Boeing whistleblower John Barnett's cause of death determined to be suicide: Autopsy report

Authorities in the United States (US) have revealed that the cause of Boeing whistleblower John Barnett wassuicide.Barnett, who had raised concerns about Boeing's production issues, was found deadin 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 deathandauthorities found a gunshot wound on his body. He was living in a hotel at the time of his death.

In its report, the Charles County Coroners Office said on Thursday (May 16), "The cause of death was determinedto be: Gunshot Wound of the Head. The manner of death is bestdeemed,Suicide."

Following the autopsy, Barnett's bodywasreleasedto the Hixon Brothers Funeral Home, per the family's request.

What happened on March 9?

The Coroners Officer report said that on March 9, Barnett was found unresponsive in his vehiclein the parking lot of the Holiday Inn by hotel staff during a welfare check. The hotel staff called emergency services.Upontheirarrival, the emergency services personnelforced entry intothe locked vehicle.

"Charleston Police Department personnel removed the weapon from his right hand, disarmed it, and placed it securely on the console for further evaluation," the report said.

The office said that an external exam of the body revealed two correlating defects that appeared to be from a single, perforating gunshot wound.

"The hard-contact entrance wound was to the right templeandan exit woundwas locatedto the parietooccipital region. There were no other signs of injury. Black powder/discolouration, which appeared to be gunshot residue, was noted on the decedent's right hand," the report added.

The office also pointed out that Barnett's roomwas photographed, searched, and documented, and his lawyers remained on the scene andwere interviewed.

Barnett failed to show up for depositions inlawsuit

The 62-year-old's lawyers called for a wellness check after he failed to show upfor his second day of depositions in a lawsuit against Boeing.Barnett traveled to Charleston on February26,totake partin the depositions.

Also watch |Boeing crisis: US planemaker delivers just 24 commercial jets in April

"Mr. Barnett was deposed by Boeing attorneys on March 7, 2024, and was deposed by his attorneys on March 8, 2024. Per reports, the deposition on the 8thwas pausedearly to give participants a rest period with plans to reconvene the following morning on March 9, 2024, at 1000 hours," the report said.

"At approximately 0900 hours on March 9, 2024, a courtesy phone call was made to the decedent by his attorneys; however, he did not answer. As a result, his attorneys called the hotel to request a welfare check. Hotel staff searched the hotel and parking lot and discovered Mr Barnett in his vehicle," it added.

(With inputs from agencies)