DB Cooper (Photo: X / Twitter)

A parachute has been linked to the infamous hijacker, who checked himself in on November 23, 1971 while Dan Cooper escaped into thin air with a ransom, has been found. On the anniversary of the crime, McCoy’s children claimed to have found the parachute Cooper allegedly used.
The parachute was discovered in the garage of Richard Floyd McCoy II, a man many believe was DB Cooper FBI who closed the case in 2016 is now investigating this new lead. DB Cooper hijacked a Northwest Orient Airlines flight 53 years ago, demanded $200,000 in ransom, and escaped by parachuting from the plane.
Richard McCoy was previously linked to another plane hijacking, where he escaped with $500,000, reinforcing suspicions about his connection to the Cooper case.
After their mother’s death, McCoy’s children reached out to YouTuber Gryder in 2022. Gryder, who is studying the case, said the military parachute found in their father’s garage could be real, calling it “one in a billion.” The siblings believe their father could be Cooper and suspect their mother was also aware of the crime.
On Monday, Gryder shared a video saying the FBI had reopened the investigation. He said officers contacted him after seeing his previous videos about the parachute discovery.
Cooper, wearing sunglasses, a suit and a tie, demanded $200,000 and four parachutes, promising to release 36 passengers once the supplies were ready in Seattle. After receiving them, he ordered the plane to take off for Mexico. Over southwest Washington, he opened the exit, jumped into the night with two parachutes and the money and disappeared. Delayed police searches turned up no trace and he was never seen again.
This is the FBI’s first activity on the case since 2016. Gryder’s girlfriend, retired pilot Laura Savino, confirmed that the FBI is taking the case seriously. So far, the FBI has not returned the parachute, adding to the belief that it could be crucial evidence.