The mystery has been solved: DB Cooper has been identified, at least according to the new documentary I Am DB Cooper. Coming to theaters with a simultaneous On Demand release on Friday, Dec. 9, the doc introduces Rodney Bonnifield, an old man who claims to be the DB Cooper, the mysterious robber who parachuted from a hijacked plane with a load of stolen cash and was never seen again. As it’s easy for anyone to make such a claim, viewers will obviously be skeptical, but the documentary is said to have solid proof that Bonnifield is the infamous hijacker.
Ahead of the movie’s release, we have an exclusive clip to premiere, and it features Bonnifield offering some evidence to suggest that he really is DB Cooper. Bonnifield describes conversations he says he had with people on the plane, including a specific comment made to lawyer Larry Finegold about the hairpiece he was wearing. Bonnifield claims to have called Finegold many years later, telling him he’s DB Cooper, to which Finegold asked him to repeat what he said on the plane. Doing so apparently convinced Finegold that this was the right guy, as you can see in the clip below.
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Bonnifield’s story was uncovered by two bounty hunter brothers pursuing the old man following an unrelated incident. Before his sentencing, Bonnifield told the bondsmen that he’s DB Cooper, also claiming that the money he stole is still buried along the Columbia River. Along with exploring Bonnifield’s claims that the is the mysterious criminal, the film also follows the group embarking on a modern-day treasure hunt with the hope of recovering the buried money after five decades.
Has DB Cooper Finally Been Identified?
There have been many suspects considered to be DB Cooper ever since the incident happened in 1971, but, officially, the culprit hasn’t been identified. Whether the new information revealed in I Am DB Cooper changes that remains to be seen. There have been other documentaries delving into the mystery, but perhaps none that so boldly proclaims to have really identified the mysterious man.
“All my life I’ve wanted to find a story to tell and express it through the medium of filmmaking,” director TJ Regan said in a statement, addressing what led to the film getting made. “I found that exact thing when in 2018 I was approached by two bounty hunters who not only said they found the REAL DB Cooper, but that he was alive and going to lead them to his infamous buried money on the Columbia River. I Am DB Cooper is my first self-funded independent feature-length film. I have worked tirelessly for the last three years putting the pieces together to make this film.”
I Am DB Cooper is directed by TJ Regan who co-wrote with Sharmila Sahni. Along with Bonnifield, the doc features Mike Rocha, Ryan Cory, Rainee Blake, Chris Grounds, TJ Regan, and Sharmila Sahni. Regan, Sahni, Corey Molina, and John Miller produced. Regan executive produced with Isaiah Thomas, Mike Rocha, and Carlos Rocha.
I Am DB Cooper will be released in theaters and On Demand on Friday, Dec. 9. You can watch the official trailer below for another sneak peek at the film, and you can find out more at the official website.
