Heist of all times: DB Cooper parachute discovery sparks renewed FBI interest in decades-old mystery

The parachute allegedly used by infamous hijacker DB Cooper may have finally been uncovered, reigniting one of the most enduring mysteries in U.S. history.

Amateur investigator Dan Gryder and the children of a man long suspected to be Cooper, Richard Floyd McCoy II, claim to have found compelling evidence linking McCoy to the 1971 heist.

The Unfolding Discovery

DB Cooper, who vanished after leaping from Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 with $200,000 in ransom money, has stumped authorities for over 50 years. However, in 2020, McCoy’s children—Chanté and Richard III—contacted Gryder after their mother’s death, inviting him to their North Carolina property where a parachute was found in storage.

The modified military bailout rig matches descriptions of the gear reportedly used in the hijacking. Gryder called the parachute “one in a billion,” citing its unique features documented by Earl Cossey, the parachute’s original supplier.

FBI Reopens the Case

The FBI, which closed its investigation in 2016 due to a lack of evidence, has now unofficially revisited the case. After watching Gryder’s YouTube videos showcasing the parachute, FBI agents met with him and McCoy’s son, Rick, to examine the harness and a logbook that aligns with Cooper’s and McCoy’s hijackings. The FBI has yet to return the parachute, fueling speculation that it may hold the key to solving the mystery.

Agents also searched the McCoy family’s property, scouring it for additional clues, and collected DNA samples from Rick. However, the FBI has not publicly commented on whether McCoy’s DNA matches evidence left behind by Cooper, including a clip-on tie recovered from the 1971 heist.

Connections Between McCoy and Cooper

McCoy has long been a prime suspect in the DB Cooper case due to his strikingly similar hijacking of a United Airlines flight just five months later in April 1972. During that heist, McCoy demanded $500,000 before parachuting from the aircraft over Utah. He was arrested within 72 hours, convicted, and sentenced to 45 years in prison. McCoy later escaped from a maximum-security facility but was killed in a shootout with police in 1974.

Critics of the McCoy-Cooper theory argue that McCoy was too young to match descriptions of Cooper, who was believed to be in his mid-40s. Others contend the parachute discovery and logbook may provide the missing links needed to confirm McCoy’s identity as Cooper.

Expert Opinions and Alternative Theories

Not everyone is convinced that McCoy was DB Cooper. Retired FBI Special Agent Larry Carr, who briefly led the case in 2007, doubts Cooper survived the jump, though Gryder insists it is possible, having tested similar jumps himself. Another theory proposed by investigator Eric Ulis points to Vince Petersen, a Boeing subcontractor from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Ulis argues that particles of rare metals found on Cooper’s tie link him to the aerospace industry, specifically Petersen’s work with titanium alloys.

A Case Still Clouded in Mystery

Despite these leads, the FBI has yet to announce any conclusive findings. Gryder remains confident the parachute will definitively link McCoy to Cooper, saying, “This will prove it was McCoy.” Meanwhile, Ulis continues to push for further DNA testing to resolve the case once and for all.

As new evidence emerges, the question of DB Cooper’s true identity persists. Whether it was McCoy, Petersen, or someone else entirely, the mystery continues to captivate sleuths and historians alike, keeping alive the legend of America’s most infamous skyjacker.