Photo - Cops on the Trail of DB Copper after 40 Years

After 40 years of dead ends, the FBI may finally be on the trail of famed money thief and hijacker DB Copper.

In 1971, Dan Cooper boarded a Northwest Airlines flight bound for Seattle.

He looked like any other passenger that day.

Once onboard the flight, Cooper gave a flight attendant a note that read,

“I have a bomb in my briefcase. I will use it if necessary. I want you to sit next to me. You are being hijacked.”

Once the plane landed Cooper demanded $200,000 in cash and four parachutes.

After getting the goods the flight took off again and he jumped from the plane somewhere over Washington State and made away with the cash and ditched the parachute.

Authorities have been searching for the now infamous DB Cooper ever since.

Cops got a lead in 1980 when a young boy found the remains of $6,000 in cash contained in three packs held together by rubber bands on a beach near northwest Washington State.

Nothing ever came about and the investigation stalled.

Cash Found in 1980

But yesterday the FBI said they have a new lead on the 40 year old crime.

FBI spokeswoman Ayn Sandalo Dietrich told a Seattle newspaper that law enforcement is investigating a person who might have useful information about Copper.

She says an item belonging to the person has been sent to the lab for testing but would not reveal any additional information.

But the rumor is that a cigarette butt used by Cooper during the famous flight was analyzed for DNA and resulted in a good sample profile. If they can match that DNA profile with a living suspect today they may very well find their man.

It is thought that this new suspect has an item with DNA on it that may link to a still living DB Cooper.

Time will tell. After 40 years and over 1,000 suspects what’s another couple of months?

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