Richard Tosaw"s book does indeed state that Cooper was the last one to board, but it is not a fact. As with all books literary liberties are taken.
Himmelsback's book has errors also.
Having followed this thread and many other, Mrs. Weber does state her case very well. She has not been able to put him in Portland on that day, but his connections to the area and knowledge of the area are firm.
Mr. Tosaw is a egotistical individual who is unrelentless in his belief that Cooper Splattered. He is also a very difficult individual - his money could well be spent to finance realistic investigations rather than hiring divers to explore the Columbia.
As for Mrs. Weber, she is simply trying to find the evidence that will put her husband in Portland and in a parachute. She does seem to have everything else in order. I believe she is posting here to find that needle in the haystack.
I would hesitate to believe that Duane Weber was a novice and Mrs. Weber has established his knowledge of the area and terrain and flight patterns...ex-cons spent much of their time planning the "Big One". Perhaps he did do it.
You are being fecitious regarding the bucket as he did refer to a bucket in the hospital with a witness present - the witness was interviewed and her statement was taken. Five gallon paint buckets would have been readily available on the ground in a barn or shed near his landing site.
She was firm in her belief that he threw something into the Columbia behind a hotel below the bridge as he went to the river while she was taking care of something else. The recovered bills need to be analyzed with modern day technology...this could prove or disprove her theory.
Her story is a very compelling one. It does give one reason to ponder the validity and want to know more.
