The last time anyone saw D.B. Cooper, he parachuted out of a Mexico City-bound airplane with $200,000 in ransom strapped to his body, vanishing over the Pacific Northwest and initiating one of America's greatest manhunts.

Forty-five years later, the FBI is closing the books on this unsolved case.

"We have arrived at our conclusion today that it was just time to close the case because there isn't anything new out there," said Special Agent in Charge Frank Montoya, Jr. "There's a lot that goes into that decision but really it was just time."

The infamous hijacking that took place in 1971 became one of the bureau's "longest and most exhaustive investigations," the FBI said.

"If something were to arise -- principally the parachutes or the money -- you know, we would reopen, we would look into this, we would do what we could to bring the perpetrator to justice. But at the same time, after 45 years we just don't think that that's likely," Montoya said.

Whether "D.B." -- a name created by the press, according to the FBI -- survived the 10,000 foot plunge into the wilderness has never been confirmed, and his true identity has never been determined.

The evidence collected over the years will now be preserved for historical purposes at the bureau's headquarters in Washington, D.C., the FBI said.

One clue came in 1980, when a boy found a rotting package of $5,800 in $20 bills that matched the serial numbers of the ransom money.

To read the complete article, see:
D.B. Cooper: FBI closes the books 45 years after skyjacking mystery (www.cnn.com/2016/07/12/world/d-b-cooper-fbi-closes-case/)

To read earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
D. B. COOPER: WHERE IS YOUR LOOT? (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v04n48a07.html)
D. B. COOPER CASH STASH FOR SALE (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v10n06a11.html)
DISTRIBUTION OF THE KNOWN D.B. COOPER BILLS (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v10n07a16.html)
D. B. COOPER MYSTERY CONTINUES (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v18n48a43.html)