RFK Jr.'s Peculiar Incident in Central Park with a Bear Cub

In a startling revelation on August 4, 2024, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now serving as the US health secretary, confessed via a video on X to dumping a deceased bear cub in Central Park a decade ago. This curious action was intended, according to him, to portray the young bear's untimely demise as a cycling accident.

His admission attempted to preempt an article that was set to expose the peculiar event. Kennedy thus solved the mystery of how a young black bear ended up lifeless under a bush near West 69th Street in Central Park—an area not known for hosting wild bears.

Documents acquired by WIRED from the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, via a public records request, provide further insight into the bizarre episode. They unveil city workers' struggles to manage the aftermath of Kennedy's decisions and the unfortunate fate of the cub.

Neither Kennedy nor his representatives responded to requests for comments. New York authorities further directed WIRED to obtain information from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. Jeff Wernick, a spokesperson, stated that their investigation into the cub's death concluded in late 2014 due to insufficient evidence. While possessing and disposing of a bear unlawfully is prohibited, the statute of limitations for such offenses expired after one year.

Emails Detail the Strangeness at Central Park

On October 6, 2014, a series of emails between local officials began at 10:16 am, addressing the bear's remains. Bonnie McGuire, Urban Park Rangers' deputy director at the time, reported that a sergeant had notified her about the dead black bear.

Although officers treated the discovery as a crime scene, McGuire asked for photographs and updates. Observing the cub's unfortunate state, she also expressed sorrow in follow-up emails.

Updates throughout the day noted that the Department of Environmental Conservation and NYPD intended to transfer the bear to the Bronx Zoo, though later reports show it was taken to a state lab near Albany instead.

The documents retrieved include previously unpublished photographs showing the bear in an awkward position among foliage. Various injuries are described in the report, suggesting a vehicle collision.

Kennedy's Account and the Forensic Examination

According to a NYDEC document, a forensic examination deemed the bear's injuries consistent with a vehicular impact, including severe skeletal and cranial damage. This analyzed chain of events was corroborated by biologist Kevin Hynes' report.

Moreover, these revelations reinvigorated public scrutiny, spurred by a photo showing Kennedy with the bear's corpse and Business Insider's coverage about the necropsy details.

Though the cub met a tragic end before reaching one year, its condition preceding the accident appeared healthy according to environmental reports.

Kennedy's Controversial Explanation

In the odd revelation video featuring Roseanne Barr, Kennedy recounted how he chanced upon a bear's death after a vehicle accident during a falconing trip in Goshen, New York.

Kennedy explained he retrieved the carcass in hopes to prepare the bear for consumption, given her apparent condition. Planning to take it home, his evening dinner plans and an ensuing flight disrupted these intentions.

He detailed a bizarre plan hatched with companions to stage the bear's corpse for comedic effect, paralleling recent real cycling fatalities—a decision Kennedy claims was born from a whim, not law-breaking.

Kennedy's narrative suggests surprise over the resultant media attention and law enforcement involvement, notably concerning fingerprint analysis rumors regarding the bike left at the scene.

Unanswered Questions Linger

Despite new insights, many questions remain about Kennedy's peculiar choice to abandon the bear in Central Park on that October night.

The timeline and logistical decisions point to potential alternatives Kennedy overlooked, amplifying the mystery as to why this course was chosen.

While answers may never surface, Kennedy's actions left civil workers to manage an unusual scenario, highlighting the bear's life lost under puzzling circumstances.