Your tip
RadarOnlineRadarOnline
or
Sign in with lockrMail
BREAKING NEWS
Exclusive

Has the Mystery of D.B Cooper Been Solved? FBI Quietly Seizes Parachute Said to be Used by Infamous Hijacker 53 Years Ago… Found Inside North Carolina Outbuilding

Split photo of D.B. Cooper and his parachute.
Source: FBI/Dan Gryder

New evidence pointing back to D.B. Cooper could be a huge revelation in one of America's most mysterious cases.

Nov. 24 2024, Published 1:45 p.m. ET

Link to FacebookShare to XShare to FlipboardShare to Email

A stunning new "one in a billion" clue could finally unravel the mystery of D.B. Cooper 53 years after his infamous hijack.

RadarOnline.com can reveal the parachute that D.B. Cooper used to flee with $200,000 after hijacking a plane may have finally been found, offering a major breakthrough in the case.

Article continues below advertisement
db cooper mystery solved fbi seizes hijacker parachute north carolina
Source: Dan Gryder

The parachute that D.B. Cooper used to flee after hijacking a plane may have finally been found.

Article continues below advertisement

The FBI has been baffled for decades by the case of D.B. Cooper – the unidentified man who hijacked Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305, took thousands in ransom, and mysteriously vanished after parachuting out of the plane.

After exhausting all credible leads and suspects, the intelligence agency finally appeared to give up in 2016.

Article continues below advertisement
db cooper mystery solved fbi seizes hijacker parachute north carolina
Source: Dan Gryder

YouTuber Dan Gryder was contacted by Richard McCoy II's kids, who said they had new evidence.

Article continues below advertisement

The FBI said it was reallocating resources to other investigative priorities unless new information – particularly physical evidence like parachutes or money – emerged.

But now, the case has quietly been reopened after Richard Floyd McCoy II's children reached out to retired pilot, skydiver, and YouTuber Dan Gryder in 2020, presenting potential new evidence.

Article continues below advertisement

There has been speculation and theories suggesting McCoy could have been D.B. Cooper, but there hasn't been any definitive proof linking him to the hijacking.

McCoy, a former Army soldier and fugitive, was arrested in 1972 for a similar hijacking of a United Airlines flight – one year after the D.B. Cooper incident.

Article continues below advertisement

After the death of Chanté and 'Rick' McCoy's mother, the siblings reached out to Gryder in July 2022 and invited him to their family property in North Carolina.

The YouTuber had persistently been contacting them over the years during his own investigation of the case.

Article continues below advertisement

Inside Rick's mother's storage unit, Gryder discovered a modified military surplus bailout rig, which he believes was used by Cooper during the hijacking and could be the case's missing link.

He said of the specific parachute: "That rig is literally one in a billion."

MORE ON:
D.B. Cooper

DAILY. BREAKING. CELEBRITY NEWS. ALL FREE.

Article continues below advertisement
db cooper mystery solved fbi seizes hijacker parachute north carolina
Source: Dan Gryder

A distinct parachute was found in storage at the McCoy family property in North Carolina.

Article continues below advertisement

McCoy’s children share Gryder's belief that their father was D.B. Cooper, a secret that hung over the family but was never openly discussed.

For years, the family kept quiet in fear that speaking out might implicate their mother, Karen, whom they believe was involved in both hijackings.

Article continues below advertisement

Gryder – who has researched the D.B. Cooper case for 20 years – documented his findings in a two-part Probable Cause series on YouTube, including footage of discovering the parachute on the McCoy family property in July 2022.

He released a third part on Monday, where he revealed the FBI’s recent efforts in his discoveries.

Article continues below advertisement

FBI agents contacted Rick and Gryder to examine the parachute after watching his first two videos, marking the agency's first action on the case since declaring it closed in 2016.

In September 2023, Gryder and Rick traveled to Richmond, Virginia, where they met with FBI agents.

The agents took the harness and parachute into evidence, along with a skydiving logbook found by Chanté that matched the timeline of both hijackings, adding another crucial piece to the investigation.

Article continues below advertisement
db cooper
Source: FBI

McCoy's children said they believe his father was the hijacker and that it's been a looming secret in their family.

Article continues below advertisement

A month later, an FBI agent called Rick asking to search the family property in Cove City, North Carolina – where the parachute was discovered.

Rick said the agency looked through "every nook and cranny" of the property, which their mother owned.

Article continues below advertisement

The key to the discovery lies in the unique alterations to the parachute, which were well-documented by Earl Cossey, a veteran skydiver who supplied the parachutes for the 1971 hijacking.

Gryder and McCoy’s children believe these specific details provide strong evidence linking him to the D.B. Cooper case.

The FBI has not yet given the family an update on the current status of the case.

Have a tip? Send it to us! Email RadarOnline.com at tips@radaronline.com.

More From Radar Online

    Opt-out of personalized ads

    © Copyright 2024 RADAR ONLINE™️. A DIVISION OF MYSTIFY ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK INC. RADAR ONLINE is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services. Offers may be subject to change without notice.