places. The additional day I took with the help of some women there in the area I need to retrace one more time and to see how it looks in Nov. Also a couple of places we --- consisting of (three other women my age and an undercover off duty detective who was asked to help me---did not find - I need to find these places and hopefully pictures of what they looked like in 1978.Copyright 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 2013, 2014, 2015 by Jo Weber
quade 4
Quote
I do not know how much this would cost, but some of you might have an idea - as I am sure there are pilots out there who post to this site.
I can give you very round numbers to work with. At a bare minimum, figure about $100 per hour (maybe a bit more, probably not much less). That might cover the cost of the plane, fuel and pilot for a small 2 passenger plane capable of making the flight at around 100 mph.
Remember that you need to pay to fly the plane the entire route AND back to where you started.
Further, a plane of this size is only going to have enough fuel for about 3 hours of flight time. You'd obviously need to discuss the route and perhaps a fuel stop with the pilot.
Your best bet on finding such a plane would be to contact a local flying school or club and seeing if they do Part 91 charter flights.
quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver
The World's Most Boring Skydiver
NickDG 23
Jo,
As for the money part, a disinterested flight school or charter outfit is going to soak you.
I think you'd do much better with a pilot whose part of the family so to speak. That would be someone with some knowledge of this case and parachuting experience. I know many experienced skydivers who own their own aircraft. One I know in particular (and a woman to boot) might be keen to do it so I'll call her on your behalf today.
You'll still need to come up with money for fuel, putting the pilot up in a hotel and whatnot – so if someone else here sets up a "Get Jo Up" fund I'll kick in the first 50 bucks.
A few other things. Drop the night flight idea. While it would give you somewhat the same "feeling" Cooper faced, all you'd see in that area on the best night would be stars, horizon, and inky blackness down below. If you are adamant about seeing what it would look like a short night flight around whatever airport you're operating out of would provide it.
Also drop the 10,000-foot altitude thing. I don't know without checking what the ground elevation of the area in question is, but that elevation would need to be added in and that would probably be pushing comfortable general aviation aircraft operating altitudes. Besides from 10,000-feet you'll see little detail of what you're flying over.
Jo, regardless of how this all turns out, I think you deserve to make this flight!
NickD BASE 194
Thank you for the information. It provided me with a general idea of just what I would be looking at. . I won't need any help financially, but it was nice of you to offer.
On some of the commercial fights we flew during our marriage Duane made some odd comments and when in WA made statements that I feel are related to land marks from a plane. They talk about the weather being bad, but the weather report was not that bad - I have the weather reports - used for aviation. The visibility was good - with areas of rain and wind gusts. One seems to forget that the weather might be bad in Seattle, but not in Vancouver or East of that area. Fronts move and the plane was moving.
I have also spoke with several individuals who lived in the area and remembered the night well. Two of them claimed to hear the plane over head and they did not live in the flight pattern.. I know they were telling the truth (they were married to each other at that time) and later divorced. They contacted the FBI regarding something the husband saw the next morning, but basically ignored by the FBI.
The FBI simply didn't believe Cooper could have made it to that area. We now know. of course, that the plane flew East of the intended route due to the weather. The report states otherwise, but in those days a pilot would go off course to avoid bad weather. It was a common practice and they had a man on the plane with a bomb and they certainly didn't want turbulence.
I know Duane enough to know that he had a target and I do believe he told me his target - in a round about way. Hence why he named a specific destination, but they fouled him up by telling him they need to go to Reno because of the gas.
If there is a woman pilot out there that would be great - it would be possible to share a room and that would keep the expenses down. Most people have plans for Thanksgiving, but it would not necessarily have to be on the Holiday - Just in late Nov.
On some of the commercial fights we flew during our marriage Duane made some odd comments and when in WA made statements that I feel are related to land marks from a plane. They talk about the weather being bad, but the weather report was not that bad - I have the weather reports - used for aviation. The visibility was good - with areas of rain and wind gusts. One seems to forget that the weather might be bad in Seattle, but not in Vancouver or East of that area. Fronts move and the plane was moving.
I have also spoke with several individuals who lived in the area and remembered the night well. Two of them claimed to hear the plane over head and they did not live in the flight pattern.. I know they were telling the truth (they were married to each other at that time) and later divorced. They contacted the FBI regarding something the husband saw the next morning, but basically ignored by the FBI.
The FBI simply didn't believe Cooper could have made it to that area. We now know. of course, that the plane flew East of the intended route due to the weather. The report states otherwise, but in those days a pilot would go off course to avoid bad weather. It was a common practice and they had a man on the plane with a bomb and they certainly didn't want turbulence.
I know Duane enough to know that he had a target and I do believe he told me his target - in a round about way. Hence why he named a specific destination, but they fouled him up by telling him they need to go to Reno because of the gas.
If there is a woman pilot out there that would be great - it would be possible to share a room and that would keep the expenses down. Most people have plans for Thanksgiving, but it would not necessarily have to be on the Holiday - Just in late Nov.
Copyright 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 2013, 2014, 2015 by Jo Weber
1969912 0
Mrs. Weber,
You might be interested in looking at the following satellite maps. The first is centered on Ariel, WA, and the second on a spot about 20 miles West of there that I just added a marker to. You can zooom in/out, change view to show or not show roads, etc.
Ariel, WA:
http://wikimapia.org/#lat=45.95664&lon=-122.569313&z=12&l=0&m=h&v=2
~20 mi West of Ariel (The marker I added tonight might not be visible for a couple days):
http://wikimapia.org/#lat=45.945839&lon=-123.00559&z=12&l=0&m=h&v=2
Interesting. The kid got to keep some of the money:
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/145541/
"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG
You might be interested in looking at the following satellite maps. The first is centered on Ariel, WA, and the second on a spot about 20 miles West of there that I just added a marker to. You can zooom in/out, change view to show or not show roads, etc.
Ariel, WA:
http://wikimapia.org/#lat=45.95664&lon=-122.569313&z=12&l=0&m=h&v=2
~20 mi West of Ariel (The marker I added tonight might not be visible for a couple days):
http://wikimapia.org/#lat=45.945839&lon=-123.00559&z=12&l=0&m=h&v=2
Interesting. The kid got to keep some of the money:
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/145541/
"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG
Some of the places we went to were unusual and some things he said did not seem to be a norm.
The kid is a grown man now with two families of his own to suppport now - families of his own to support now. He has been trying to sell the bills to the highest bidder. Just to get out of trouble.
Can't do any of this tonight /;///cam't see to type tonight. Must be something wrong with me.. got to go to bed. Night.
The kid is a grown man now with two families of his own to suppport now - families of his own to support now. He has been trying to sell the bills to the highest bidder. Just to get out of trouble.
Can't do any of this tonight /;///cam't see to type tonight. Must be something wrong with me.. got to go to bed. Night.
Copyright 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 2013, 2014, 2015 by Jo Weber
Good News, Bad News Bears:
Got some news regarding something happening in the very near future, but I don't want to get my hopes up until it actually happens. I have been thru this before and nothing materialized...so, I will wait until I know something for certain.
I haven't been on lately since I am NOT feeling well at all - somedays it is all I can do to take care of myself, the dog and get to the Drs. The days I have to go shopping are very trying....Emotionally and physically I am failing.
I just want to finish this assignment, Duane inadvertantly placed in my hands and hope that someone has heard me.
I have made a lot of noise, but perhaps not in the right places. If anyone has any suggestion about how to get the FBI to research the things I have pointed out, let me know.
If the FBI has any proof that Duane was not COOPER then now is the time to tell me.
I am not a CRAZY woman or poor PATHETIC woman who claimed her deceased husband was COOPER...I do not want to be remember that way...I have told the truth (I have explored theories with you and others, but it always goes back to what I actually know). I have never changed my story. I have investigated and explored every lead that has come my way - I take two steps forward and 1 and 1/2 backwards. 12 and 1/2 yrs later I am still convince Duane Lorin Weber was Dan Cooper.
Copyright 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 2013, 2014, 2015 by Jo Weber
1969912 0
QuoteI am not a CRAZY woman or poor PATHETIC woman who claimed her deceased husband was COOPER...I do not want to be remember that way.
You won't be remembered that way here. Certainly there are differences of opinion, but discussing those are what the forums are for. Things were fine until some assholes with an agenda popped in and started harassing you, but it seems that they have either been banned or have drifted off looking for some other way to compensate for their sexual and intellectual inadequacies.
We look forward to hearing about bothe the new information and your trip to the Northwest.
"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG
steve1 5
QuoteQuoteQuoteIf he went in they would of found him, so the only conclusion is that he did not go in....
Sorry, but that's just not a logical conclusion to make; they never found Amelia Earhart either.
Yeah but she supposedly went down in the ocean.
...................................................................
I've often hiked into some of the most remote places that you can find here in Montana. Just when I think I'm the only one whose ever been somewhere I'll find something to remind me, that isn't true. It might be spotting another hiker or hunter. It might be boot tracks etc. There's just a lot of people out hiking around almost everywhere.
That's one reason I don't believe in Big Foot. Where could he hide out, where nobody would find signs of him. I just don't think there are many places in Washington or Oregon that would just swallow up someone....unless it is water. That's why I think D.B. Cooper went into the river. After all these years, I think someone would have found his chute and body if he died on land. There's a lot of thick brush and trees in that area, but I have my doubts if they would hide a body and parachute for that many years.
Didn't they find some of the money in the river?
.....Steve1
quade 4
If you tossed a million needles in a haystack you'd be able to find a lot of needles, but not necessarily the ONE needle you needed to find.
Evidence of people being out in the wilderness IS pretty easy to come by. People are slobs and leave crap all over the place. But, finding a few specific bits of cloth and metal that have survived all these years would still be like looking for a single needle in a haystack. All a person has to do is miss it by a few feet and it's missed entirely.
Considering the amount of area we're talking about, I'd say it's going to be a very long time; if ever.
The bones and body parts would be LONG gone . . . food for worms . . . as are we all.
Evidence of people being out in the wilderness IS pretty easy to come by. People are slobs and leave crap all over the place. But, finding a few specific bits of cloth and metal that have survived all these years would still be like looking for a single needle in a haystack. All a person has to do is miss it by a few feet and it's missed entirely.
Considering the amount of area we're talking about, I'd say it's going to be a very long time; if ever.
The bones and body parts would be LONG gone . . . food for worms . . . as are we all.
quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver
The World's Most Boring Skydiver
steve1 5
That's an interesting question. I wonder what would be left. In a wet climate, things do rot away quickly, Much of what he jumped with should still be fairly intact. I think his rig, shoes, anything metal or plastic, some of his clothing, and parts of his canopy would probably be still be in the area.
The bones may very well be scattered bits by now. I've found buried bones from buffalo that were hundreds of years old at buffalo jumps. Most were still fully intact. This was in a dry climate. They were covered with wet dirt next to a river. I think some of D.B. Coopers bones could still be intact. Predators may have scattered the bones though. Mice and other little critters like to eat them.
If he had an open canopy, that would be hard to hide. Perhaps he hid that after landing, and started hobbling out with injuries, and then died. There are a ton of variables.
Every Fall I try as hard as I can to get away from people during hunting season. I've gone 50 miles into wilderness areas, then climbed the steepest mountain around. And even there I run into other hunters.
I have to agree though, it is possible that people are just missing his remains and gear by feet.....Steve1
The bones may very well be scattered bits by now. I've found buried bones from buffalo that were hundreds of years old at buffalo jumps. Most were still fully intact. This was in a dry climate. They were covered with wet dirt next to a river. I think some of D.B. Coopers bones could still be intact. Predators may have scattered the bones though. Mice and other little critters like to eat them.
If he had an open canopy, that would be hard to hide. Perhaps he hid that after landing, and started hobbling out with injuries, and then died. There are a ton of variables.
Every Fall I try as hard as I can to get away from people during hunting season. I've gone 50 miles into wilderness areas, then climbed the steepest mountain around. And even there I run into other hunters.
I have to agree though, it is possible that people are just missing his remains and gear by feet.....Steve1
If I can get to WA. and find those places he took me to (one I know has had a lot of development since 2001 when I tried to retrace the trip he took me on and the site on the river was already developed...I didn't know the dates of the development, but there had also been a flood).
Either he put that money in the river, or it was dislodged from the excavating or the flood took it from its hiding place - the areas he took me to are up-stream from the location the money was found in. The Columbia flows to the West.
What is to be found in the forest - parts of the parachute. He took me to a place and pointed out something. It was an area where at one time had been a tower (I don't know what kind of tower) and told me about a shed that was near it used for tool storage - He said he buried something behind it.
In retrospect I believe that to be the chute and/or briefcase. More likely the chute - after he cut away a piece of memorabilia...that being the item that I found in his things that was part of a parachute.
There is another place where a barn was and a cement block building - like an old dairy - there was a cottage behind the cement building.. Have never been able to remember exactly what he said about that place....other than to say he used to know someone who lived there. He did say something else, but it is lost to me forever.
Well, you have my take on what could be found - there should be treasure hunters willing to take on a search with metal detectors. I never disclosed the locations of these places for fear of people damaging personal property and my being held liable for the damage.
If there is a reliable group of people in WA willing to undertake this (with permission from the property owners) - I will share the locations, but not in the public media. I did disclose these things to the FBI 12 yrs ago and ignored..
I pushed this to the back of my mind although you will find my mention if it in my early accounts to the FBI and others. Jerry Thomas was supposed to check it out, but he is the one who told me that the Washougal could never be on my left from a certain location.
When I went to WA in 2001 I found the area -with the help of the people I mentioned in an earlier post. The experts (Jerry Thomas and others I contacted) told me it didn't exist . I was then later able to locate it on a map. All I had when I was in WA. in 2001 was my visual memory.
NO ONE really wants this case solved, but me and my time is running out fast.
Either he put that money in the river, or it was dislodged from the excavating or the flood took it from its hiding place - the areas he took me to are up-stream from the location the money was found in. The Columbia flows to the West.
What is to be found in the forest - parts of the parachute. He took me to a place and pointed out something. It was an area where at one time had been a tower (I don't know what kind of tower) and told me about a shed that was near it used for tool storage - He said he buried something behind it.
In retrospect I believe that to be the chute and/or briefcase. More likely the chute - after he cut away a piece of memorabilia...that being the item that I found in his things that was part of a parachute.
There is another place where a barn was and a cement block building - like an old dairy - there was a cottage behind the cement building.. Have never been able to remember exactly what he said about that place....other than to say he used to know someone who lived there. He did say something else, but it is lost to me forever.
Well, you have my take on what could be found - there should be treasure hunters willing to take on a search with metal detectors. I never disclosed the locations of these places for fear of people damaging personal property and my being held liable for the damage.
If there is a reliable group of people in WA willing to undertake this (with permission from the property owners) - I will share the locations, but not in the public media. I did disclose these things to the FBI 12 yrs ago and ignored..
I pushed this to the back of my mind although you will find my mention if it in my early accounts to the FBI and others. Jerry Thomas was supposed to check it out, but he is the one who told me that the Washougal could never be on my left from a certain location.
When I went to WA in 2001 I found the area -with the help of the people I mentioned in an earlier post. The experts (Jerry Thomas and others I contacted) told me it didn't exist . I was then later able to locate it on a map. All I had when I was in WA. in 2001 was my visual memory.
NO ONE really wants this case solved, but me and my time is running out fast.
Copyright 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 2013, 2014, 2015 by Jo Weber
ok, whats ur plan to solve this?
Needs to be a group who are trustworthy and have the ability to search the county records involved. I can identify the locations on a map. The exception is the location of the shed and tower as I cannot identify that on a map....I need help there. There must be historians who know the location of towers that existed in 1971 with a shed near it - in the middle of a forest - but within certain perimeters which I think I can do....would still be a large area.
After the property owners are identified they will need to be contacted for permission for a group to enter with metal detectors and underground finders. It will be necessary to have the chain of owners on each property for me to hopefully make another connection that no one has suspected...but, which I have a sneaky hunch about.
The needle in the haystack - I don't think so. I remember what I saw, but time changes things. Three locations I am dead on. I am within a mile of location on the river. The fourth is the shed and tower area.
As for the Tower and Shed - I believe we had hit what is now called 500, but it used to be slightly different. There was an old 500 with another road that met with it. The road would have been North of this road and in 1976 it was not much more than a path - can't remember if it was gravel or dirt. We went into it and we found a small clearing, but Duane seemed to think he had missed his turn - because there was no tower there - that it was the turn before we got to this road.
I don't know if we were on the right road or not, but he seemed satisfied after a moment or two. This is when he told me about the tower and the shed. I had to have been a complete idiot not to ask why. I am sure I did, but he gave me the same answer as he had about the other places ( I came here with my father or I was a Boy Scout). I found out from family members that this was NOT true....he was too old when he went to California and he had already been in trouble. The father never took him on such a trip nor was he involved with the Boy Scouts during this period of time.
Please remember that Duane DID NOT LOOK AT A MAP THE WHOLE TIME we were in WA. Doesn't that sound ODD to everyone? Obviously it was not to the FBI.
Why would someone take a person to all of these places in 1979 and then 16 yrs later tell someone what he told me? He did not set himself up in 1979 to make a deathbed confession in 1995. He had no guarantee I would remember all of this - which at that time in 1995 it just was not in my thought processing - he was going to die and I did not have anything else on my mind.
Someone please help me find the truth.
Copyright 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 2013, 2014, 2015 by Jo Weber
New Suspect on the horizon. It may very well be the same suspect that was presented to me about 4 yrs ago by an attorney in the N.E, but it never made the media. I would assume he felt he didn't had enough to go public. I didn't go public for 5 yrs with what I had...I just chewed on it and kept researching along with the help of several individuals.
I feel used! I gave a lot of information to this person who contacted me, but he NEVER provided what he promised me (a picture)....sounds like the Cooper trolls or groupies who pestered this thread for a long time. Watch the newspapers and magazines - I do not get the N.E. news - dribbles slowly in the South if it moves at all.Copyright 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 2013, 2014, 2015 by Jo Weber
so i was banned and he wasn't? no one seems to want to defend the right of somene saying something against poor miss skyjack. what about brenda? are you all that hypocritical and paper thin?
This topic is now closed to further replies.
________________________________________________
Share this post
Link to post
Share on other sites