Boeing Whistleblower John Barnett’s Death Ruled as Suicide
Authorities in the United States have revealed that the cause of Boeing whistleblower John Barnett was suicide. Barnett, who had raised concerns about Boeing’s production issues, was found dead in his truck on March 9. He had worked at Boeing for 32 years before leaving the company in 2017. Barnett was 62 at the time of his death and authorities found a gunshot wound on his body. He was living in a hotel at the time of his death.
Details of Barnett’s Death
In its report, the Charles County Coroners Office stated, “The cause of death was determined to be: Gunshot Wound of the Head. The manner of death is best deemed, Suicide.” Following the autopsy, Barnett’s body was released to the Hixon Brothers Funeral Home, per the family’s request.
Events on March 9
The Coroners Officer report revealed that on March 9, Barnett was found unresponsive in his vehicle in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn by hotel staff during a welfare check. The hotel staff called emergency services, who forced entry into the locked vehicle. Charleston Police Department personnel removed the weapon from his right hand and placed it securely on the console for further evaluation.
An external exam of the body showed two correlating defects from a single, perforating gunshot wound. The entrance wound was to the right temple and an exit wound was located to the parietooccipital region. No other signs of injury were found. Gunshot residue was noted on the decedent’s right hand.
Barnett’s room was photographed, searched, and documented, and his lawyers were interviewed at the scene.
Barnett’s Failure to Show Up for Depositions
Barnett’s lawyers called for a wellness check after he failed to show up for his second day of depositions in a lawsuit against Boeing. Barnett had traveled to Charleston to take part in the depositions but was found in his vehicle on the morning of March 9.
Mr. Barnett was deposed by Boeing attorneys on March 7, 2024, and by his attorneys on March 8, 2024. The deposition on the 8th was paused early with plans to reconvene on the morning of March 9, 2024. However, Barnett could not be reached, leading to the discovery of his body in the hotel parking lot.
