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[MarkBennett]

Lars Larson follow-up


Lars just hung up the phone on me after I listened to him harangue me for 30 minutes on Richard McCoy as DB Cooper based on Russ Calame work and Bernie Rhodes' writing.

Lars operates a talk radio show out of Portland, and every Thanksgiving he recounts the McCoy is Cooper scenario as described by Russ Calame and Bernie Rhodes in their book: DB Cooper-The Real McCoy.

But, here is what I got.

First, Lars hasn't spoken to Russ and Bernie together since their first interview in 1992-1993, and hasn't spoken to Bernie in over 20. As for Russ, he had other dealings with him, but not recently and doesn't know if Russ is still alive or where he might be residing. But back in the day, Lars took Russ and his wife out to diner in Salt Lake City.

Lars sees no problem with the fact that Calame and Rhodes were not able to collect any hard, concrete evidence from McCoy pertaining to the DB Cooper skyjacking, such as twenty. When I pushed his issue, Lars got belligerent, and the only way I could make a comment was to shout and talk over him. Lars also maintains his own set of facts, such as DB Cooper fashioning a money bag out of a parachute bag, wearing a jumpsuit, and pushing several bundles of money into pockets of the jumpsuit. Lars will not consider any other possibilities.

When I asked him why he thought the Seattle FBI refuted Calame's findings on McCoy - that he was in Las Vegas during the DB Cooper skyjacking period and had called him family in Provo on T-Day evening, and so was not at home - Lars seemed to chalk it up to "sloppy" police work. Lars did say that he followed-up with the Seattle FO on this issue and found them "disinterested."

Further, when I asked him "what it means to you" that Red Campbell and the others involved in evidence retrieval do not remember seeing the clip-on tie or collecting it, Lars simply, "I doesn't mean anything to me." He then launched a tirade of how important people forget important things all the time, and cited Nancy Pelosi's inability to remember some congressional briefing on something.

He also became fixated on what he said was my "claim" that the tie was inserted into the Cooper investigation as false evidence to mislead the investigators. I kept saying that I believed the reverse was true and the tie was legitimate evidence in the Cooper case, but that the memories of all those who had reason to see it or handle it, including Tina Mucklow, had their memories effected with the probable motive being to compromise the Cooper case. That led to the MKULTRA discussion and the termination of our phone call.

I never even had a chance to ask him about Rhodes' speculation that the Reno retrieval team was under the effects of "some strange post-hypnotic suggestion" when he talked to the agents in the mid-1980s while writing the book.

We were also not able to explore in-depth the claim by Calame and Rhodes that McCoy had $8-12,000 in cash in January 1972. All that is shown in the C-R book is that McCoy inexplicably bought $1,200 worth of plane tickets for his family that month on his credit card and then paid it off before the 30-day grace period had expired. Also, the book shares an unsupported comment from an investigator that says McCoy had carried $8-12,000 away from the Cooper skyjacking. Nevertheless, Lars touts the 8-12 grand as proof that McCoy-was-Cooper and had stuffed this money into his jumpsuit and it was all that survived the November 24th skyjacking.

Bruce, were you on the air during this conversation?

[Shutter]

I will say that she was on dial-up when she visits here....IP states AOL dial-up...

[Bruce A. Smith]

Lars Larson follow-up


Lars just hung up the phone on me after I listened to him harangue me for 30 minutes on Richard McCoy as DB Cooper based on Russ Calame work and Bernie Rhodes' writing.

Lars operates a talk radio show out of Portland, and every Thanksgiving he recounts the McCoy is Cooper scenario as described by Russ Calame and Bernie Rhodes in their book: DB Cooper-The Real McCoy.

But, here is what I got.

First, Lars hasn't spoken to Russ and Bernie together since their first interview in 1992-1993, and hasn't spoken to Bernie in over 20. As for Russ, he had other dealings with him, but not recently and doesn't know if Russ is still alive or where he might be residing. But back in the day, Lars took Russ and his wife out to diner in Salt Lake City.

Lars sees no problem with the fact that Calame and Rhodes were not able to collect any hard, concrete evidence from McCoy pertaining to the DB Cooper skyjacking, such as twenty. When I pushed his issue, Lars got belligerent, and the only way I could make a comment was to shout and talk over him. Lars also maintains his own set of facts, such as DB Cooper fashioning a money bag out of a parachute bag, wearing a jumpsuit, and pushing several bundles of money into pockets of the jumpsuit. Lars will not consider any other possibilities.

When I asked him why he thought the Seattle FBI refuted Calame's findings on McCoy - that he was in Las Vegas during the DB Cooper skyjacking period and had called him family in Provo on T-Day evening, and so was not at home - Lars seemed to chalk it up to "sloppy" police work. Lars did say that he followed-up with the Seattle FO on this issue and found them "disinterested."

Further, when I asked him "what it means to you" that Red Campbell and the others involved in evidence retrieval do not remember seeing the clip-on tie or collecting it, Lars simply, "I doesn't mean anything to me." He then launched a tirade of how important people forget important things all the time, and cited Nancy Pelosi's inability to remember some congressional briefing on something.

He also became fixated on what he said was my "claim" that the tie was inserted into the Cooper investigation as false evidence to mislead the investigators. I kept saying that I believed the reverse was true and the tie was legitimate evidence in the Cooper case, but that the memories of all those who had reason to see it or handle it, including Tina Mucklow, had their memories effected with the probable motive being to compromise the Cooper case. That led to the MKULTRA discussion and the termination of our phone call.

I never even had a chance to ask him about Rhodes' speculation that the Reno retrieval team was under the effects of "some strange post-hypnotic suggestion" when he talked to the agents in the mid-1980s while writing the book.

We were also not able to explore in-depth the claim by Calame and Rhodes that McCoy had $8-12,000 in cash in January 1972. All that is shown in the C-R book is that McCoy inexplicably bought $1,200 worth of plane tickets for his family that month on his credit card and then paid it off before the 30-day grace period had expired. Also, the book shares an unsupported comment from an investigator that says McCoy had carried $8-12,000 away from the Cooper skyjacking. Nevertheless, Lars touts the 8-12 grand as proof that McCoy-was-Cooper and had stuffed this money into his jumpsuit and it was all that survived the November 24th skyjacking.

Bruce, were you on the air during this conversation?

No.

Initially when I contacted Lars, he wanted to meet on the air. That ain't gonna happen, now.

[Shutter]

McCoy's photo was shown to the crew. this was obviously shortly after the Cooper hijacking, so you would think it was still fresh on there minds.

McCoy vs Cooper is similar in some ways, but doubtful they were done by the same person....

[nmiwrecks]

McCoy's photo was shown to the crew. this was obviously shortly after the Cooper hijacking, so you would think it was still fresh on there minds.

McCoy vs Cooper is similar in some ways, but doubtful they were done by the same person....

McCoy was 29 years old at the time of the Cooper skyjacking.  He also has blue eyes.

[georger]

McCoy's photo was shown to the crew. this was obviously shortly after the Cooper hijacking, so you would think it was still fresh on there minds.

McCoy vs Cooper is similar in some ways, but doubtful they were done by the same person....

Unless Cooper was someone who overheard McCoy doing what-ifs and beat him to the job ? McCoy was a bragger-talker. McCoy might never have known. But, this theory seems less likely today for a number of reasons... we icussed this at DZ.

[Bruce A. Smith]

I do not think Richard McCoy was DB Cooper. But it is possible McCoy was involved in some way, since McCoy was at McCarren airport /Las Vegas environs on November 23-25.

Was he a ground man for DB Cooper? Did he have another role?

[Parrotheadvol]

I do not think Richard McCoy was DB Cooper. But it is possible McCoy was involved in some way, since McCoy was at McCarren airport /Las Vegas environs on November 23-25.

Was he a ground man for DB Cooper? Did he have another role?

Which could explain his saying, "I don't want to talk about that".

[georger]

I do not think Richard McCoy was DB Cooper. But it is possible McCoy was involved in some way, since McCoy was at McCarren airport /Las Vegas environs on November 23-25.

Was he a ground man for DB Cooper? Did he have another role?

Which could explain his saying, "I don't want to talk about that".

That is right, as I have heard it. He literally would not talk about the Cooper matter in spite of being questioned and made offers. That's potentially something stronger than 'I dont know anything about it'.

Is this your understanding Bruce?

On the other hand there could be no connection at all, but the timing of multiple events is intriguing. McCoy's social nature and his big mouth are well established. He had the psyche for criminal behavior.

[Shutter]

Has anyone ever shown proof of the credit card transactions? I've never seen any documentation. he could of gave the card to someone?

[Bruce A. Smith]

Basically, all I know of Richard McCoy is what I read in Calame and Rhodes book, with one hefty interview with Russ in 2008, which complimented Russ' general view of things. He still firmly believed that McCoy was Cooper.

A couple of things have come up for me, and us, in the past few days:

1. Credit cards. There is scanty information in the book on the subject of McCoy's credit cards, and his alleged possession of $8-12,000. They are unsupported statements made by an investigator named Theisen. (p.144-145.) This is a section of the book that is not well written, often murky, and flooded with information that needs to be more concisely presented.

2. Knowledge of Cooper. Along those lines, it is very unclear to me why Calame never talked to McCoy about Cooper. Further, the book does not discuss any efforts by LE to make a deal with McCoy on his skyjacking in exchange for information on Cooper heist, even though Georger says that offers were made. By whom is unknown, though. Yet, it would seem that making a deal is a no-brainer. We see that done all the time in cops shows on TV, and why it wasn't done in this case is baffling.

3. Yes, it is my understanding from the book that McCoy did tell Judge Ritter, when the latter asked McCoy if he did the Cooper skyjacking and is the only one to do so, appparently, McCoy answered: "I don't want to talk to you about it." This implies to me that McCoy had some level of knowledge about the Cooper case. Why he didn't use that knowledge as a bargaining chip with LE is a mystery, too.

[Shutter]

When someone gets caught doing a major crime and states they are not going to be able to hold them. it's unlikely he is going to care, or give any information about anything. he could of been toying with them when they asked him about Cooper. it appears he had no intentions in given any information about anything.

[Bruce A. Smith]

What would Lt. Olivia Benson say to that!

As for McCoy "toying," I'm not sure what that means. The feds knew McCoy had been in Las Vegas surreptitiously on Nov 2-3 and Nov 23-25, 1971. They had credit card statements, gas receipts, phone logs, hotel bills...

Who toyed with whom? (Please note use of "who" and "whom." Thank you.)

[Shutter]

What would Lt. Olivia Benson say to that!

who is that?

[Bruce A. Smith]

My BIGGEST heart throb, and the richest woman working in television, Marishka Hargatay. Her character, Olivia Benson, just got promoted to Lieutenant in Season 17 of Law and Order, Special Victims Unit.

Shut, what the heck do you watch on TV? I'm beginning to wonder about you....

...Marishka was making slightly less than Christopher Meloni's $365,000 per episode at the end of Season 12, when Meloni/Detective Stabler quit. Marishka carried the show in his absence, and then became Executive Producer in Season 14, I believe. I don't know what her income is at present, but it is probably more than mine.