The mystery of D.B. Cooper has captivated the public for over five decades. As the only unsolved case of skyjacking in U.S. history, the story of the mysterious man who parachuted into the night with $200,000 in ransom money remains one of the greatest enigmas in aviation crime. Now, new evidence—a parachute discovered on a family property in North Carolina—has reignited the case. This parachute, along with a harness and logbook, could finally link D.B. Cooper to Richard McCoy Jr., a man already convicted of a remarkably similar crime just months after the infamous 1971 skyjacking.
A Family’s Hidden Secret
For years, Chanté and Richard III, the children of Richard McCoy Jr., harbored suspicions about their father’s possible involvement in the Cooper case. Out of respect for their mother, Karen, whom they believed might have played a role in both crimes, they kept their concerns private. However, with both parents now deceased, they felt it was time to reveal their suspicions.
Their revelation included a key piece of evidence: a modified parachute that had been hidden in a storage shed on their family property in North Carolina. The siblings, alongside amateur investigator Dan Gryder, believe this parachute could be the one used by Cooper during his daring escape.
Dan Gryder, who has long been involved in unraveling the mystery of D.B. Cooper, detailed his findings in a YouTube series that eventually drew the FBI’s attention. The parachute’s unique modifications align with alterations made by Earl Cossey, a veteran skydiver who collaborated with the FBI during the original investigation.
The FBI Reopens the Case
Following the disclosure of this evidence, the FBI conducted a thorough search of the North Carolina property. Gryder reported that over a dozen agents spent four hours combing through the site. They seized the parachute and related materials, including a harness and a logbook that Chanté claims tracks movements near Oregon and Utah—the locations of the two skyjacking incidents.
This represents the most significant FBI activity on the case since it was officially closed in 2016. At that time, the bureau cited a lack of new leads and redirected its resources to other priorities. However, some former agents suggested the case was never fully shelved.
Revisiting D.B. Cooper’s Bold Escape
The events of November 24, 1971, are as audacious as they are mysterious. A man using the alias Dan Cooper (later mistakenly reported as D.B. Cooper by the media) purchased a one-way ticket to Portland, Oregon, for $18.52. Boarding Northwest Orient Flight 305 without identification, Cooper carried a briefcase and a paper bag.
Midway through the flight, he handed a note to a flight attendant, claiming he had a bomb. Cooper opened his briefcase to reveal what appeared to be explosives and calmly issued his demands: $200,000 in cash, four parachutes, and a refueling truck waiting in Seattle.
When the plane landed in Seattle, Cooper allowed the 35 passengers and some crew to disembark after his demands were met. He then instructed the remaining crew on the flight path, aircraft configuration, and speed, ensuring the conditions for a successful parachute jump. Somewhere over the Pacific Northwest, Cooper lowered the aircraft’s rear staircase and jumped into the darkness, never to be seen again.
Despite extensive searches, no definitive evidence of Cooper’s fate has ever been found, apart from $5,800 of the ransom money discovered along the Columbia River in 1980.
The Case for Richard McCoy
Richard McCoy Jr. became a person of interest in the D.B. Cooper case after committing a remarkably similar crime in 1972. In April of that year, McCoy hijacked a United Airlines flight from Denver, demanding $500,000 in ransom. He successfully diverted the plane to San Francisco, had his demands fulfilled, and escaped by parachuting over Utah.
McCoy was apprehended just three days later due to an anonymous tip and key witness accounts. These included a waitress who served him a milkshake and a teenager who gave him a ride to a nearby town. The FBI found fingerprints matching McCoy’s on the skyjacking demand note, leading to his conviction and a 45-year prison sentence.
Despite his capture, McCoy escaped from a maximum-security prison in 1974 but was killed during a shootout with police. His age and physical description, which differed from Cooper’s, led investigators to rule him out as the culprit. However, McCoy’s skillset and modus operandi continue to fuel speculation that he may have been Cooper after all.
The Parachute’s Potential Significance
The parachute discovered by McCoy’s children could be the critical piece of evidence needed to solve the D.B. Cooper mystery. According to Gryder, its unique modifications make it “one in a billion.” If these alterations match those known to have been made by Earl Cossey, it would provide a compelling link between McCoy and the Cooper skyjacking.
Cossey, a seasoned skydiver and FBI collaborator, provided the parachutes used in Cooper’s escape. Tragically, Cossey was murdered in his home in 2013, leaving behind unanswered questions about his role in the case.
The Myth and Legacy of D.B. Cooper
D.B. Cooper’s story has transcended true crime to become a cultural phenomenon. Over the years, amateur sleuths, writers, and filmmakers have proposed countless theories about his identity and fate. One 1990s book, D.B. Cooper: The Real McCoy, argued that McCoy was Cooper, but Karen McCoy successfully sued the authors for libel, leading to the book’s withdrawal from circulation.
The enduring allure of the Cooper case lies in its audacity and enigma. In an era before stringent airport security, Cooper exploited vulnerabilities in aviation protocols to execute one of the most daring crimes in history. His fate—whether he survived the jump or perished—remains a topic of debate.
The discovery of the parachute represents a significant development in a case that seemed destined to remain unsolved. For the FBI, confirming the parachute’s connection to either McCoy or Cooper could reshape public understanding of the crime. For Chanté and Richard III, it offers a chance to resolve lingering questions about their father’s legacy.
Whether this lead confirms McCoy’s involvement or raises new questions, it underscores the complexity of the D.B. Cooper case. With modern forensic techniques and renewed public interest, this decades-old mystery may yet find closure.
Conclusion
The D.B. Cooper case has puzzled investigators and fascinated the public for over 50 years. The recent discovery of a parachute tied to Richard McCoy Jr. may finally provide the evidence needed to unravel this enduring enigma. While McCoy’s children and amateur sleuths remain convinced of their theory, the ultimate verdict lies with the FBI’s ongoing investigation. Whether this breakthrough ends the mystery or sparks new debates, it proves that even the coldest cases can yield fresh clues with time and persistence.
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