Getting the Truth

Sculpt your questions, making them short. Then shut up and sense the response. That's the way you get the truth. #AuthorJoeKoenig #GettingtheTruth

D.B. Cooper Press Conference Comments

The streaming of the press conference was difficult to hear and I've received a few requests to post my comments, so here they are:

"1:13 PM | Joe … expounds on his role to help evaluate evidence and determine truthfulness

The first evidence I looked at was Walt’s alleged dairy and contract books. I was impressed the entries appeared to be contemporaneous - entries were made at the time the incidents occurred, different inks, angled entries -  all adding to the document’s believability and authenticity. I then analyzed various passports and identification pieces, some showing Walter’s different aliases. There were a lot of them - the passports showing a good deal of foreign travel, the vaccination records also showing lots of activity. When visiting Carl, I saw more original evidence. Carl’s trailer was filled with evidence, photographs, and articles posted all around - just like in the movies.

My next task was to help gather and evaluate evidence, interview witnesses where possible, and try to determine their evidentiary value. 

On Carl

• I evaluated his 3.5 hours of audio tapes to get a fix on his communication patterns, how he enunciated words, his talking rhythm, and whether there were changes in those patterns. I found no changes in patterns.
• I evaluated all the documents for believability and authenticity.
• I conducted face-to-face interviews with Carl to better understand his communication patterns and gain information. 
• Loretta, Carl’s wife, was present during most of the recordings and discussions between Carl and Walt. I assessed her communication patterns and body language as Carl spoke to me to detect if Loretta agreed with or believed in what Carl was telling me. Loretta consistently showed agreement.

On Jeff O - Shod - Us, aka Cowboy

• I conducted a phone interview with Jeff to get a feel for his speaking rhythms, how he enunciated words, and to get a feel for his communication patterns.
• I then used that knowledge to conduct a forensic examination of the transcript of Vern’s interview with him and a forensic examination of a handwritten statement he provided following Vern’s taped interview.

Walt

• I compared our documents to FBI records and reports to identify consistencies and discrepencies. I found no discrepancies that eliminated Walt as a suspect - instead I found amazing consistencies.
• I evaluated Walter’s audio portion in the 3.5 hours of audio tapes to get a fix on his communication patterns, how he enunciated words, his talking rhythm, and whether there were changes in those patterns. I found no pattern changes.
• I found it particularly significant that Jeff O - Shod- Us’ statement of events on the night of 11/24/1971 was identical to Walt’s 5 year earlier account. 

In my opinion, Carl, Walt, and Jeff provided truthful statements.

The audio tapes and transcripts, Walt’s Last Testament provided me with great evidence. My analysis told me Walt was not forced or coerced to make his statements to Carl - that he made the statements freely and voluntarily. The statements and last testament contain Walt’s admissions to all the elements of robbery and hijacking – constituing a very good confession. Based on his confession and all the corroborating evidence, Walt, if still alive, would be prosecuted for the hijacking of NW 305.

I believe that Walter Reca is D.B. Cooper. Carl and Walt were best friends. I invite Carl to speak."

D.B. Cooper Revealed Tomorrow

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., May 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- After a 20-year investigation, the believed identity of D.B. Cooper will be revealed in a press conference May 17th. D.B. Cooper is the infamous skyjacker who boarded a Boeing 727 in Portland that was heading to Sea-Tac in Seattle, Washington, on Thanksgiving Eve, 1971. He demanded a $200,000ransom before jumping out of the plane at 10,000 feet. Evidence, including almost-daily discussions over a 14-year period and 3+ hours of audio recordings featuring the skyjacker, was compiled by Cooper's best friend. It was then analyzed by a Certified Fraud Examiner and forensic linguist. The audio recordings, created in 2008, include Cooper discussing skyjacking details that were not known to the public prior to the FBI's information release in 2015. 

A press conference regarding this announcement and an exhibition of its supporting evidence will be held Thursday, May 17, 2018, at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Additional evidence includes: 

• Correct flight path and landing zone identified 
• Witness testimony from an individual who spoke with Cooper within an hour of his jump 
• Documentation concerning how the $200,000 ransom was spent 
• Confessions from Cooper to two individuals at two different times 
• An article of clothing Cooper wore during the jump

D.B. Cooper Identity Announcement Press Conference

Date:	Thursday, May 17, 2018
Location:	Amway Grand Plaza Hotel - Pantlind Ballroom
	187 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Announcement Time:	1:00PM ET / 12:00PM CT
Media Q/A:	Immediately following announcement
Parking:	Onsite parking is available for media, including street parking for tower vans

The investigation was spearheaded by Principia Media, a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based publishing company, after being approached with overwhelming evidence. The company has since worked with Cooper's best friend Carl Laurin, the person who captured the audio recordings and other physical evidence, to craft a memoir, D.B. Cooper & Me: A Criminal, A Spy, My Best Friend, telling the story of his friendship with the real D.B. Cooper. The skyjacking was only the beginning for Cooper, as he later went on to become a high-level covert intelligence operative.

Carl Laurin will be in Grand Rapids and participating in a D.B. Cooper & Me: A Criminal, A Spy, My Best Friend book signing on Thursday, May 17, at 5:30PM at Schuler Books, 2660 28th Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512. The event will begin with a reading of excerpts and a guest Q&A at 5:30PM, with the physical book signing at 6:30PM.

For more information regarding this announcement and press conference details, please contact Julie Hurley, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; 616-460-5070. 

 

 

 

Detroit Free Press

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