Boeing whistleblower John Barnett took his own life, police confirmed on Friday, concluding their investigation into the case. Barnett, a former manager at the aerospace manufacturing firm, was found dead in his truck in March after several days of depositions in South Carolina.
The 62-year-old’s death was discovered when he did not show up for his second day of depositions in a lawsuit against Boeing. His lawyers requested a wellness check, leading to the discovery of Barnett with a gunshot wound to his left temple. He had a pistol in his right hand, and police confirmed that the injuries were self-inflicted.
Investigators found a single shell casing in the truck and a suicide note on the passenger seat. The coroner’s report confirmed suicide. “All findings were consistent with a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” Fox News reported, quoting Charleston County Coroner Bobbi Jo O’Neal. The contents of the suicide note revealed Barnett wrote, “I can’t do this any longer. Enough.”
John Barnett, a longtime Boeing employee, worked as a quality-control manager before retiring in 2017
He also wrote, “F*** Boeing” and “I love you all” to his family and friends, as reported by The New York Post.
“I found my purpose. I am at peace,” the suicide note read. Authorities authenticated the handwriting as Barnett’s, as only his fingerprints were found on the notebook. Police also stated that Barnett was locked alone in his truck with the key fob when they found him. They found no unusual travel patterns or communications in his phone records, and hotel surveillance video showed Barnett leaving alone before reversing into a car park. No one approached his vehicle until he was discovered dead, according to Fox News. Records showed Barnett legally purchased the handgun in 2000.
John Barnett, a longtime Boeing employee, worked as a quality-control manager before retiring in 2017. He later shared concerns with journalists about discarded metal shavings near wiring for the flight controls of Boeing planes, which could have cut the wiring and caused a catastrophe. He also reported issues with up to a quarter of the oxygen systems on Boeing 787 planes. Barnett was suing Boeing, alleging harassment, retaliation, and spying by the company. “Information and records reviewed during the investigation uncovered Mr Barnett’s longstanding mental health challenges, which had intensified in connection with ongoing legal proceedings related to his whistleblower case,” The Associated Press reported, quoting the police.
