New Evidence in the D.B. Cooper Mystery A potential breakthrough in the 53-year-old D.B. Cooper case has surfaced, as a parachute discovered in North Carolina might finally unravel the identity of America’s most enigmatic skyjacker. This unsolved hijacking, shrouded in mystery and legend, remains a topic of fascination for true crime enthusiasts and amateur detectives alike.
The Unsolved Case of the D.B. Cooper Hijacking
On November 24, 1971, a man identifying himself as “Dan Cooper” boarded a flight from Oregon to Seattle. He seemed unremarkable—a suit-clad, middle-aged man who ordered a bourbon and soda. But mid-flight, Cooper handed a note to a stewardess, claiming he had a bomb and demanding $200,000 in cash and four parachutes.
Authorities complied, delivering the ransom when the plane landed in Seattle. Cooper released the passengers and ordered the plane to take off again, this time bound for Mexico City. Somewhere over the Pacific Northwest, Cooper parachuted into the night, taking the money with him.
Despite a massive manhunt and FBI investigation, Cooper vanished without a trace. The only clues recovered were $5,800 in decomposed $20 bills found near the Columbia River years later. The case remains the only unsolved hijacking in U.S. history.
A Fresh Lead Emerges
New developments suggest that Richard Floyd McCoy II, a suspect long considered by the FBI, could indeed be D.B. Cooper. This theory gained traction after retired pilot and skydiving expert Dan Gryder unearthed a parachute rig on McCoy’s family property in Cove City, North Carolina. Gryder believes the harness and canopy were used in the 1971 hijacking.
McCoy’s children, Chanté and Rick, support Gryder’s claim, alleging that their late father might have been Cooper. They’ve provided additional evidence, including a skydiving logbook aligning with the timeline of both the D.B. Cooper and a subsequent Utah hijacking.
The Real McCoy?
Richard McCoy has long intrigued investigators. In April 1972, five months after the Cooper hijacking, McCoy hijacked a plane in Utah under nearly identical circumstances. He demanded $500,000, parachuted out of the plane, and was later apprehended based on fingerprints, eyewitness testimony, and a handwritten note.
Though McCoy denied involvement in the Cooper case, parallels between the two incidents are striking. McCoy’s background—a decorated Vietnam Green Beret, helicopter pilot, and demolition expert—matches the profile of someone capable of executing such a daring crime.
FBI Reopens the Case
After Gryder presented his findings, including the parachute and logbook, the FBI took the evidence into custody in September 2023. This marked the agency’s first significant action on the case since declaring it inactive in 2016.
The FBI’s renewed interest includes DNA testing on McCoy’s remains, though formal plans for exhumation remain unclear. Agents have also conducted a thorough search of the McCoy family property, signaling they are taking Gryder’s discovery seriously.
Skepticism and Debate
Not everyone agrees with Gryder’s conclusions. Some, like retired FBI agent Larry Carr, doubt the hijacker survived the jump, let alone pulled off a second heist. Others argue that witness descriptions of Cooper as a man in his mid-40s conflict with McCoy, who was only 27 at the time.
However, Gryder counters that Cooper likely used disguises, and his habits—like drinking bourbon—could have been part of the act to mislead investigators. Gryder even replicated Cooper’s jump on his YouTube channel, “Probable Cause,” proving the parachute escape was survivable.
Could This Be the Breakthrough?
While the FBI remains tight-lipped, Gryder is confident the parachute and related evidence will tie McCoy to the Cooper case. If proven, it would finally solve a mystery that has captivated the nation for over half a century.
This is the first of a two-part series. Stay tuned for further developments and insights into the investigation that could redefine one of America’s greatest unsolved mysteries.
