The enigmatic DB Cooper case, a 52-year-old skyjacking mystery, is on the brink of a monumental breakthrough.
Eric Ulis, a seasoned investigator, believes 2024 might finally unveil the identity of the infamous hijacker.
Ulis, who has dedicated 13 years to this case, sees recent discoveries as key to unraveling the mystery.
A newly identified particle on Cooper’s tie points to a metals plant in Pittsburgh, intensifying the investigation.
“We are definitely sniffing in the right neighborhood,” Ulis confidently states.
The recent analysis revealed a particle of pure titanium smeared with stainless steel on Cooper’s tie.
Tom Kaye, the scientist behind this discovery, connected the particles to aerospace industry materials.
This latest finding suggests a potential link to Cooper’s identity and his past.
The particle’s unique composition indicates a process called ‘cold rolling’ used in aerospace applications.
Ulis believes Cooper might have been an employee at Crucible Steel, a Pittsburgh-based metals facility.
Crucible Steel’s connection to Boeing, coupled with Cooper’s aviation knowledge, strengthens this theory.
“Everything points to DB Cooper having come from Crucible Steel,” Ulis asserts.
The investigation also led Ulis to Vince Petersen, a former engineer at Crucible.
Petersen’s profile matches several aspects of DB Cooper’s description and circumstances.
Rare particles on Cooper’s tie, linked to aerospace materials, directed Ulis to Petersen.
A former Crucible supervisor suggested Petersen as a likely match for Cooper.
The small team of engineers at Crucible, all tie-wearing, narrows down the suspect list.
“Nobody checks the Cooper boxes like Vince Petersen,” Ulis contends.
A trace of commercial salt on the tie, studied by Petersen, adds another layer to the mystery.
The quest for more evidence leads Ulis to seek Cooper’s tie for DNA testing.
A unique clasp on the tie could hold Cooper’s DNA, a potential game-changer.
Ulis’s efforts to test the tie were stalled by a legal setback.
The FBI’s dismissal of his request for the tie under FOIA frustrates Ulis.
Ulis remains undeterred, vowing to appeal and continue his pursuit.
The skyjacking itself was a daring escapade, with Cooper demanding a ransom and parachuting into the night.
Cooper’s precise demands and calm demeanor have fueled decades of fascination.
Left behind on the hijacked Boeing 727 was just a clip-on tie and a gold pin.
DNA analysis of the tie has been inconclusive, adding to the enigma.
In 1980, a startling discovery of $5,800 in bills linked to Cooper offered a tantalizing clue.
Despite numerous suspects, the FBI never found a convincing match for Cooper.
The DB Cooper skyjacking remains the only unsolved case of its kind in US history.
The FBI closed the Cooper case in 2016, but Ulis’s investigation breathes new life into it.
Social media buzzes with renewed interest and theories about Cooper’s true identity.
Users on X share their takes, some skeptical, others hopeful.
“Could this tie clue finally lead us to DB Cooper?” asks one user.
Another tweets, “After 52 years, the mystery of the skyjacker might be solved!”
A user on X theorizes, “What if DB Cooper was just an average engineer with a bold plan?”
The DB Cooper saga continues to captivate, a blend of historical intrigue and modern detective work.
With each new discovery, the shadowy figure of DB Cooper becomes slightly more tangible.
The world waits with bated breath, wondering if 2024 will finally close this legendary case.