Sheridan Peterson, long considered a suspect in the D.B. Cooper skyjacking case, died Jan. 8 in northern California, according to memorials website Legacy.com. He was 94.
The California native served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and later worked as a technical editor at Boeing, the aerospace manufacturer based in Seattle.
He also was an experienced smokejumper. He loved skydiving and taking physical risks, even reportedly experimenting with homemade bat wings. These were keys reasons his name has flitted for years around internet message boards devoted to the D.B. Cooper case, the only unsolved skyjacking in U.S. history.
A man using the name Dan Cooper hijacked Northwest Orient Flight 305 out of Portland on Nov. 24, 1971. He parachuted out of the plane with $200,000 in ransom -- and disappeared. This led to the skyjacker becoming a folk hero. The case has inspired books and documentaries and even a feature film starring Treat Williams.
Phoenix entrepreneur Eric Ulis spent years trying to figure out if Peterson was the famous criminal, ultimately becoming 98% convinced he was.
Whether Sheridan Peterson was D.B. Cooper or not, he said Thursday in a statement to The Oregonian/OregonLive, may I suggest that he more than atoned for his lifes failings?
Ulis said that, through his investigation, he had learned to appreciate how deeply [Peterson] cared for those less fortunate. Sheridan helped establish freedom schools in the Deep South in 1965 during the Civil Rights battles. He then spent years in Vietnam during the Vietnam War assisting refugees. Later he would witness and speak out against the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989. And it didnt stop there. Sheridan was very vocal about public policy until the very end.
Ulis believes Petersons experiences in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War radicalized him, prompting him to undertake the skyjacking.
FBI agents working the case showed an interest in Peterson soon after the 1971 crime. In the years that followed, Peterson often would be coy about whether he was in fact D.B. Cooper.
Actually, the FBI had good reason to suspect me, he wrote in a 2007 issue of Smokejumper, a magazine published by the National Smokejumper Association. Friends and associates agreed that I was without a doubt D.B. Cooper. There were too many circumstances involved for it to be a coincidence.
Those circumstances, Peterson wrote, included:
At the time of the heist, I was 44 years old. That was the approximate age Cooper was assumed to have been, and I closely resembled sketches of the hijacker. But what was even more incriminating was the photo of me simulating a skydiving maneuver for Boeings news sheet. I was wearing a suit and tie -- the same sort of garb Cooper had worn, right down to the Oxford loafers. It was noted that skydivers dont ordinarily dress so formally.
A paid obituary for Peterson, published in the Santa Rosa (Calif.) Press-Democrat on Sunday, stated that Petersons son Sheridan Jr. and daughter Ginger were born in Nepal under very astir conditions.
Peterson, when pressed by FBI agents, insisted he was in Nepal at the time of the skyjacking.
The FBI never detained or arrested Peterson in connection to the case. The federal law-enforcement agency didnt even interview him until 2004.
He was a charming guy, former FBI agent Mary Jean Fryar told The Oregonian/OregonLive in 2019.
Fryar and another agent questioned Peterson and took a DNA swab from him. (The FBI has never said anything about Petersons sample, even though it publicly ruled out other Cooper case suspects via DNA. The bureau has stated it believes the skyjacker, whoever he was, most likely died on the night of the heist.)
Peterson was interviewed last year for an episode of History Channels Historys Greatest Mysteries that was devoted to the D.B. Cooper case.
-- Douglas Perry
@douglasmperry
Read this article:
- This Deepfake AI Singing Dolly Parton's "Jolene" Is Worryingly Good - November 4th, 2022 [November 4th, 2022]
- Greta Thunberg Says UN Climate Conference Is a Scam and She's Not Attending - November 4th, 2022 [November 4th, 2022]
- Manslaughter Case Has a Strange Twist: Tesla That Killed Couple Was on Autopilot - November 4th, 2022 [November 4th, 2022]
- There's Something Strange About How These Stars Are Moving, Scientists Say - November 4th, 2022 [November 4th, 2022]
- Twitter Working on Plan to Charge Users to Watch Videos - November 4th, 2022 [November 4th, 2022]
- Elon Musk Meeting With Advertisers, Begging Them Not to Leave Twitter - November 4th, 2022 [November 4th, 2022]
- China Plans to Send Monkeys to Space Station to Have Sex With Each Other - November 4th, 2022 [November 4th, 2022]
- AOC Says Her Twitter Account Broke After She Made Fun of Elon Musk - November 4th, 2022 [November 4th, 2022]
- Scientists Use Actual Lunar Soil Sample to Create Rocket Fuel - November 4th, 2022 [November 4th, 2022]
- That "Research" About How Smartphones Are Causing Deformed Human Bodies Is SEO Spam, You Idiots - November 4th, 2022 [November 4th, 2022]
- Scientists Found a Way to Control How High Mice Got on Cocaine - November 4th, 2022 [November 4th, 2022]
- Jeff Bezos' Housekeeper Says She Had to Climb Out the Window to Use the Bathroom - November 4th, 2022 [November 4th, 2022]
- Cats May Be Tampering With Crime Scenes, Scientists Say - November 4th, 2022 [November 4th, 2022]
- Scientists Spot "Stripped, Pulsating Core" of Star Caused By Horrific Accident - November 4th, 2022 [November 4th, 2022]
- Huge Drone Swarm to Form Giant Advertisement Over NYC Skyline - November 4th, 2022 [November 4th, 2022]
- Chinese Spaceplane Releases Mystery Object Into Orbit - November 4th, 2022 [November 4th, 2022]
- Hackers Just Took Down One of the World's Most Advanced Telescopes - November 4th, 2022 [November 4th, 2022]
- NASA Sets Launch Date for Mission to $10 Quintillion Asteroid - November 4th, 2022 [November 4th, 2022]
- US Gov to Crack Down on "Bossware" That Spies On Employees' Computers - November 4th, 2022 [November 4th, 2022]
- Seeking help from readers in Canada, the UK, and beyond - Patheos - September 8th, 2022 [September 8th, 2022]
- Fillmore Central football team prepares for Rushford-Peterson this week - KIMT 3 - September 8th, 2022 [September 8th, 2022]
- Patrick Peterson is enjoying the ride -- and the grind - Sports Illustrated - September 8th, 2022 [September 8th, 2022]
- Spokane mother who filmed herself sexually assaulting her 3-year-old daughter gets 20 years in prison - The Spokesman Review - September 8th, 2022 [September 8th, 2022]
- Mom remembers her daughters, 10 years after their brutal deaths - Star Tribune - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- Chiefs Otis Taylor, Marty Schottenheimer, Carl Peterson and Lloyd Wells nominated to Hall of Fame - Arrowhead Pride - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- Brian Robinson Jr. reminds RB coach of Alfred Morris and Adrian Peterson - NBC Sports - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- Doherty Needs to Hear Where Kean and Peterson Stand on Ukraine - InsiderNJ - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Controversial professor Jordan Peterson retires from tenured position at U of T - Varsity - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Vikings' Patrick Peterson Linked to Patriots in Free Agency - Heavy.com - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Peterson marks 1000th point in rout over Webster - Amery Free Press - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Man Steals, Crashes Jeep With Two Young Girls Inside In Peterson Park - CBS Chicago - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Deltek Government Contracting Experts Deniece Peterson and Kevin Plexico Named to the 2022 Wash100 List - WFMZ Allentown - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- UFC's Steven Peterson boycotts fighting in Texas, says 'commission is f*cked' - MMA Junkie - May 29th, 2021 [May 29th, 2021]
- Keston Hiura returns to Brewers, Alec Bettinger optioned and Jace Peterson DFAd - Brew Crew Ball - May 29th, 2021 [May 29th, 2021]
- Michigan State Baseball: Bailey Peterson wins Big Ten Player of the Week - The Only Colors - May 29th, 2021 [May 29th, 2021]
- Bird Droppings: Arizona Cardinals at the Pro Bowl, Patrick Peterson talks, Bruce Arians in the Super Bowl and - Revenge of the Birds - January 31st, 2021 [January 31st, 2021]
- Peterson, Langford, Colson, Morgan, Zubcic named in BCL team of January - Eurohoops - January 31st, 2021 [January 31st, 2021]
- T.I. and Tiny Deny Allegations of Drugging and Sexual Coercion - Vulture - January 31st, 2021 [January 31st, 2021]
- Greg Peterson will succeed Bob Bjorklund as Bethel AD - TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press - January 31st, 2021 [January 31st, 2021]
- 2021 IPPE: How has COVID-19 impacted the US broiler industry? - The Poultry Site - January 31st, 2021 [January 31st, 2021]
- Peterson: Can pulsating brake lights reduce rear-end collisions? - Fleet Owner - December 17th, 2020 [December 17th, 2020]
- Patrick Peterson shows off need for speed with impressive car collection - Arizona Sports - December 17th, 2020 [December 17th, 2020]
- Sight unseen, Jessica Peterson finds everything she was looking for at UNK - krvn.com - December 17th, 2020 [December 17th, 2020]
- Brewers Reportedly Sign Slugging 1B Dustin Peterson To Minors Deal - Reviewing the Brew - December 17th, 2020 [December 17th, 2020]
- Early Signing Day: 2021 OLB Darryl Peterson signs with Wisconsin - Bucky's 5th Quarter - December 17th, 2020 [December 17th, 2020]
- Jeremy Adams and Brandon Peterson on Flash #768 in March 2021 - Bleeding Cool News - December 17th, 2020 [December 17th, 2020]
- Peterson announces funding to increase college broadband capacity - Record Herald - December 17th, 2020 [December 17th, 2020]
- Peterson Health says it will know Wednesday when it will receive Pfizer vaccine - dailytimes.com - December 17th, 2020 [December 17th, 2020]
- Lions' Week 15 Thursday Injury Report: Stafford, Ragnow, Golladay, Hand Out - Sports Illustrated - December 17th, 2020 [December 17th, 2020]
- 28-year sentence recommended in fatal beating at Fargo apartment - INFORUM - December 17th, 2020 [December 17th, 2020]
- Will the Defeat of Democrat Collin Peterson Be Good for the Climate? - Mother Jones - November 7th, 2020 [November 7th, 2020]
- Letter: 'Whether or not Mr. Peterson was involved in drug crime, he should not have feared for his life, and he should not be dead, over something as... - November 7th, 2020 [November 7th, 2020]
- Collin Peterson loses in CD-7, tight races in CD-1 and CD-2 - Bring Me The News - November 7th, 2020 [November 7th, 2020]
- With roles reversed, Lee and Peterson face off again for NC Senate seat - Port City Daily - October 19th, 2020 [October 19th, 2020]
- 198 thoughts on The Strange Fate of Jordan Peterson - Book and Film Globe - October 19th, 2020 [October 19th, 2020]
- Patrick Peterson on how to defeat Cowboys without Dak Prescott: 'We have to force Andy Dalton to beat us' - CBS Sports - October 19th, 2020 [October 19th, 2020]
- The Most Vulnerable Incumbent In The House Is A Democrat, But Republicans Are Defending More Competitive Seats - FiveThirtyEight - October 19th, 2020 [October 19th, 2020]
- OU football: Joe Mixon and Adrian Peterson score, Baker Mayfield struggles, Sooners in the NFL week 6 - The Oklahoma Daily - October 19th, 2020 [October 19th, 2020]
- Adrian Peterson passes Walter Payton on this list with latest rushing TD - 97.1 The Ticket - October 19th, 2020 [October 19th, 2020]
- Patrick Peterson: LB Isaiah Simmons 'not technically ready' for extensive role - Cards Wire - October 19th, 2020 [October 19th, 2020]
- Letter | Peterson will serve Morrow County well as commissioner - East Oregonian - October 19th, 2020 [October 19th, 2020]
- Peterson family still swinging at the LCC Foundation Golf Classic - Neuse News - October 19th, 2020 [October 19th, 2020]
- Peterson catches two TDs in 42-28 win over Campus - The Hutchinson News - October 19th, 2020 [October 19th, 2020]
- Peterson offers fresh perspective | Letters To The Editor - Mankato Free Press - October 10th, 2020 [October 10th, 2020]
- President Trump & AG Barr Sued for Vindictive Prosecution Against Black Politician Robert Peterson & Fields Associates Announced today -... - October 10th, 2020 [October 10th, 2020]
- Olson, Peterson inducted into York Area Ag Hall of Fame - York News-Times - October 10th, 2020 [October 10th, 2020]
- Adrian Peterson and the Vikings Won an Ultra-Rare Tuesday Night Game in 2010 - Sportscasting - October 10th, 2020 [October 10th, 2020]
- Things to Do in Miami: Karen Peterson and Dancers' Virtual 30th Anniversary - Miami New Times - October 10th, 2020 [October 10th, 2020]
- Fantasy football fallout post-NFL roster cuts: Adrian Peterson, Antonio Gibson, Cam Akers and more | Fantasy Football News, Rankings and Projections -... - September 8th, 2020 [September 8th, 2020]
- Former Vikings RB Adrian Peterson to sign with Lions - Vikings Wire - September 8th, 2020 [September 8th, 2020]
- Will Adrian Peterson Be The Latest Addition To The Tom Brady Revolution In Tampa Bay? - Essentially Sports - September 8th, 2020 [September 8th, 2020]
- Jordan Peterson - Wikipedia - September 2nd, 2020 [September 2nd, 2020]
- Mets shuffle starting rotation plans, including David Peterson to bullpen - Yahoo Sports - September 2nd, 2020 [September 2nd, 2020]
- Adrian Peterson rushing to catch Emmitt Smith in record books - Richmond Free Press - September 2nd, 2020 [September 2nd, 2020]
- Mets pitcher Steven Matz is hearing the footsteps of David Peterson - Rising Apple - September 2nd, 2020 [September 2nd, 2020]
- Recent Graduate Receives Fulbright Grant to Teach in Spain - ISU Bengal Online - September 2nd, 2020 [September 2nd, 2020]
- Letter: Peterson | Letters To The Editor | record-eagle.com - Traverse City Record Eagle - September 2nd, 2020 [September 2nd, 2020]
- Peterson family named conservationists of the year in Rice County, Minn. - AberdeenNews.com - August 31st, 2020 [August 31st, 2020]
- Adrian Peterson Believes He Still Has a Lot to Prove - NBC4 Washington - August 31st, 2020 [August 31st, 2020]
- Adrian Peterson still out to prove something - WUSA9.com - August 31st, 2020 [August 31st, 2020]