Unsolved Mysteries and Disappearances

Aug 19, 2024

Unsolved Mysteries Lecture Notes

DB Cooper Case

  • Date of Incident: November 24, 1971
  • Flight: Northwest Orient Airlines, Flight 305
  • Departure: Portland, Oregon to Seattle, Washington
  • Passenger: Dan Cooper (later known as DB Cooper)
  • Description of Cooper:
    • Mid-40s, business suit, black raincoat, brown shoes, white shirt, black tie
    • Carried a dark briefcase and a paper bag
  • Behavior: Ordered bourbon and soda; handed stewardess a note claiming he had a bomb.

Ransom Demands

  • $200,000 in $20 bills
  • Two back parachutes and two front parachutes
  • Fuel truck ready to refuel upon landing

Exchange and Escape

  • Flight landed in Seattle, 36 passengers exchanged for money and parachutes
  • Cooper kept crew members on board and took off for Mexico City
  • Jumped out of the plane with the money and parachutes between Seattle and Reno

Investigation Details

  • FBI Investigation:
    • Known as "Norjack" (Northwest hijacking)
    • Over 800 suspects identified, only 24 remained
    • 1980: A boy found $5,800 in $20 bills that matched the serial numbers of the ransom money
  • Letters Sent to FBI:
    • Claims of being Cooper or knowing him
  • Criminal Charges:
    • Original charge was air piracy with a 5-year statute of limitations; later charged under the Hobbs Act, with no statute of limitations.

Suspects

  1. Richard Floyd McCoy:
    • Hijacked a plane 5 months after Cooper; similarities in method
    • FBI eventually ruled him out
  2. Dwayne Weber:
    • Claimed on his deathbed to be DB Cooper
    • Had potential evidence but not definitively linked to the case
  3. Kenneth Christensen:
    • Flight purser at Northwest Orient Airlines, claimed by his brother to be Cooper, but ruled out by FBI.

Theories About Cooper's Fate

  • Cooper may not have survived the jump due to parachute malfunction
  • Possible death in a wooded area with no visibility

Conclusion

  • Case remains unsolved; speculation continues.

Solder Children Disappearance

  • Date of Incident: December 24, 1945
  • Location: Fayetteville, West Virginia
  • Family: George and Jenny Solder with nine children
  • Fire Incident:
    • House burned down; five children were presumed dead but no remains found.
    • George suspected it was arson.

Investigative Findings

  • Several strange occurrences before and during the fire
  • Fire department response time was notably delayed
  • Sightings of children reported after the fire, no evidence to support claims
  • Death certificates issued but the family believed the children were alive and kidnapped.
  • Billboards placed for missing children for decades.

Theories

  • Children abducted by someone connected to George's past or business.
  • Rumors of Mafia involvement or that the children were sold or kidnapped for adoption.

Dorothy Arnold Case

  • Date of Disappearance: December 12, 1910
  • Description:
    • Wealthy New Yorker, daughter of a perfume importer
    • Left for dress shopping; last seen by a friend around 2 PM.

Investigation

  • Extensive searches conducted; no leads after several weeks.
  • Family suspected a staged disappearance.
  • Various theories include elopement, kidnapping, and murder.

Conclusion

  • Case remains unsolved with many theories but no concrete leads.

Agatha Christie Disappearance

  • Date of Disappearance: December 3, 1926
  • Background:
    • Acclaimed author, married to Archie Christie who had an affair
    • Suffered from writer's block and personal hardship.

Incident Details

  • Left home and abandoned car found at a quarry
  • Letter found stating she was at a spa for rest
  • Found 12 days later, claimed memory loss

Theories

  • Publicity stunt, escape from husband, or genuine memory loss
  • Agatha's story received skepticism, but many believe it.

Joseph F. Crater Case

  • Date of Disappearance: August 6, 1930
  • Background:
    • New York State Supreme Court Judge, known for connections to corrupt politics.
  • Last Seen: Leaving a restaurant, never made it to a theater show.
  • Investigation:
    • Reported missing almost a month later, extensive search conducted.
  • Theories:
    • Fled from his life, died of natural causes, or was murdered.
    • Numerous alleged sightings but no concrete evidence.

General Notes

  • The theme of these cases revolves around unsolved mysteries and the fascination they hold for the public.
  • Discussion on how speculation can flourish in the absence of hard evidence.