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New Evidence May Solve D.B. Cooper Mystery

New Evidence May Solve D.B. Cooper Mystery

A parachute discovered in North Carolina could be the key to solving one of America’s greatest unsolved mysteries. This new clue may help investigators identify D.B. Cooper, the man who hijacked a plane in 1971, stole $200,000, and parachuted into the unknown.

The Mysterious Hijacking

On November 24, 1971, a man using the alias “Dan Cooper” boarded a plane in Oregon, heading to Seattle. He demanded $200,000 in cash, four parachutes, and threatened to detonate a bomb. Authorities met his demands after the plane landed in Seattle. Once the plane refuelled, it took off again, and somewhere between Seattle and Portland, Cooper jumped from the plane with the money and parachutes. He vanished into the night sky and was never seen again.

A New Breakthrough in the Case

Dan Gryder, a retired pilot and skydiver, believes he has uncovered the crucial evidence. Gryder recently found a modified military parachute rig belonging to Richard McCoy II, an ex-Green Beret and convicted hijacker. The parachute was discovered on McCoy’s family property in Cove City, North Carolina. Gryder is convinced it is the same rig used in the D.B. Cooper hijacking.

In an interview with Cowboy State Daily, Gryder explained, “That rig is literally one in a billion.”

McCoy’s children, Chanté and Richard III, support Gryder’s theory. They believe their father, McCoy, was D.B. Cooper. They had kept quiet about it for years, fearing it could implicate their mother, Karen, who they believe was involved in both hijackings. After her death in 2020, they shared their suspicions with Gryder.

FBI’s Renewed Interest

For over five decades, the FBI had no new leads in the D.B. Cooper case. In 2016, the FBI declared the investigation inactive, citing a lack of new evidence. However, after Gryder uncovered the parachute, the FBI showed renewed interest. In September 2023, Gryder and Rick McCoy met with FBI agents in Richmond, Virginia. The agents took the parachute and skydiving logbook into evidence.

Gryder and McCoy also met with retired commercial pilot Laura Savino, who was present at the meeting with the FBI. Savino noted, “Considering they had requested the meeting, it was clear they were taking it seriously.”

Key Evidence in the McCoy Parachute

The parachute in question is unique, with distinct modifications that match the description of the rig used in the 1971 hijacking. These alterations had been documented by Earl Cossey, the parachutist who provided the original parachutes for the hijacking. Gryder and McCoy’s children believe the small, unique details tie McCoy directly to the D.B. Cooper case.

FBI agents were impressed with the evidence. One agent even requested to search McCoy’s family property in North Carolina. The search took place in late 2023, with Rick McCoy present on the property. “It’s a good sign that they’re taking this seriously,” Rick said after the agents spent hours searching the land.

DNA Samples and Potential Exhumation

As part of the investigation, the FBI has requested DNA samples from McCoy’s children, Rick and Chanté. Rick also indicated that the FBI might exhume McCoy’s body as part of the investigation. However, the family has not received formal confirmation or details about the exhumation process yet.

The Richard McCoy Connection

Richard McCoy has long been considered a prime suspect in the D.B. Cooper case. In fact, the FBI had focused on McCoy after he hijacked a plane in 1972 using a similar method to Cooper’s. McCoy demanded $500,000, four parachutes, and threatened the crew with a hand grenade. After completing the hijacking, McCoy parachuted out of the plane, but he was caught by the FBI within 72 hours due to matching fingerprints and eyewitness testimony.

McCoy was sentenced to 45 years in prison for the Utah hijacking, but he later escaped from a federal prison. He was shot and killed by FBI agents in 1974.

Other Investigators and Doubts

Gryder’s findings echo those of former FBI agents, such as Russell Calame and Nick O’Hara, who believe McCoy was behind both hijackings. However, not all experts agree. Retired FBI agent Larry Carr, who briefly took over the case in 2007, doubts McCoy’s involvement. Carr has stated that he does not believe the hijacker could have survived the jump from the plane.

Gryder disagrees, noting that he replicated the D.B. Cooper jump in 2021 and proved it was survivable. He also questioned weather reports that indicated calm weather on the night of the hijacking, contrary to earlier reports of stormy conditions.

The FBI’s Silence

The FBI has not yet confirmed whether they are actively re-investigating the D.B. Cooper case. The agency has refused to provide updates on the parachute or other evidence collected from the McCoy family property. Despite this, the recent actions, including the search of McCoy’s property, suggest the case may not be as closed as previously thought.

As of now, the FBI has not provided any formal updates to the McCoy family. The investigation continues, and for the first time in years, the D.B. Cooper case may be on the brink of a breakthrough.

The Search for D.B. Cooper

The true identity of D.B. Cooper remains one of America’s greatest mysteries. After more than five decades, new evidence, such as the D.B. Cooper parachute, might finally lead investigators to the man who pulled off the most daring hijacking in U.S. history. If Gryder’s theory holds, the mystery of D.B. Cooper may soon be solved, and Richard McCoy II could be revealed as the infamous hijacker.

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