Was DB Cooper This North Carolina Man? Evidence Reveals Possible Connection to Hijacker
A hidden parachute, a decades-old mystery, and a shocking North Carolina family claim—could Richard McCoy Jr. have been DB Cooper? 🌐 #News #RaleighNC #NorthCarolina #Crime
RALEIGH, NC – A long-unsolved mystery might finally have a new lead. Two North Carolina siblings, Chanté and Rick McCoy III, are making a bold claim that their late father, Richard McCoy Jr., was the infamous Boeing hijacker known as DB Cooper. The siblings recently discovered a parachute hidden in their mother’s belongings, and they believe it might be the key to unlocking one of the most puzzling disappearances in American criminal history.
Their discovery comes after years of silence, held back out of concern that their mother, who passed away in 2020, might have been implicated. But now, with the family’s secret out in the open, the McCoys have shared their theory with an aviation expert, sparking new interest in the case.
The Parachute Discovery: A Link to DB Cooper?
The McCoy siblings claim that the parachute they found in their mother’s storage is the same one used by DB Cooper when he leapt out of a Boeing plane in 1971. According to aviation YouTuber Dan Gryder, who inspected the parachute, it has distinctive features that match the rig used by Cooper. Gryder describes the parachute as “one in a billion,” emphasizing its rare and unique design.
This particular parachute is believed to have been modified by veteran skydiver Earl Cossey for the police as part of Cooper’s demands. The connection between the parachute and McCoy’s father seems striking, especially considering Richard McCoy Jr.’s criminal history, which has long raised suspicions about his involvement in the hijacking.
FBI Takes Notice: Investigating New Evidence
After the McCoys came forward with their discovery, the FBI began to show interest in the case once again. In 2023, agents conducted a search of the family’s home in North Carolina and seized the parachute for further examination. Rick McCoy also provided a DNA sample, which could help determine whether there’s a genetic connection to DB Cooper.
The FBI, which officially closed its investigation into Cooper’s disappearance in 2016, has not commented publicly on the recent developments. However, the possibility that the agency might exhume Richard McCoy Jr.’s body to conduct further tests remains on the table. Despite this, no formal request has been made for such an action.
McCoy’s Criminal Past: A Possible Connection to DB Cooper
Richard McCoy Jr.’s criminal history adds fuel to the growing theory that he may have been DB Cooper. Just months after the famous 1971 hijacking, McCoy was involved in a similar plane hijacking in Utah. That he was able to pull off another high-stakes crime so soon after Cooper’s daring escape raises questions about his potential involvement.
McCoy was caught and eventually imprisoned for the Utah hijacking, but he escaped from prison and was killed in a shootout with police. His criminal past, along with the newfound evidence, has led some to believe he could have been the elusive DB Cooper all along.
DB Cooper’s identity has remained a mystery for decades, with few tangible clues to point to his true identity. The most significant evidence was a bundle of money, with matching serial numbers to the ransom Cooper received, found years later along the Columbia River. But whether Cooper survived the jump, which took place over a remote and rugged area between Seattle and Reno, has never been confirmed.
The FBI has maintained that the case was closed due to a lack of new leads, but the McCoys’ claims could reopen the investigation into the mystery. As the story unfolds, the question remains: could Richard McCoy Jr. be the man who managed to outsmart the FBI and disappear without a trace all those years ago?
RELATED TOPICS: Crime | History | North Carolina
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