Warning: This article contains graphic imagery and descriptions of a tragic animal death.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the 2014 Central Park Bear Cub Incident: A Decade-Old Mystery Reopened

Introduction

On August 4, 2024, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—then a presidential candidate and now U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services—admitted in a video to disposing of a dead black bear cub near an old bicycle in New York City’s Central Park in 2014. His confession resurrected a decade-old mystery: how a wild bear cub, native to New York State but not historically present in Manhattan, ended up dead under a bush near West 69th Street, and why Kennedy allegedly tried to frame the death as a bicycle hit-and-run.

Background: Discovery and Official Investigation

NYDEC Closure of the Case

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) spokesperson Jeff Wernick confirmed the agency closed its 2014 investigation into the bear cub’s death "due to a lack of sufficient evidence" to charge violations of environmental conservation law, including illegal bear possession or disposal. The statute of limitations for these offenses is one year, expiring in 2015.

Initial Response: 2014 Discovery Emails

Documents obtained by WIRED via public records requests reveal the incident’s early stages:

• October 6, 2014 (10:16 AM): Bonnie McGuire, then-deputy director of Urban Park Rangers (UPR), informed colleagues that UPR Sergeant Eric Handy had discovered a "dead black bear" in Central Park. NYPD classified the scene as a crime, restricting Handy from accessing the body directly but requiring photo documentation.

• October 6, 2014 (5:52 PM): Handy updated UPR colleagues, noting NYS DEC had arrived to coordinate with the NYPD. The bear was initially intended for transfer to the Bronx Zoo for inspection by the NYPD’s animal cruelty unit and the ASPCA, but NYS DEC redirected it to a state lab near Albany instead.

Necropsy Findings and Bear Condition

Unpublished Imagery and Injuries

WIRED obtained previously unseen photos of the bear: a female cub, less than one year old, lying on its side under a bush with visible flesh exposed through its fur and brown leaves. Handwritten notes from Handy detailed "multiple injuries to the body, rear legs, and jaw," with an initial conclusion: "bear was hit by a car."

Forensic Report Confirmation

NYS DEC wildlife health biologist Kevin Hynes’ necropsy report (obtained by WIRED) confirmed "massive blunt force trauma consistent with a motor vehicle strike," including spinal fractures, broken legs, and skull fractures severe enough to displace brain tissue into the mouth, trachea, and upper bronchus. The cub was healthy and feeding on natural sources before death, with a lifespan of 7–8 months.

Kennedy’s 2024 Explanation

In his 2024 video, Kennedy claimed he encountered the cub as roadkill near Goshen, New York, on October 5, 2014. He alleged:

• He planned to "skin the bear" and store meat in his refrigerator, citing New York State’s roadkill bear tag policy.

• Delayed by a dinner at Peter Luger Steak House and airport travel, he abandoned the plan to return the cub to his Westchester home.

• To avoid scrutiny, Kennedy dumped the bear in Central Park to "make it look like a bicycle hit-and-run," inspired by recent bicycle fatalities in the city.

He denied law-breaking, claiming the goal was "funny" and not malicious, though the NYPD treated the scene as a criminal matter.

Lingering Questions

Despite Kennedy’s explanation, critical inconsistencies remain:

• Timing: The bear was discovered on October 6, 2014, but Kennedy alleged he dumped it on October 5, creating a 24-hour gap unaccounted for in official records.

• Route Logic: Kennedy’s claim to detour to Central Park from his airport-bound route lacks geographical plausibility, as Goshen to Central Park would add 35–70 minutes to his travel time.

• Alternate Disposal: Why Central Park? Kennedy could have stored the bear at his home or transferred it to a local forest, yet he chose a high-traffic urban setting.

Update

WIRED corrected a reference to a bear sighting in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park on January 7, 2025.

Contact Information

WIRED seeks information about individuals who may have witnessed the bear cub’s discovery or Kennedy’s disposal. Contact Caroline Haskins at [email protected] or via Signal at 785-813-1084.

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