Synopsis
Still Missing: Rethinking the D.B. Cooper Case and Other Mysterious Unsolved Disappearances, written by shipwreck hunter and investigator Ross Richardson and published in 2014, offers a fresh perspective on several of America's most baffling cold cases. The book centers around a compelling re-examination of the infamous 1971 D.B. Cooper skyjacking, presenting a detailed investigation into a lesser-known prime suspect. Richardson connects the legendary hijacking to Richard "Dick" Lepsy, a married grocery store manager and father of four who mysteriously vanished from Grayling, Michigan, in 1969. The author highlights striking physical similarities, matching personal belongings, and timing surrounding Lepsy's disappearance to argue that he may have been the man behind the legendary heist.
Beyond the Cooper case, Richardson explores a collection of other unexplained regional disappearances, aviation mysteries, and lost historical vessels. Drawing on his background as a researcher and Great Lakes diver, he re-examines cold cases involving individuals who vanished without a trace, planes that disappeared mid-flight over populated regions, and long-lost freighters. Throughout the work, Richardson combines archival research, local history, and investigative sleuthing to re-examine facts that law enforcement and earlier investigators may have overlooked.
By framing these cold cases through a practical lens, Still Missing serves as both an intriguing true-crime account and a dedicated effort to bring attention back to forgotten individuals. Richardson's focus remains on questioning accepted narratives and applying new methodologies to help bring clarity to decades-old mysteries.