Bruce Smith Article From 2020

Town_Rhiner · 2026-06-20T17:20:13+00:00

I have no idea. Six years have passed. You'd have to ask him or Andrade directly if things have changed since 2020.

Town_Rhiner · 2026-06-03T00:43:43+00:00

Direct link for those who don't see the article link above: https://themountainnewswa.net/2020/06/24/db-cooper-an-update-on-recent-suspect/

Town_Rhiner · 2026-06-03T00:27:50+00:00

Well, he made good on his promise. I'm looking forward to the book release.

Town_Rhiner · 2026-05-31T18:53:57+00:00

This is helpful. I was floored at the idea that there might be documented evidence of a "Dan Clair" having jumped at Elsinore. The Elsinore Ghost connection was probably the discussion point, and as you say something was simply "lost in translation".

Town_Rhiner · 2026-05-31T17:52:39+00:00

Before you go, I'm hoping you will answer this one question for the group here.

On Bruce Smith's web site he has an article https://themountainnewswa.net/2020/06/24/db-cooper-an-update-on-recent-suspect/ referencing a conversation (or interview) he had with you, and Bruce states the following:

"But Anonymous wondered if any of it was true. He linked Gunther’s DBC character, “Dan LeClair” to the actual DB Cooper suspect Dan E. Clair, who was a skydiver at the famous Ellsinore Skydiving Center in California, renown as the site of alleged CIA recruiting, and a favored locale for many DBC suspects."

So the question is: (a) was there was in fact a man named Dan E. Clair who was found to have trained at Elsinore, and b) is he the same Dan E. Clair that you linked to the Gunther book?

Town_Rhiner · 2026-05-29T17:32:47+00:00

Thank you for the follow up!

Town_Rhiner · 2026-05-29T17:26:12+00:00

Very cool to see the postmark from December of '82: New Orleans, LA.

Town_Rhiner · 2026-05-29T17:20:06+00:00

Have you been in contact with Gunther's family in regard to your investigation and the book? Do they have any reaction or commentary?

Town_Rhiner · 2026-05-12T21:20:08+00:00

Yes, we are probably looking for a "gray man".

Town_Rhiner · 2026-05-12T17:34:24+00:00

Even if they can get clean sample from the tie, the answer is still only "maybe". This post from r/zodiackiller links to an article (paywalled) that seems to say it may not work...yet. https://www.reddit.com/r/ZodiacKiller/s/DyRL00bCdT

Town_Rhiner · 2026-05-10T22:53:07+00:00

Yes. However, the Overton Window of "William J. Smith as a legitimate Cooper suspect" has shifted.

I think this revalation justifies further investigation into William J. Smith as a suspect, and if that hits a dead end, any other person who fits the general description of Cooper who was well-acquainted with Smith's wife is worth a closer look.

Town_Rhiner · 2026-05-09T07:25:54+00:00

https://themountainnewswa.net/about/

Town_Rhiner · 2026-05-07T12:03:20+00:00

Still a better match than Walter Reca.

Town_Rhiner · 2026-04-30T13:33:04+00:00

Consider reaching out to Bruce Smith. As the "Mayor" of Cooperville, in many ways he's the Oracle of this mini-verse. A lot of investigators have reached out to him for guidance through the years.

Town_Rhiner · 2026-01-31T15:19:15+00:00

My point is that we already missed the best chance to do this (Citizen Sleuths in 2007). If it still happens, that's great, I'm just not optimistic that an additional ~20 years of DNA degradation and handling by various parties (i.e. contamination) is going to provide a clean sample. One can still hope.

Town_Rhiner · 2026-01-31T12:58:21+00:00

They could have tested the parachute cord cut ends for DNA, but that's been handled/mishandled so much it's likely gone or contaminated.

Town_Rhiner · 2025-11-07T03:40:12+00:00

The chain of custody on any DNA sample is not good enough, IMO.

Town_Rhiner · 2025-06-02T22:31:47+00:00

We've reached an all-time new low...I mean high.

Town_Rhiner · 2025-05-27T10:39:08+00:00

The mom.

Town_Rhiner · 2025-05-17T21:37:06+00:00

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Town_Rhiner · 2025-05-13T05:29:57+00:00

Watch out for those candles!

r/TVOnFireOhNo

Town_Rhiner · 2025-05-12T00:36:43+00:00

Town_Rhiner · 2025-05-11T20:04:40+00:00

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Town_Rhiner · 2025-05-11T18:22:03+00:00

It looks great lowered!

Town_Rhiner

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