Georger, you and I can both agree that Shutter wants the bare truth, no matter how abrasive or inconvenient it may seem to others. You pose good questions and I can answer in part through direct knowledge and in part through inference. Skipp Porteous was the investigator paid to find the director of "Sleepless in Seattle" and pass along Lyle Christianson's request for a movie about his brother Ken being DB Cooper. Enter Gray, a writer for the "New York Magazine" with a story about Ken C. in October 2007. Gray, or the NYM, came on the scene most likely through Skipp Porteous' efforts to launch a media campaign and put Skipp in the limelight as a bigtime NYC private detective. That story launched a short-lived, but intense media coverage, and it came close to working for Skipp........but in the end..........no cigar. It was the interview with Florence Shaffner that got the ball rolling. Florence, who I've interviewed many times and find to be the least credible of the three flight attendants, made some comments about KC that got Skipp interested in trying to solve the case. But after talking with Skipp on the phone and exchanging e-mails, I knew that Skipp didn't have the background on DB Cooper, nor the staying power to really explore the depths of the case. Skipp wanted a fast, headline grabbing conclusion with very little effort. Skipp also pointed out to me early on that Ken Christianson had some disturbing background (ie, involvement with younger boys). As Skipp and I talked more, I got the impression that he only wanted star-studded attention as a NY PI with lots of girls surrounding him. Skipp was not willing to work, that was obvious because many of Skipp's e-mails to me were from the Caribbean, Cancun and the Mediterranean where Skipp was vacationing. We were both invited out to LA for a film episode of National Geo on the DB Cooper segment. I declined, but Skipp went to LA and received a very small part in the documentary. Skipp also saw some deadlines fast approaching. He wanted to get a book out ASAP. Enter Blevins. Adventure Books is a dinky little outfit run by a couple of house cleaners. The reason why Gray didn't partner with Skipp for a book was most likely because Gray is a professional writer and Skipp is not. Also, as time went on I'm sure Gray saw the unlikelihood of KC being DBC. Skipp is an opportunist with a penchant for flair with his all-girl investigative team. Skipp got Blevins because Blevins was in the proximity of DBC country and was dirt cheap, or, free. Unfortunately for Skipp, once he figured out what kind of guy he co-authored with, Skipp took off. Gray didn't have to go through that crap, because Gray already had Blevins figured out. And I got that from Geoff Gray himself over the phone. Skipp is wise to Blevins too, it just took him longer to figure it out than it did for Gray. Lastly, why did the FBI not receive Skipp Porteous, when Skipp tried desperately to get the attention for KC? The FBI already debunked the KC fable, and wanted nothing more to do with it. I even asked the agents why they didn't talk to Skipp, especially since Skipp was an investigator and once-time, short-term sheriff's deputy. The FBI found none of them as credible. Obviously, each assigned NORJAK agent has their own method with considerable discretion to deal with who they want to. Tom Kay dealt with Larry Carr. You, Georger, have also dealt with the FBI. I've dealt with Eric Mueller, Larry Carr, and most recently, Curtis Eng. Blevins will never get into the FBI offices, nor will Jo Weber. And both Geoff Gray and Skipp Porteous know this.
Now, you owe me $32, Georger. And please don't send me anymore DB Cooper books as payment in-kind.
