New Evidence Could Unveil the True Identity of D.B. Cooper

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.