By Tim Binnall
A dedicated D.B. Cooper researcher has cast considerable doubt on the alleged discovery of the legendary skyjacker's parachute, pointing out several flaws surrounding the suspected evidence which suggest that it did not play a role in the crime. The remarkable claim made earlier this week spawned worldwide headlines with many wondering if the longstanding mystery surrounding the 1971 caper was on the cusp of finally being solved. However, many in the diverse D.B. Cooper research community expressed skepticism at the fantastic development with one in particular, Ryan Burns, releasing a detailed video (seen above) wherein he makes the case that "this is unquestionably not" the parachute used by the skyjacker.
Citing contemporaneous media accounts and the voluminous FBI files concerning the crime, he noted that the parachutes provided to Cooper were repeatedly said to have been missing two specific features: D-Rings and capewells. Alas, these two pieces are present on the recently unearthed rig. Additionally, he indicated that the parachute harness model provided to Cooper during the caper was from the Navy rather than the Air Force, which is the case with the newfound alleged evidence. These three factors, among other aspects of the account, led Burns to conclude that the headline-making parachute could not have come from the 1971 skyjacking.
As to the possibility that it was used in the caper and then significantly altered sometime later, Burns dismissed that scenario as implausible. For that to be the case, he explained, suspect Richard McCoy Jr would have had to both keep a damning piece of evidence and subsequently enlist "a master parachute rigger to have all these modifications done to it." If Burns' assessment is correct, one wonders why the FBI seized the item since their own files would appear to indicate that it is not a genuine piece of evidence. While the agency could answer that question, previous instances of the federal government getting involved in longstanding mysteries, such as the still-contentious Pennsylvania treasure hunt from a few years ago, suggest that they may less than forthcoming on the matter.
Update: In response to why the FBI collected the parachute, Burns reached out to C2C after the publication of this article to explain that although the agency closed the case in 2016, it has said that it will investigate any possible "actionable evidence" that might emerge. Those materials being a parachute, a body, or the money from the skyjacking. To that end, he observed that "no doubt a parachute being found on the property of a suspect’s family made them more interested than they may normally be, but them coming to pick it up is not an endorsement of it."