by Bruce A. Smith
Cooper Con 24 was mostly a success. At least it happened, thanks to Ryan Burns, Chris Cunningham and John “Packer Jack” Limbach, who rescued it from Eric Ulis and his indebtedness, which had put the conference in jeopardy. As I understand the financial situation at the Museum of Flight regarding Cooper Con, Ulis owes for last year’s rental, and the triumvirate paid in full prior to this conference to insure that CC24 could take place at this historic site. Hopefully, Eric will pay his debts in full and return to CC25 in good graces.
With “new management,” CC24 had a different feel – more academic and professorial. Ably hosted by Darren Schaefer, the presentations and panel discussions were top-notch. Chris Cunningham’s analysis of the cockpit recordings and teletype transmissions was superb. Cunningham was able to clearly show how and why the FBI went looking in the wrong place for Cooper, as the oscillations and pressure bump were two different phenomena, and thus the skyjacker jumped from the aircraft at least two-three minutes later – and thus 6-9 miles further south – than the FBI had originally thought. As a result, the DZ is now considered to be over Orchards, WA, with the LZ near Hockinson.
Oddly, no consensus was delivered on whether the case is now open at the FBI, but it’s my clear understanding that it is. This happenstance is due to postings over the past year at the Facebook’s Cooper Mystery site, which describe how a recent court ruling forced the Bureau to either re-open the case or allow private Cooper sleuths access to the tie and other physical evidence. Apparently, the FBI opted to quietly resurrect the case, install a new case agent, and re-establish control over who can see the evidence and when.
It’s a mystery, though, who the new case agent is. Nevertheless, veteran FBI agent, John Detlor, who worked Norjak from Day One, came and spoke from the stage with Ryan Burns. Detlor is the first “old hand” agent to address the Cooper conference, following Norjak case agent (2008-2010) Larry Carr’s presence at last year’s CC23.
Adding weight to the Bureau’s decision to re-open Norjak, the FBI has acknowledged it has investigated a parachute presented by the notorious Cooper researcher, Dan Gryder. Gryder, who has alienated numerous Cooper researchers for his wildly misleading claims and misuse of trademarked signage, claims he found Cooper’s chute in a barn in North Carolina belonging to the family of skyjacker and noted DBC suspect, Richard McCoy. In addition, McCoy’s children, Richard McCoy III and his sister Chante, have publicly stated they believe their father was DB Cooper and claim their mother, Karen, confessed the crime to them.
Nevertheless, no mention of this development was discussed at CC24. However, Ryan Burns later addressed the issue at his Cooper podcast site, and clearly showed Gryder’s parachute had “D” rings and Capewell release devices, which the real Cooper chute did not.
Despite all this, Gryder’s claims and those of the McCoy family are stirring the Cooper pot worldwide.
CC24 also had a first – an audience member, Yvonne Martinez, had to be physically removed by security from not only the conference but the entire facility. Martinez is a true believer that her dear friend, Richard Fletcher Manini of Okotoks, Alberta, had confessed to her of being DBC. Martinez says that Manini died a month ago at 90, and apparently left a brief, scratchy tape recording of his confession. Wanting to tell her story to the assembled, Martinez commandeered the stage during a presentation by Tom Kaye and needed to be restrained. However, she had been unable to present credible information earlier to this writer and others, such as researcher Pat Boland. Clearly, the winds of the Vortex continue to blow strong.
Despite the commotion, Kaye delivered another outstanding presentation – this year on the tie particles, which continue to confound. Tom has new equipment and has found an additional 80,000 particles, including some Uranium. Titanium and antimony still abound, and the Rem-Cru angle is not dismissed.
About a 100 people were in attendance each day, with most staying for the entire weekend. A few day-trippers who came for only one day.
The Mountain News - WA 
As in my ‘harpin with harpo’ podcast number 12 and 17 clearly to my mind Dan Cooper made the Jump much later than they had thought. The key factor in all this for me, and I’ve been into Dan Cooper story since 1985 is the profile of Dan Cooper on Flight 305. I am an ex Skydiver myself. Ask anyone whose done night jumps, low openings what they think about that Audacious act and they will come to the same conclusions as myself. The problem is with the Cooperite’s is not enough of them see through the smokescreens and keep an open mind. Two men I admire for their professionalism and Tenacity is Mr Bruce Smith and Mr Geoffrey Grey. These two Gentlemen are the backbone of the Dan Cooper Norjack, in keeping it alive maintaining a true sense of reality.
Thanks, Harpo.
Surprisingly, GG just emailed and wants to catch up soon on the phone. First time in years!
Well-written article, Bruce. These CooperCons are getting more sophisticated and sometimes a bit edgy. When you spoke of the woman having to be restrained, I had to chuckle. It reminded me of earlier years when Robert Blevins reported that someone was going to show up with a bomb at one of his Cooper shows. Yes, they’re out there, aren’t they. Presenters are finally putting Cooper’s exit time past 8:11pm, now closer to 8:14pm. My theory is even later, probably between 8:16- 8:17 pm. Cooper was playing with the stairs and looking for a particular landmark between cloud layers. I believe the actual jump occured from 10,000 feet almost directly over Vancouver. There are eyewitnesses to the jump. I’ve located two and with the help of Georger, there is a third. But that’s an entirely different story for a different day.
Best to you,
Galen
Thanks, Galen.
my name is Rick I lived with DBCooper his real name is Bobby B. J. He worked for bowing and flew in a spy plane during the war he shared with me about his high jacking there’s a lot of info and none of what the public thinks and investigation are all faults narratives no one knows the truth I have photos of him he died at age 96 lived in englewood Florida he was protected by the FBI they were never planing to catch him here’s my number 808)315-3901
Bruce, Chatty update. Enjoyed! Jeris and I were driving back from Thanksgiving in Vancouver while we listened to the radio account of events way back then. Herb Dempsey
This is Georger – the real Georger. Mr. Cook’s report about me is false. I have stated this numerous times since he first made his claim. I have never told anyone that I knew anyone who saw DB Cooper jump from 305 over Vancouver. Cook is referring to Janet Wink who made that claim apparently through Mr Tosaw – not me! I want Mr Cook to leave me and my family out of his stories from here on out.
I wake up today to find I cannot access the Dropzone DB Cooper History forum. Either I have been cut again at that forum, or the forum has been dropped? I guess the world will know sooner or later. But it is problems like this that have plagued the whole Cooper discussion not just for me but for countless others, since the case began being discussed by a few years ago. Its a sad commentary.
You are always welcome here, Georger.
If you crave more Cooper action, I understand Chris Cunningham has a DBC site on Facebook. Also, Ryan Burns has an excellent podcast on Cooper, as does Darren Schaefer at the Cooper Vortex.
Thanks Bruce. Lets see what develops. I still need to find out what happened at DZ. Happy Holidays to you and yours…
It’s hard to believe that Jerry Warner, aka the real Georger, is denying all of this. My personal emails from Georger go back to 2011, when he was begging me to investigate Emma, who lived in Vancouver, WA. Wayne Walker was involved in this investigation too, as Jerry’s emails demonstrate. The emails don’t lie. But I guess Jerry does. Or, it could be old age and onset dementia. I’m not going to disclose the other names that Jerry had me chasing down, but I still have all of his emails as evidence. There is nothing like outing a dishonest man. Juries love to convict. Now I’m starting to think that Robert Blevins may have been on to something with his old claims against Georger. It all makes sense. lol. Goodnight, Bruce
Galen, this is crazy! You are talking about me and my family! I dont remember you being at our table as a kid in Iowa! What’s to lie about? Grandma’s son Vern worked with Janet Wink and her husband at Wilhelm Trucking. It was you suggesting my grandmother had somehow seen Cooper jump from the plane and you even went to my grandmother’s church to interrogate those people … I kept telling you to “hold on!” until I could talk to people and sort everything out… but you forged ahead pissing everyone off … the next thing I know you are making your crazy claims just as you do in your post above! You never listen to anything anybody says or give people time to do any research. You have a lot of gall, Mr. Cook. Get your facts straight before making your wild claims! You are living in the past. Today is 2024! Dropzone a major Cooper resource has just vanished … and you are here bringing up this crap? Get a life Mr. Cook!
Finally progress. People and an internet probe indicate that Dropzone.com is DOWN FOR EVERYONE. I dont know anything more.
Funny man, Jerry. There are corroborating witnesses to your grandma Emma’s assertions of a “fire in the sky,” on November 24, 1971 at about 8:15 pm. Lazy Z trailer park, space #22. Right where you told me in Vancouver, WA. I went and interviewed the neighbors and the people at her church. They treated me very nicely. And the other relative, Vern Robbin’s, well……his address on 29th Street in Vancouver also sits directly below Victor 23. Thanks for the great leads. To win a case, you need multiple corroborating witnesses, and in very small part, thanks to you, I found them. And here’s the best part, Jerry, the FBI knows all about it. But it will never appear in FBI reports or 302s. Again, Jerry, your dishonesty and your bombastic opinions, coupled with the way you treat people, precedes your credibility. As the late, great Jo Weber told me on the phone……Jerry Warner is an old bafoon.
So you are now claiming DB Cooper bailed over Vancouver at some time you dont state. All based on Emma and my family! ? Of course by the time you are doing these interviews of people at Vancouver, Emma and Vern are long dead. So you interviewed ‘neighbors and church friends’ of the original people. ?
How did you interview Vern if he was dead? Did you interview Janet Wink and her husband who as far as I know were the sources of the original story my grandmother conveyed?
What you are now claiming will come as news to the whole Cooper world!
And you cite Jo Weber as an expert on me!
Bruce is right. It is like Old Times again. Im out of anything to say. I need a moment to digest all of this CRAP.
Feels just like the old days…. smile.
It gets better, Bruce. Wait til I send you Jerry’s old emails. There will be more than “fire in the sky” over Vancouver. 🤣
Dropzone is back up. Dont have any details.
Dropzone vanished today without warning for everyone, apparently. A discussion was in progress … then nothing.
dropzone is now skydiveforum:
https://www.skydiveforum.com/forums/topic/56036-db-cooper/page/2564/
Good to know. Thanks.
Bruce! Just got your book from my daughters!!! Thanks so much for thinking of me ~ so wonderful but only read one story so far…where was the photograph taken?
Photo for the cover was taken at a park in Olympia, WA known as “North Point.” It is a few blocks north of the Farmer’s Market in Oly, and I live a couple blocks south of the FM.
The title of the book in question is: Becoming God-Realized – Stories from my Journey.