MarkBennett

I wasn't intending to start the pile on Robert Blevins thread....but it just seems you have no idea why it is happening. Here are as I see it the major hurdles you have to get over in your KC allegation. First, ask yourself -- using only the information you sent the FBI and the Lindbergh kidnapping had happened that weekend, instead of the DB Cooper hijacking, could your report be used to tie KC to that crime? Yes - because your basic thesis is that KC was unaccounted for that weekend, and ended up with a bunch of money afterwards. Second, if that's the case, and your story is entirely circumstantial, you better have other evidence that ties him to the crime. But, he was too short, too white and too bald. You say he was "tanned" - which is not only the same as olive skinned, if he were tanned in late November, could he have been off vacationing in exotic places (and already had acquired all that money before the hijacking)? And, if you believe Bernie Geestman was involved in the hijacking, wouldn't he have shared the money? If so, why didn't he lend his sister the money? The KC story is possible, but it's a real long shot. If it weren't for Bob Knoss's story, I would rank it as the least likely. Your real presumptuous point is that even though Marla probably spent over 100 hours talking to the FBI and they spent many hours investigating her story, they didn't call her a liar. But, you were able to make that claim within a few hours. Go back and read the thread. In late July/early August 2011, there is a lot of chatter on this thread about who the FBI's interesting new lead is and even speculation by you if it's KC. Early in the morning on August 2, Marla Cooper is identified and you report her story has more holes than Swiss cheese by 8 p.m. that very night. So, don't try to tell us you took an unbiased look at Marla's story. You yourself said you didn't attend the symposium on Portland because Marla was there. You are entitled to your opinions, but unless you like the abuse you get on Dropzone, you might be better served keeping your Marla opinions to yourself rather than posting them here. And, I think I raised my issues in a fair way and not as a personal attack on you.

I know I'm not going to convince you otherwise, you are the one who published a book without any proof -- not Marla.

Robert, You should leave Marla comments to others. I think your personal animus gets in the way. There are things Marla remembers either as an eight year old or things her father remembered and told before he died eighteen years ago. That is information the FBI checked into and didn't immediately discard. Then, there are things Marla is speculating on because there is no way she could know. Where the hijacker landed, how they navigated the wet roads, what gov't agency might have been involved. She couldn't know those things. If her speculation is wrong, it does not mean her memories are wrong. If I said that because you lied that Christianson had a $300,000 coin collection that means everything you wrote is a lie? Of course, not. As Georger said once (sorry Georger, trying to paraphrase. Please correct if I misrepresent) Marla had some interesting pieces of information on the case that would have been interesting to probe further. But, you decided she was a liar within 16 hours of her name being made public and helped run her off. Do you see why seem to draw such vitriolic responses? Also, I don't have a reference, so I can't point you anywhere for this, but my understanding was Marla's injured uncle arrived with her other uncle, but neither of them stayed for Thanksgiving.

It will be interesting to see how you write Cooperland. You must realize you're not a disinterested bystander and you are one of the more controversial members of Cooperland. I hope you present yourself that way.

Robert, I have read your report and the problem with it is there is nothing in it that ties KC or Geestman to the hijacking. My Geestman lied. Maybe KC or Geestman committed some crime. But, what would you have the FBI investigate? KC is dead. Geestman would not incriminate himself. Your report is interesting and it's possible KC was the hijacker -- but I think you're at a dead end.

RobertMBlevins, two comments. First, you dismiss the idea that Geestman and Christianson could have robbed a bank because they had no history of criminal activity in their background. But, instead, they hijacked a plane? Does not follow. Second, if Geestman was involved in the plot and possibly the instigator, why was Christianson lending Geestman's relatives money? Certainly, Geestman would have had a cut of the money and would have done so himself.

I know this was discussed a while ago, but the upcoming "Skyjack" movie (Gray's book) will be a comedy. I'm thinking it being a comedy is probably a good thing. If it were done as a drama, people start thinking it's a documentary and a true story. I go back to the movie JFK. Over two thirds of the US believe that was a conspiracy because of that movie. Never mind that it was not one conspiracy theory, but several woven together, with characters, facts and events added. Even critic Roger Ebert believes it was a conspiracy based on that movie. I'm not saying you can't believe it was a conspiracy, but if you base it on that movie -- you've been tricked. People treat movies as their basis of belief. That's the reason the Washington Post editorial board wrote a review of the movie Fair Game (the Valerie Plame story) blasting it for changing the facts even going so far as implying the White House leaked her identity and not revealing until the closing credits it had not. So, I'm thinking having the DB Cooper as a comedy will not have the viewers thinking it's the true story. Sorry to bring that back up. I just watched Argo tonight and happened to read how much of that was changed for the movie.

Robert, don't you see that you do EXACTLY what you accuse Marla of doing? Do you not know that DNA not matching with LD Cooper was known before Marla's name became public? Do you not know that Marla did not torpedo Geoff's book sales? Skyjack did not appear on the NYT best seller list until August 28, 2011 -- four weeks after Marla became public. You are free to disagree with Marla, but your irrational ravings just make you look silly.

I assume Jo was able to get the SS information as Duane's widow. RobertMBlevins could not get the same information on Christianson, could he? Part of Robert's case is that Christianson suddenly had a lot more money right after the hijacking. But, there has been no reporting of income like Jo has posted for Duane. Also, there is way of telling if Christianson suddenly had a lot more money before the hijacking. Would have been interesting to have wage and asset reports.....but not available on KC since he was unmarried?

Robert, You always ask for a source, and yet you claim you know what the FBI thinks with no sources. The FBI does not know if they have DB Cooper's fingerprints or DNA. So, how can you say they've disqualified Weber. Do you have a source for that? And, you may not agree with Marla's story, but how do you know what the FBI thinks of it? They already knew there was no finger print match before Marla went public. So, why do you think their opinion on Marla's story has changed? I don't recall any FBI statements definitively ruling out any of the main suspects. Do you have sources for those?

The FBI is telling you correctly: KC has not been eliminated as a suspect. Neither has Duane Weber. Neither has LD Cooper Neither has Sheridan Peterson. Neither have countless others who were about that age, but were never investigated. Until they identify the hijacker or have proof any of those people were not involved, they can not be eliminated. So, your email from the FBI really doesn't say anything one way or the other.

I'm just curious, Robert. In the article you write: "There are three basic types of people in this cult. The first are the people who celebrate Cooper's life because he was the guy who 'stuck it to the man' for two hundred grand (just over a million in today's dollars) and never got caught..... "The second group are the unbiased civilian investigators, or writers with an interest in the case..... "The third group are the most dangerous type in this cult. They are the folks who either don't want to know who the hijacker was because they live solely for the discussion, or the people who push one suspect to the exclusion of all others." You know most of us put you in the third group. Which group do you consider yourself in?

I was off work today and decided to head down to the Ariel Store and Tavern to check out the DB Cooper stuff. Even though I arrived within the posted hours, the store was closed. It was a three hour drive there, so I guess I should have checked first. However, I can find no phone number or email address. Does anyone know of one?

Robert sez: "He also verified that the 'something you should know but I can't tell you' was NOT about Kenny being gay. Lyle says the family knew this about Kenny from about the time Kenny was sixteen. " KC's family may have known he was gay, but unless KC came out to them, he might not have known they knew. That still could be what he wanted to say on his death bed.

One thing I don't understand, Robert. You wrote this in your report: "Lyle was contacted by FBI agents out of Minneapolis some years ago. I base very little on his claims. Not because I don’t believe him, but because he is a family member." Why does being a family member disqualify him? His friends are not disinterested witnesses. Lyle was the guy who, at his own expense, brought this case to the attention of a private investigator. Seems like he should be a prominent witness. Also, it appears only Geestman would have any information of value to the FBI. It doesn't appear any of the other witnesses know anything. They could provide proof that Geestman is a liar, but being a liar is not a crime. I have to wonder if Geestman hadn't turned white when you told him you were investigating the DB Cooper case isn't what is holding you to this case. If he had laughed and said he and KC were out hunting that weekend, you might have dropped it right there.

Farflung, Very good! It may not get Marla to call you, but I'll bet it will get her to DM you!

And, if Geestman refuses to talk to the FBI by claiming 5th amendment rights or saying he's old and can't recall, what do you have? Anything?

Robert, I don't doubt that everything in your report to the FBI is true. Of course, I haven't read it because you haven't posted it due to your little spitting match with Georger. But, you've laid out your case before. My question would be after reading your report if you post it is if everything in it is true, is there anything that ties KC or even Geestman to the hijacking? Is there even enough there for KC to even be investigated for tax evasion (had that statue of limitations not expired long ago)? Finally, is there anything there that would lead one to assume that any crime was committed at all?

Robert -- I think you just don't see how others see you. If you had limited your comments on Marla to how difficult it is to find someone on dirt roads in the woods on a dark and rainy night, or how logistically it would have been very difficult to make it to Sisters, Oregon by the next day you would have been ok. Valid points and good questions. Reasonable skepticism. But you didn't do that. Within hours of her name being made public and with very limited information released, you stated her story had more holes than swiss cheese. You accused her of being a liar. So personal was this for you that you said you could not even attend last year's symposium because Marla was going to attend. You accused her of making up her story just to write a book (even though you are the only one on this thread who has actually made up a story to write a book). You treat every part of her story as links of a chain and if anything is wrong the whole thing falls apart. You pull quotes out of context for your aha moment. That is why when you bring up Marla you have zero credibility. If you had started with the premise of Marla being a sincere witness but you still had to check out her story, I don't think I'd be writing this now.

According to Marla's Facebook page, her manuscript is 435 pages long in Microsoft Word. Thank you for doing your research before commenting. Bad timing for Marla. Can you imagine if she had released the book right when the FBI was calling Dewey a promising suspect? Not one "Cooper" in the title of her book. Most folks these days wouldnt connect her title with DB Cooper. Anyone have a good street address for Sheridan Peterson? I have a Santa Rosa address but it's an old one. I want to send him a Christmas cheer basket, some wine, cheese, smoked salmon, tasty snacks etc. Seriously. Sheridan is old, sick and mostly forgotten. We need to let the pioneer jumpers know that the skydiving community still cares about them. He might still read this forum. If you do Sheridan send me a PM with your address. No strings, no demands for a DB Cooper interrogation, just want to send you a gift. 377 So, true, 377. I remember when Deep Throat revealed himself a few years ago, Bob Woodward needed to get a book out FAST. I think he did it in about 3 weeks. You've written before about Sheridan Peterson. Interesting legal question. Most of the proposed hijackers are written up in Wikipedia. Is Peterson not there because he's still alive and could sue for libel?

According to Marla's Facebook page, her manuscript is 435 pages long in Microsoft Word. Thank you for doing your research before commenting.

Go ahead and post it. I'd read it. I would be surprised if it goes anywhere. Even if it were true and the FBI decided to investigate it, if they called in Geestman, why would he talk to them? He'd either assert his right against self incrimination or just say he's an old man and he just doesn't remember.

Credit where credit is due. Carr did not help start the forum on dropzone. It was Jo Weber. If you go back to the very beginning about half of the early posts were hers. She gradually drew in lots of other posters including Carr.

Honestly, not trying to be snarky. But, you, yourself, have got to recognize that you took a series of facts and wove a story around them. You have a person who had jumped before, who was unaccounted for that weekend and came into money sometime after -- but nothing to tie him to the hijacking. And, you wrote a book about it. You must see the irony in that.

Do Snowmman and Sluggo WANT to return? If so, what could they have done that was so bad to continue keeping them out?