DB Cooper Hijacking

Following the Money Trail

The fate of the $200,000 ransom remains one of the most intriguing aspects of the DB Cooper case.

The Ransom Package

  • Total Amount: $200,000
  • Denomination: 10,000 twenty-dollar bills
  • Serial Numbers: Recorded and tracked
  • Bank Source: Seattle First National Bank
  • Packaging: Bank-strapped bundles in a cloth bag

The Tena Bar Discovery

In February 1980, eight-year-old Brian Ingram discovered $5,800 of the ransom money on the banks of the Columbia River at Tena Bar. This discovery, nearly nine years after the hijacking, raised more questions than answers:

  • The money was found buried in the sand, not scattered
  • The bills were severely decomposed but still bundled together
  • The location was several miles from the estimated drop zone
  • The money's condition suggested it hadn't been in the water for the full nine years

Theories About the Remaining Money

Theory 1: Lost in the Jump

The most straightforward theory suggests that Cooper lost the money during the jump, either immediately or shortly after landing. Supporting evidence includes:

  • The harsh weather conditions during the jump
  • Cooper's possible inexperience with skydiving
  • The difficulty of securing the money while parachuting

Theory 2: Hidden Stash

Some investigators believe Cooper successfully landed and hid the money, but was unable to retrieve it later. This theory is supported by:

  • The organized state of the found money at Tena Bar
  • The lack of scattered bills in the search area
  • The possibility that Cooper didn't survive to retrieve the money

Theory 3: Successful Getaway

A third theory suggests Cooper successfully escaped with the money, and the Tena Bar discovery represents only a small portion that was lost or deliberately planted. Evidence includes:

  • No body was ever found
  • Only a small portion of the money was recovered
  • The sophisticated nature of the hijacking plan

Scientific Analysis of the Found Money

The recovered bills provided valuable clues:

  • Rubber bands holding the bundles were still intact despite exposure to elements
  • Money decomposition patterns suggested it wasn't in the water continuously
  • Geological analysis of sand deposits indicated the money arrived at Tena Bar after 1974
  • No other bills have ever been found in circulation

The Most Likely Scenario

Based on all available evidence, the most plausible explanation for the fate of the ransom money combines elements of multiple theories:

  1. Cooper likely lost some money during the jump due to the severe weather conditions and the challenge of managing both the parachute and the money bag.
  2. The money found at Tena Bar probably reached that location through river transport, but not immediately after the hijacking.
  3. The remaining money was either:
    • Lost in the vast wilderness of the Pacific Northwest
    • Destroyed by exposure to the elements
    • Hidden somewhere and never retrieved

    The fact that no other bills have ever surfaced in circulation suggests that if Cooper survived, he was unable to use the majority of the ransom money.