• 46:32 - 48:53
Darren Schaefer | DB Cooper, The Cooper Vortex, & The CIA
Electron Microscope Analysis of the Cooper Tie
Scientific lead Tom Kaye used an electron microscope to analyze the clip-on tie left on the plane, discovering particles of pure titanium and rare earth minerals. These substances were rare in 1971, potentially linking the suspect to high-tech environments like Boeing's supersonic transport project or Tektronix. This forensic evidence suggests Cooper may have been a chemist or engineer rather than a career criminal.