A Byte Out of History

A BYTE OUT OF HISTORY
The D. B. Cooper Mystery

11/24/06

On the afternoon of November 24—35 years ago Friday—a non-descript man calling himself Dan Cooper approached the counter of Northwest Orient Airlines in Portland, Oregon. He used cash to buy a one-way ticket on Flight #305, bound for Seattle, Washington. Thus began one of the great unsolved mysteries in FBI history.

Cooper was a quiet man who appeared to be in his mid-forties, wearing a business suit with a black tie and white shirt. He ordered a drink—bourbon and soda—while the flight was waiting to take off. A short time after 3:00 p.m., he handed the stewardess a note indicating that he had a bomb in his briefcase and wanted her to sit with him.

The stunned stewardess did as she was told. Opening a cheap attaché case, Cooper showed her a glimpse of a mass of wires and red colored sticks and demanded that she write down what he told her. Soon, she was walking a new note to the captain of the plane that demanded four parachutes and $200,000 in twenty dollar bills.

When the flight landed in Seattle, the hijacker exchanged the flight’s 36 passengers for the money and parachutes. Cooper kept several crewmembers, and the plane took off again, ordered to set a course for Mexico City.

Somewhere between Seattle and Reno, a little after 8:00 p.m., the hijacker did the incredible: he jumped out of the back of the plane with a parachute and the ransom money. The pilots landed safely, but Cooper had disappeared into the night and his ultimate fate remains a mystery to this day.

The FBI learned of the crime in flight and immediately opened an extensive investigation that lasted many years. Calling it NORJAK, for Northwest hijacking, we interviewed hundreds of people, tracked leads across the nation, and scoured the aircraft for evidence. By the five-year anniversary of the hijacking, we’d considered more than 800 suspects and eliminated all but two dozen from consideration.

One person left on our list, Richard Floyd McCoy is still a favorite suspect among many. We tracked down and arrested McCoy for a similar airplane hijacking and escape by parachute less than five months after Cooper’s flight. Was it a copycat crime…or was Cooper the real McCoy? We will probably never know: McCoy later broke out of jail and died in a shoot-out with FBI agents as they attempted to arrest him.

Or perhaps Cooper didn’t survive his jump from the plane. After all, the parachute he used couldn’t be steered, his clothing and footwear were unsuitable for a rough landing, and he had jumped into a wooded area at night, a dangerous proposition for a seasoned pro—which evidence suggests Cooper was not. This theory was given an added boost in 1980 when a young boy found a rotting package full of $20 bills ($5,800 in all) that matched the ransom money serial numbers.

Where did “D.B.” come from? It was apparently a myth created by the press. We did question a man with the initials “D. B.” but he wasn’t the hijacker.

The daring hijack and disappearance remain an intriguing mystery—for law enforcement and amateur sleuths alike. To read more about the NORJAK investigation, see the files on our Freedom of Information Act website. Fair warning: you might get hooked on the case!

Shootout With 92 Year Old Woman

Shootout with 92 year old woman
WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA
David Cowen, Programming Director
Last Updated: 11/22/2006 8:54:52 AM

Three Atlanta narcotics officers were wounded in a Tuesday evening shootout with a 92-year-old woman in northwest Atlanta. She was shot and killed.

This was supposed to be the routine serving of a search warrant, but things went very wrong, very fast.

Once the gunfire ended, three APD narcotics officers had been shot: one with a graze-wound to the face, and another hit dead-on, center of mass in the bulletproof vest.

They were all transported to Grady Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

A 92-year-old woman -- Catherine Johnson -- lived in the home where the officers tried to execute the warrant. She was killed in the gun battle.

"The female victim shot and wounded all three of them (the officers)," said deputy police chief Allen Dreher. "The investigation is going to be ongoing -- I'd say it would be all wrapped up in a period of time, but as we have it, she opened fire on the officers. The officers returned fire, struck and killed her."

Johnston's relatives arrived at the scene of the shootout, distraught and upset. The warrant was served at Johnson's home at 933 Neal Street. The victim's family says they are convinced the police made a mistake and went to the wrong house.

"They done the wrong house," said Johnson's niece, Sarah Dozier. "And they killed her! This lady lived to be 92. She lived to be 92 and in good health. They went in there and she was scared to death."

According to family members, Johnson lived alone. Dozier says that Johnson did have a firearm. She says she took her aunt to get a permit for that firearm, for her own protection.

Community activist Markel Hutchins has said that he will be in contact with the family to provide support, and to talk to officials to try to find out why this happened.

Resume Theft

Working Wounded: Resume Theft
Some People Pirate Resumes, So It's Wise to Check All the Information


I recently found myself in a strange situation. I'm an independent consultant in IT Security. Therefore, my resume is very accessible at the top of the searches in Yahoo and Google. As part of my job, I often get requests from clients to review resumes of prospective employees and consultants in my field. Amazingly, twice in the last month, I have been given my own resume to review with someone else's name at the top. In both cases the job duties and descriptions, even the project names, match exactly starting about 4 years ago when my niche work began. Also, the plagiarized section is typed in a different font than the rest of the resume, which leads me to the conclusion that they simply cut and pasted their resumes from mine and, most likely, from other unknown sources.

When I received the first resume from a client in Maryland, I immediately contacted my client, explained the situation, and asked them how they wanted me to handle this dilemma. My client asked me to proceed almost as planned. They wanted me to speak to the candidate, but with the intention of getting the truth or some sort of admission of plagiarism from the "author" of the resume at hand.

Nervously, I contacted the candidate. My questioning focused specifically on the work experience that we seemed to share. He was unable to speak intelligently about any of the work that he had allegedly done. So, finally, I blatantly asked him if he wrote the resume. When confronted, he eventually said that he "might" have taken a bit "from here or there." I then led him to my posted resume on the Web. Stunned silence. He then apologized profusely and swore "on the life of his child" that he would delete the portions of his resume in question.

Two weeks later, I received the second resume from a different client in Minnesota. The second case I intended to handle in the same manner as I had the first. The only real difference between the candidates was that this one happened to be from overseas. When I talked to this candidate, he and I realized that, although it was his resume I was given, it was not the one he had authored. As it turns out, the overseas technology company representing him did a common practice of swiping someone else's credentials to try and sell their consultant. I felt bad for this guy because he was unaware of what had happened.

So in the end there isn't much I can do about people plagiarizing my resume, except to hope that companies do their due diligence and fact-check their candidates. Hopefully it won't compromise my future opportunities when my resume comes into question because someone else has seen it before.

I'd like to hear your thoughts on plagiarizing resumes. E-mail me your thoughts and I'll print the best one, with full credit of course.

We'd like hear your thoughts on plagiarizing resumes. E-mail me your thoughts, and I'll print the best one, with full credit of course, and I'll give an autographed copy of "Working Wounded: Advice that adds insight to injury" (Warner, 2000) to the best submission. Send your entry, name & address via: http://workingwounded.com or via e-mail: bob@workingwounded.com. Entries must be received by Wednesday, Nov. 22.

ABC News

Woman Survives Six Shots to the Head

SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) - A woman was released from the hospital a day after she was shot in the head six times in an attack police blamed on her ex-husband, Brazilian media reported Saturday.

Patricia Goncalves Pereira, a 21-year-old housewife, was shot Friday after an altercation with her ex-husband, who was upset because she refused to get back together with him, Globo TV reported.

"I know this was a miracle," Pereira told the TV network. "Now I just want to extract the bullets and live my life."

Doctors could not explain how Pereira survived the attack. The .32-caliber bullets didn't break through her skull and didn't even need to be immediately extracted, doctors said. Pereira also was shot once in the hand.

Police said the ex-husband was still at large, Globo TV reported.

Andy Griffith Sues Andy Griffith

Well, imagine that! A follow up to a story I posted some time ago!

Andy Griffith Sues Andy Griffith

Nov 10, 6:21 PM (ET)

By COLIN FLY

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Forget the small-town belief in letting bygones be bygones. Andy Griffith, the actor who portrayed the sheriff of the fictional town of Mayberry, N.C., has sued a Wisconsin resident who unsuccessfully bid for the Grant County post after legally changing his name to Andrew Jackson Griffith in May.

The lawsuit, filed Nov. 3 in U.S. District Court in Madison, alleges that William Harold Fenrick, 42, violated trademark and copyright laws as well as the privacy of actor Andy Samuel Griffith when he used his new name - Andy Griffith - to promote his candidacy for sheriff in southwestern Wisconsin.

The lawsuit says the former Fenrick changed his name for the "sole purpose of taking advantage of Griffith's notoriety in an attempt to gain votes" and asks the court to order Fenrick to go back to his original name.

Griffith's suit also asks Fenrick to publish disclaimers and an apology in Grant County newspapers, saying he has no association with the actor. It seeks unspecified damages and court fees.


"Now that the election is over, if Fenrick is willing in some fashion to clear the record, we probably could find a way to resolve it," said Griffith's lawyer, Jim Cole.

Fenrick protested that he did not benefit from the name change.

"During this campaign I never sold or profited even one nickel from the use of the name Andy Griffith or any item bearing the name Andy Griffith - everything was a promotional item, and everything was given away for free," he said.

The Platteville music store co-owner said he spent $5,000 on his failed campaign and changed his name to garner publicity for the race.

Incumbent Sheriff Keith Govier, a Republican who has held the post for 10 years, won with 8,452 votes, followed by Democrat Doug Vesperman, who got 6,985. Griffith, an independent, had 1,248 votes.

Fenrick described the suit as "incredibly absurd" and said he does not believe the public is "so brain dead" that they might actually believe that he is the famous actor.

"For such an American icon, it's a pretty un-American thing to do to me," said Fenrick, who has about three weeks to respond to the filing.

"There's no sense of humor. I can't believe how cheap and petty these people are," he said. "Do they seriously, seriously think anyone would mistake me?"

Griffith, 80, is best known for starring in "The Andy Griffith Show," a 1960s show that remains one of the most popular series in TV history. He also played an unorthodox lawyer on "Matlock" in the 1980s and 1990s.

Griffith, now retired and living in Manteo, N.C., also owns his own production company. He is recovering from recent hip replacement surgery.

"He seemed in good spirits," Cole said. "It's not something personal, it's the matter of the requirement under the trademark law. If you don't police it, you lose it."

Anyone Who Knows Anything About Guns Will Find This Amusing

Bullet found in doorway
By David Williams

LIVE ammunition has been found lying in the doorway of a busy high street shop.

The .22 calibre short round bullet was found at the entrance of the 99p Stores in Walthamstow High Street on Wednesday morning, November 1.

Haroon Khan, who has a firearms licence and is a member of a local gun club, was alarmed to discover live ammunition in a Walthamstow doorway.

The bullet, of Swiss origin, was still in its brass casing, complete with enough gunpowder for it to fire itself.

Mr Khan said that if it had been struck hard enough or exposed to heat it could have gone off.

"This sort of thing should not be lying around. It was live, primed and active," he said. "But rather me pick it up than a little kid.

"How can you feel safe when you are finding things like this on the street?

"To get hold of one of these is not easy. You have to go through a scrutinised search, you need a licence and you have to belong to a club."

Ammunition of this kind would ordinarily be used in a small handgun or pistol, and both can be owned legally under licence.

But to leave strictly controlled goods out in the street would be enough for a firearms licence to be revoked.

The bullet has been examined at a Metropolitan Police laboratory and details about it kept for future reference.

A police spokesman said: "Recovering firearms and ammunition is a priority for the police. We take the same view of ammunition as we do of a gun.

"If it goes bang, it is still lethal."

Police are treating the unattended ammunition as a crime. Mr Khan alerted them at 10.16am, and they arrived at his shop to pick up the bullet at 11.32am.

7:00pm Thursday 9th November 2006

I find live ammo on the ground in the parking lot at work. It usually comes loose from someone's shoe after leaving the range. I've backed my car over a live 45 ACP round.

I think the comment made by the guy who passed the link to this article on says it all:

"Wow, a .22 Short. Hide the kids! It even came complete with enough gunpowder to fire itself! Apparently, if it had been struck hard enough or exposed to heat it could have gone off. I...guess that could've maybe left a welt on someone's calf?

Honestly, I get the mental image of a sweating bomb-squad member dressed in full protective gear, carefully picking up the mini-cartridge with ceramic forceps. I picture forensic experts clustered around a table, taking notes, til one of them sneezes and the round falls to the floor and rolls under a desk. And I honestly think the author of the article may have gone faint a time or two while writing! Scary stuff, after all."

You Know You're Unpopular When...

Dead woman wins county commissioner's race
S.D. candidate gets 100 votes; official says voters knew she was deceased.

Updated: 11:41 a.m. ET Nov 8, 2006
PIERRE, S.D. - A woman who died two months ago won a county commissioner's race in Jerauld County on Tuesday.

Democrat Marie Steichen, of Woonsocket, got 100 votes, defeating incumbent Republican Merlin Feistner, of Woonsocket, who had 64 votes.

Jerauld County Auditor Cindy Peterson said she believes the county board will have to meet to appoint a replacement for Steichen. Peterson said she'll check with the state's attorney to be sure that's the process.

Peterson said voters knew Steichen had died.

"They just had a chance to make a change, and we respect their opinion."

Judge Orders Man To Wear 'Sex Offender' T-Shirt

Judge Orders Man To Wear 'Sex Offender' T-Shirt
Man Has Several Convictions Dating Back To 1976


WILMINGTON, Del. -- A sex offender with a history of exposing himself has been ordered by a judge to wear a T-shirt proclaiming "I am a registered sex offender."

Superior Court Judge Jan Jurden also sentenced Russell Teeter, 69, to two months in jail Friday for repeatedly exposing himself at his business to a 10-year-old girl.

Jurden handed down the unusual sentence at the suggestion of deputy attorney general Donald Roberts, who noted that Teeter has more than 10 convictions dating to 1976 and has been treated for being a compulsive exhibitionist.


Roberts told the judge that perhaps the shirt and jail time will "teach him to keep his zipper up."

Teeter will have to wear the shirt for almost two years once he gets out of jail and returns to his horticulture business.

Defense attorney Arlen Mekler opposed the sentence, describing the T-shirt as "a modern-day scarlet letter," referring to the humiliating punishment given an adulterous woman in Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel about puritan New England.

Drewry Fennell, executive director of the Delaware American Civil Liberties Union, shared Mekler's concern.

"There is no evidence that public shaming is effective in public safety," she said. "And there are serious dangers posed to the person wearing the shirt, exposing them to possible violence."

Roberts, the prosecutor, said he believes the T-shirt fits in with the community notification requirement of Megan's Law.

Mekler said Teeter is battling depression and regressed because he went off of his medication. He also noted that Teeter has never molested a child but is just a chronic exhibitionist.

I Can See the Future Headlines Now...

Cheney To Spend Election Day Hunting With Daughter

Monday, November 6, 2006

It's on again: Vice President Dick Cheney plans to go hunting on Election Day for the first time since he shot a friend last February -- and this time he's taking his daughter, Mary Cheney.

The Associated Press reports "the vice president, after working at the White House on Monday morning, will head to South Dakota to spend several days at a private hunting lodge near Pierre. Lea Anne McBride, his press secretary, said it was an annual hunting outing and said Cheney spent Election Day in 2002 at the same lodge."

"He will be accompanied by his daughter, Mary, and his political director, Mel Raines, who will help him keep track of the election returns," according to AP.

AP didn't identify what Cheney would be hunting. On a February hunting trip in Texas last year, Cheney shot companion Harry Whittington in the torso, neck and face with a 28-gauge shotgun while tracking quail.

He later said it was "one of the worst days of my life" and added, "The image of him falling is something I'll never ever be able to get out of my mind."

The shooting was later ruled an accident. Whittington was hospitalized for six days and later apologized to the vice president.

"My family and I are deeply sorry for all that Vice President Cheney and his family have had to go through this past week," Whittington told reporters. "We send our love and respect to them as they deal with situations that are much more serious than what we have had this week."

"We hope that he (Dick Cheney) will continue to come to Texas and seek the relaxation that he deserves," he added.

Police arrest naked man after he allegedly said he had a tool in his rectum

‘You can’t get much more concealed than that’
Police arrest naked man after he allegedly said he had a tool in his rectum

EL CERRITO, Calif. - A man was arrested on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon after police found him outdoors — naked — and he told them he had a tool in his rectum, authorities said.

The man was lying on a tree stump, masturbating beside a nature path, near a Bay Area Rapid Transit station Thursday, police said.

John Sheehan, 33, of Pittsburg, was initially arrested on suspicion of indecent exposure. But when asked whether he was carrying anything police should know about, Sheehan mentioned the tool, said El Cerrito Detective Cpl. Don Horgan.

“You can’t get much more concealed than that,” Horgan said.

Officers drew their weapons and firefighters were called to the scene. Sheehan removed a 6-inch metal awl wrapped in black electrical tape without incident.

Sheehan, who was paroled from state prison last week, was then booked into jail on suspicion of parole violations, indecent exposure and one felony count of possessing a concealed weapon.

“When you’re talking about an awl or an ice pick and you’re dealing with somebody who’s fresh out of prison, it’s a weapon. That’s a stabbing instrument,” Horgan said.

It was not immediately clear what Sheehan was on parole for. A person answering the phone at the jail Friday night did not know whether Sheehan had a lawyer.

Ex-inmate spotted trick-or-treating in prison suit

Ex-inmate spotted trick-or-treating in prison suit

Nov 2, 7:30 AM (ET)

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. Nov 1 (Reuters Life!) - Jail officials feared an escapee was on the loose on Halloween night when a former inmate was spotted trick-or-treating in his orange prison jumpsuit, authorities said.

A corrections officer spotted the former inmate, Oscar Aponte, 32, going house to house with his son in his hometown of Peekskill, north of New York City.

The officer alerted the Westchester County Jail and the prison was locked down while all inmates were accounted for, said Susan Tolchin, chief adviser to the county executive.

Authorities believed the former inmate smuggled the orange jumpsuit out of the jail when he was released in September after a four-month stay for a probation violation.

"It was a really poor choice of costume," Tolchin said. "We're investigating how he got it out because when they are discharged they leave with their belongings in a clear plastic bag."

Aponte has been charged with petty larceny and criminal possession of stolen property for taking the jumpsuit.