More than five decades ago, on November 24, 1971, a man using the alias Dan Cooper boarded a flight in Oregon bound for Seattle. Dressed in a business suit, he ordered a bourbon and soda. Shortly after takeoff, he handed a flight attendant a note demanding $200,000 in cash and four parachutes, claiming he had a bomb in his briefcase.

When the plane landed in Seattle, authorities complied with his demands. After refueling, the plane took off again. Somewhere over the Pacific Northwest, the mysterious hijacker leaped into the night sky with the money, never to be seen or heard from again.

The FBI launched one of the most exhaustive investigations in its history, vetting over 800 suspects, but D.B. Cooper’s identity and fate remained a mystery. The case spawned a cult following, inspiring books, movies, and a Netflix series. Despite decades of speculation, the FBI officially declared the case inactive in 2016, citing a lack of new evidence.

Now, new developments may have revived the investigation.

A New Lead Emerges

Dan Gryder, a retired pilot, skydiver, and YouTuber, claims to have discovered crucial evidence: a modified military surplus parachute allegedly linked to D.B. Cooper. The parachute, which Gryder found in North Carolina in 2022, once belonged to Richard Floyd McCoy II, a former Green Beret and a leading FBI suspect.

McCoy was known for pulling off a remarkably similar hijacking in Utah just five months after Cooper’s heist. McCoy’s children, Chanté and Richard III, believe their father was Cooper, a secret they say their family avoided discussing for years. After their mother’s death in 2020, they decided to speak out.

Gryder, who has spent over 20 years investigating the case, documented his findings on his YouTube channel, Probable Cause. His videos caught the attention of the FBI, prompting agents to seize the parachute, a harness, and a skydiving logbook as evidence in September 2023.

The FBI’s Renewed Interest

The FBI’s renewed interest marks its first investigative action in the case since 2016. Agents searched the McCoy family’s property in Cove City, North Carolina, scouring it for additional clues. Richard McCoy’s son Rick provided a DNA sample, and the agency hinted at a possible exhumation of McCoy’s body for further testing.

Although the FBI has not confirmed any active investigation, the agency’s actions suggest they are taking Gryder’s discoveries seriously.

Who Was Richard McCoy?

Richard McCoy II was a decorated Vietnam War veteran and a skilled helicopter pilot. At the time of the Cooper hijacking, McCoy was a criminal justice student at Brigham Young University and an active member of the Utah National Guard.

In April 1972, McCoy executed a nearly identical hijacking. Disguised with a wig and fake mustache, he hijacked a United Airlines flight, demanded $500,000, and parachuted to escape. He was apprehended within 72 hours, thanks to fingerprints, a handwritten note, and eyewitness accounts.

McCoy denied being D.B. Cooper, but his actions bore striking similarities to the earlier heist. He was sentenced to 45 years in prison but escaped in 1974. Shortly after, he was killed in a shootout with FBI agents.

Evidence Points to McCoy

Gryder’s investigation highlights several pieces of evidence tying McCoy to the Cooper case:

• The Parachute: The modified rig matches descriptions of the equipment used in Cooper’s jump.
• Timeline: A skydiving logbook aligns with the dates of both hijackings.
• Skillset: McCoy’s military training made him well-suited for such a high-risk operation.

Skeptics argue that McCoy was too young to match witnesses’ descriptions of Cooper and point to his devout Mormon beliefs, which conflict with reports of Cooper drinking and smoking on the flight. However, Gryder believes these were deliberate attempts to mislead investigators.

A Case That Refuses to Close

Not everyone is convinced by Gryder’s findings. Some former FBI agents, like Larry Carr, believe Cooper likely died during his daring jump. Others doubt McCoy’s involvement, citing inconsistencies in witness accounts and FBI statements.

Yet, Gryder remains confident. He even recreated Cooper’s jump in 2021, proving it was survivable under the conditions of that night. Gryder also demonstrated how the weight of the ransom money could have been lost during the descent, possibly explaining why only $5,800 was ever recovered.

“The real proof,” Gryder says, “lies in the evidence handed over to the FBI.”

The Mystery Lives On

As of now, the FBI has not provided updates on the case or the items seized from the McCoy family. But for those fascinated by the legend of D.B. Cooper, Gryder’s discoveries may bring the story closer to a resolution—or raise even more questions.

Will the case finally be solved? Only time—and perhaps DNA evidence—will tell.

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In a saga that seems straight out of fiction, British MP John Stonehouse faked his own death in 1974, leaving behind a trail of intrigue and scandal. Here’s how the incredible story unfolded:

The Disappearance in Miami

On November 20, 1974, John Stonehouse’s clothes were discovered on a beach in Miami. It appeared he had drowned while swimming, but suspicions arose when he was later found alive in Melbourne, Australia, on Christmas Eve. His elaborate ruse involved adopting the identities of two deceased men, Joseph Arthur Markham and Donald Clive Mildoon, to flee financial troubles, political fallout, and personal scandals.

Stonehouse staged his disappearance while facing financial ruin, accusations of espionage, and public scrutiny over an extramarital affair with his secretary, Sheila Buckley. His plan included transferring large sums of money from his businesses into foreign bank accounts under his new identities.

A Troubled Career

Once a promising politician, Stonehouse’s career peaked as Postmaster General, where he introduced first- and second-class postage stamps. However, his political reputation crumbled following allegations of espionage for Czechoslovakia during the Cold War—a charge he vehemently denied.

Disillusioned after losing his seat in 1970, Stonehouse turned to business ventures that eventually spiraled into fraud and financial woes. His involvement in the British Bangladesh Trust added further controversy, leading to investigations and bad publicity.

Capture and Confession

Stonehouse’s new life in Australia began to unravel when Melbourne police, searching for the missing aristocrat Lord Lucan, linked him to suspicious bank activities. On December 24, 1974, Stonehouse was apprehended. In a taped phone call to his wife, Barbara, he confessed to the deception, stating, “I have been deceiving you… I’m sorry about that, but in a sense, I’m glad it’s all over.”

Despite his dramatic confession, Stonehouse insisted his actions were driven by a “divided personality” caused by immense stress. In a later interview, he portrayed his disappearance as a “fact-finding mission” about his inner self.

Legal Consequences and Fallout

Deported to the UK in 1975, Stonehouse faced a 68-day trial and was convicted of theft, fraud, and deception. He was sentenced to seven years in prison but served only three due to health issues. His wife divorced him during his imprisonment, and he later married his secretary, Sheila Buckley.

Legacy and Espionage Claims

Stonehouse passed away in 1988, leaving lingering questions about his life. While he denied allegations of espionage, some evidence, including released Czechoslovak intelligence files, suggests he may have acted as a spy. His daughter, Julia, maintains his innocence, publishing a book in his defense in 2021.

This bizarre tale of deception, scandal, and reinvention remains one of the most extraordinary episodes in British political history.

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