Investigator Eric Ulis, known for his skill in historical crime investigations, has discovered fresh evidence in the D.B. Cooper skyjacking case. This evidence helps detectives go closer to solving the mystery of the iconic hijacker. Ulis told Fox News that a minuscule metal particle from Cooper’s tie had provided a lead in identifying the hijacker.

In 1971, D.B. Cooper hijacked a commercial jet, threatening to explode it before parachuting to safety with $200,000 in ransom. Despite great efforts, officials have been unable to determine his true identity. However, the clip-on tie he left behind served as a crucial clue for detectives.

Modern scientific investigation of the tie has revealed over 100,000 particles, including stainless steel and titanium pieces. Ulis tracked three of these shards back to Crucible Steel, a significant subcontractor for Boeing’s aircraft construction throughout the 1960s.

Ulis believes that if Cooper had contacts to Crucible Steel, he would be intimately familiar with the Boeing 727 aircraft he seized as well as the Seattle area, where Crucible Steel employees usually did business. Furthermore, he mentioned that Boeing faced economic issues in 1971, which could have served as motivation for Cooper. Ulis believes that Vince Peterson, a former titanium research engineer at Crucible Steel who died in 2002, could be the elusive D.B. Cooper.

Despite Peterson’s compelling nature as a suspect, Ulis is open to other options until his results are proven. He is determined to delve more into Peterson’s background and continue his research.