Siblings Chanté and Richard McCoy III believe their late father, Richard Floyd McCoy Jr., was the elusive D.B. Cooper after finding a parachute in his attic. Amateur sleuth Dan Gryder, who has investigated the case for decades, examined the military-style parachute and called it a “one in a billion” discovery that could provide a breakthrough in the 53-year-old mystery.
McCoy was already a major FBI suspect after a similar hijacking in 1972, where he parachuted out of a plane with $500,000 in ransom money. He was later captured but died in a shootout with FBI agents after escaping prison in 1974. Gryder believes the parachute, which was found after the death of McCoy’s widow, aligns with evidence from the D.B. Cooper case.
The FBI closed its active investigation into the case in 2016 but stated they would reopen it if compelling new evidence emerged. Gryder has urged authorities to exhume McCoy’s body for DNA testing to confirm or rule out his involvement in the infamous 1971 skyjacking.
While the FBI has not commented on this latest lead, the discovery has reignited interest in one of America’s greatest unsolved mysteries. With new evidence in hand, investigators and amateur sleuths alike are hoping for long-awaited answers.
