JMUDunk
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RE: Boeing Whistleblower Found Dead in Charleston After Break in Depositions
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03-14-2024 03:58 PM |
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CrimsonPhantom
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RE: Boeing Whistleblower Found Dead in Charleston After Break in Depositions
Boeing whistleblower predicted his own death, told friend 'if anything happens, it’s not suicide'
Quote:Boeing whistleblower John Barnett, who was found dead on March 9 from what authorities initially called a "self-inflicted" gunshot wound, reportedly told a family friend after he started speaking out about safety concerns with the airplane maker, "if anything happens, it’s not suicide."
A family friend only identified as Jennifer told ABC 4, "I know that he did not commit suicide. There’s no way."
She said that Barnett had talked about this exact scenario playing out after he began speaking up publicly about Boeing-related safety concerns following his 2017 retirement from the company. He worked for over 30 years as a quality manager for Boeing.
“He wasn’t concerned about [his own] safety because I asked him,” Jennifer said. “I said, ‘Aren’t you scared?’ And he said, ‘No, I ain’t scared, but if anything happens to me, it’s not suicide.’”
This conversation, Jennifer said, included Barnett talking about his upcoming deposition in Charleston.
"I know that he did not commit suicide. There's no way. He loved life too much. He loved his family too much. He loved his brothers too much to put them through what they're going through right now," Jennifer said.
Jennifer, who last saw Barnett at her father’s funeral in late February where Barnett was one of the pallbearers, said she believes someone "didn’t like what he had to say" and wanted to "shut him up."
"That's why they made it look like a suicide," Jennifer said.
The friend’s comments come as the lawyer for Barnett, Brian Knowles, cast doubt on Barnett’s death being a suicide.
"They found him in his truck dead from an ‘alleged’ self-inflicted gunshot. We drove to the hotel and spoke with the police and the coroner," Knowles said.
According to the New York Post, Knowles and fellow attorney Robert Turkewitz said, "He was in very good spirits and really looking forward to putting this phase of his life behind him and moving on. We didn’t see any indication he would take his own life. No one can believe it."
Barnett’s body was found in his truck in the parking lot of a Holiday Inn hotel by an employee. He was reportedly found with a gunshot wound to the head and was still holding a pistol.
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03-15-2024 11:51 AM |
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MileHighBronco
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RE: Boeing Whistleblower Found Dead in Charleston After Break in Depositions
Friends say he did not kill himself. Made to look that way by somebody who didn't like what he was reporting.
Quote:'If anything happens, it's not suicide': Boeing whistleblower's prediction before death
CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — A close family friend of John Barnett said he predicted he might wind up dead and that a story could surface that he killed himself.
But at the time, he told her not to believe it.
"I know that he did not commit suicide," said Jennifer, a friend of Barnett's. "There's no way."
Jennifer said they talked about this exact scenario playing out. However, now, his words seem like a premonition he told her directly not to believe.
"I know John because his mom and my mom are best friends," Jennifer said. "Over the years, get-togethers, birthdays, celebrations and whatnot. We've all got together and talked."
When Jennifer needed help one day, Barnett came by to see her. They talked about his upcoming deposition in Charleston. Jennifer knew Barnett filed an extremely damaging complaint against Boeing. He said the aerospace giant retaliated against him when he blew the whistle on unsafe practices.
For more than 30 years, he was a quality manager. He'd recently retired and moved back to Louisiana to look after his mom.
"He wasn't concerned about safety because I asked him," Jennifer said. "I said, 'Aren't you scared?' And he said, 'No, I ain't scared, but if anything happens to me, it's not suicide.'"
Jennifer added: "I know that he did not commit suicide. There's no way. He loved life too much. He loved his family too much. He loved his brothers too much to put them through what they're going through right now."
Jennifer said she thinks somebody "didn't like what he had to say" and wanted to "shut him up" without it coming back to anyone.
"That's why they made it look like a suicide," Jennifer said.
The last time Jennifer saw Barnett was at her father's funeral in late February. He was one of the pallbearers. Sometimes family and friends referred to him by his middle name – Mitch.
"I think everybody is in disbelief and can't believe it," Jennifer said. "I don't care what they say, I know that Mitch didn't do that."
Just because Barnett is dead doesn't mean the case won't move forward.
His attorney said they're still prepared to go to trial in June.
News 4 reached out to Boeing following Barnett's death. They provided the following statement:
"We are saddened by Mr. Barnett’s passing, and our thoughts are with his family and friends.”
https://abcnews4.com/news/local/if-anyth...ews-4-2024
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03-15-2024 02:20 PM |
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