CATHERINE MARIE KERKOW
Also known as: Janice Ann Forte, Odile Ann Pesse, Odile Pesse, Katherine Marie Kerkow
Current age (if alive)
74
Gender
female
Nationality
Coos Bay, Oregon
Date of case
11/25/2013
Country
United States
Physical Description
Height
165 cm
Weight
52 kg
Eye color
Brown
Hair color
Brown
Ethnicity
White
Additional Photos
Caution
Catherine Marie Kerkow is wanted for her alleged involvement in the hijacking of Western Airlines Flight 701 which was to fly from Los Angeles, California, to Seattle, Washington, on June 3, 1972. A member of the Black Panthers, Kerkow and an accomplice claimed they had a bomb in an attache case and demanded $500,000. After allowing the 97 passengers to get off the plane in San Francisco, California, Kerkow and her accomplice flew to Algeria where they were granted political asylum. On January 25, 1975, the two hijackers, using fake passports, were arrested on illegal entry charges in France. Kerkow's accomplice was eventually extradited to the United States, but Kerkow's whereabouts remain unknown. A federal arrest warrant was issued for Kerkow in the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, on June 5, 1972, after she was charged with air piracy.
Remarks
Kerkow is known to speak English and French. She may have ties to Oregon, France, Switzerland, Algeria, Jordan, and Cuba.
Last updated: 5/30/2026