Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department; U.S. Air Force
By Joe Edwards
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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has indicated that the Trump administration may investigate a string of mysterious deaths and disappearances of U.S. experts with ties to advanced research, which have fueled claims of a possible connection.
Leavitt's remarks mark one of the first clear signs that the allegations could receive a review and attention from the administration, elevating the issue from online speculation to a matter raised at the White House podium.
Why It Matters
Authorities have not established any concrete connection among the cases, but some lawmakers have called for closer scrutiny of the disappearances. A review by the administration could provide answers to weeks of speculation.
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What To Know
On Wednesday, a reporter told Leavitt: "There are now 10 American scientists who have either gone missing or died since mid-2024. They all reportedly had access to classified nuclear or aerospace material. Is anybody investigating this to see if these things are connected?"
The press secretary responded: "I haven't spoken to our relevant agencies about it. I will certainly do that, and we'll get you an answer. If true, of course, that's definitely something I think this government and administration would deem worth looking into. So let me do that for you."
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President Donald Trump called the situation "pretty serious stuff ... I hope it's random", he told reporters Thursday. "We're going to know in the next week and half."
Trump added that he hoped the cluster of deaths and disappearances were coincidence, "but some of them were very important people and we're going to look at it over the next short period," he said.
Among the individuals who have gone missing is retired Air Force Major General William Neil McCasland, who was last seen on February 27 near Quail Run Court NE in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Investigators said McCasland left his phone, prescription glasses and wearable devices at home, and a gray U.S. Air Force sweatshirt was later found about 1.25 miles east of his residence.
Meanwhile, aerospace engineer Monica Reza went missing in June while hiking in the Angeles National Forest in California. She had previously worked on a government‑funded rocket materials project overseen by McCasland, according to reports.
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They are among a cluster of cases that has been cited in online theories suggesting a broader pattern, including two scientists who were fatally attacked at their homes. But authorities have not confirmed any official link between the cases.
The disappearances have sparked theories that include potential UFO connections and espionage.
Chris Swecker, a former FBI assistant director, said he did not believe the missing experts were abducted by aliens. "I think there's a rational explanation for this," he said, per NewsNation.
"If it's not just random acts, it's modern-day espionage," he added. According to the outlet, Swecker said he believed his former agency was probably reviewing the cases, despite the absence of any public confirmation from the federal government.
"These are classified matters," Swecker said. "We shouldn't be hearing about them if they are investigating."
Below is the list of workers with ties to advanced research who have disappeared or died since 2023.
- **Steven Garcia—**Government contractor at the Kansas City National Security Campus in Albuquerque.
Missing since: August 28, 2025. - **William "Neil" McCasland—**Retired U.S. Air Force major general.
Missing since: February 27, 2026. - **Anthony Chavez—**Former employee at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Missing since: May 8, 2025. - **Melissa Casias—**Administrative worker at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Missing since: June 26, 2025. - **Monica Reza—**Director of Materials Processing at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Missing since: June 22, 2025. - **Nuno Loureiro—**Director of MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center.
Died: December 16, 2025 (after being shot on December 15, 2025). - **Carl Grillmair—**Caltech astrophysicist who worked on NASA’s NEOWISE and NEO Surveyor missions.
Died: February 16, 2026. - **Michael David Hicks—**Research scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory; worked on the DART Project and Deep Space 1 mission.
Died: July 30, 2023. - **Frank Maiwald—**Principal researcher at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Died: July 4, 2024. - **Jason Thomas—**Pharmaceutical researcher at Novartis working on cancer treatments.
Died: March 17, 2026.
What Happens Next
Authorities previously told Newsweek they were aware of the speculation surrounding McCasland's case but had no verified information establishing any connection between his disappearance and any other missing person investigation.
It remains to be seen whether the government will publicly announce an official investigation into possible connections between the experts' deaths and disappearances.
Update 4/16/26, 9:35 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update 4/16/26, 7:05 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update, 4/17/26, 4:55 a.m. ET: This article was updated to include remarks from President Donald Trump.
Update, 22/4/26, 5:25 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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