According to police, John Barnett, the Boeing whistleblower discovered deceased in his truck in March, took his own life by shooting himself in the left temple, as concluded by the investigation conducted. Barnett, a former manager at the aerospace giant, was found deceased following a series of depositions in South Carolina.
His passing was revealed when he failed to attend his second day of depositions in a lawsuit against Boeing, prompting his legal team to request a wellness check. Barnett was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his left temple, holding a pistol in his right hand. Authorities discovered a single shell casing in the truck along with a suicide note on the passenger seat.
The coroner's report confirmed suicide, stating that "All findings were consistent with a self-inflicted gunshot wound." Additionally, the contents of Barnett's suicide note were disclosed, including sentiments such as "I can't do this any longer. Enough," along with expressions of love to his family and friends and a critical remark toward Boeing.
Authorities verified the authenticity of Barnett's handwriting on the suicide note as no fingerprints other than his were found on the notebook. Moreover, police noted that Barnett was alone in his locked truck when found, with the key fob present. Investigations into his phone records revealed no unusual activity, and surveillance footage from a hotel showed Barnett leaving alone before returning to the parking lot, where no one approached his vehicle until his discovery.
Furthermore, records indicated that Barnett legally acquired the handgun in 2000. Barnett, a long-serving Boeing employee who retired in 2017, had voiced concerns about safety issues within the company, including metal shavings near flight control wiring and problems with oxygen systems on Boeing 787 planes. He had filed a lawsuit against Boeing, alleging harassment, retaliation, and surveillance by the company.
Information uncovered during the investigation revealed Barnett's ongoing mental health challenges, particularly heightened in connection with the legal proceedings surrounding his whistleblower case.
