As the numbers of deceased and missing individuals linked to the U.S. space and nuclear programs rise, so does the speculation surrounding these cases.
On Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt addressed a question about this potential trend, noting, “Of course, if that were true, that would definitely be something this government and this administration would think is worth considering.”
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Steven Garcia, a 48-year-old from Albuquerque, disappeared on August 28, 2025, according to the New Mexico Department of Public Safety.
The Daily Mail reported, citing unnamed sources, that Garcia, who was last seen walking away from home with only a handgun, was a government contractor for the Kansas City National Security Campus. This facility produces 80% of the non-nuclear components for the nuclear arsenal.
Attempts to reach the KCNSC for comment went unanswered by the deadline.
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“I think we’ve even seen nuclear scientists taken out. They’ve been assassinated,” stated former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker via email.
Retired US Air Force Major General William McCasland, 68, similarly exited his Albuquerque residence on February 27, 2026. However, he has not made a return.
Authorities discovered his shirt and hiking boots at a vacation home in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, but his wallet, revolver, and red backpack were still missing. CNN reported this.
Lt. Kyle Woods of the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office commented, “There is no indication, and we do not allege, that Mr. McCasland was disoriented or confused. He’s definitely the most intelligent person in the room we have. Very intelligent, very capable.”
“There are too many missing people,” has been a recurring theme.
Some speculate that McCasland’s disappearance is tied to his former role leading the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, a site known for advanced aerospace research.
“If there was a center of gravity for research and development and all the creepy things that the U.S. government is doing, Wright-Patterson would be right at the top of that list,” remarked Luis Elizondo, a former Pentagon intelligence officer, to CNN.
The general’s wife raised concerns about misinformation circulating regarding McCasland’s disappearance.
“It is true that when Neil was in the Air Force, he had access to some highly classified programs and information. However, he retired almost 13 years ago and has since had only very general clearance. It seems highly unlikely that he was taken for very old secrets,” wrote Susan McCasland Wilkerson in a March 6 Facebook post.
Wilkerson mentioned that her husband had a brief involvement with the UFO community but stated that this connection is not a motive for kidnapping. “Neil has no special knowledge of the ET remains stored at Wright-Patt or debris from the Roswell crash,” she added. “No sign of him has been found, but perhaps the most likely theory is that aliens transported him to the mothership.”
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has sought help in locating 60-year-old rocket scientist Monica Jacinto Reza, who was last seen hiking on June 22, 2025, along Angeles Crest Highway.
Reza worked at Aerojet Rocketdyne, developing superalloys for various NASA and Air Force contracts.
In a 2017 interview with SpaceNews.com, Reza discussed his efforts with the Air Force to scale up production and prepare materials for rocket engines, highlighting their success with a specific alloy.
The Air Force noted that their hydrocarbon boost program aimed to eliminate dependence on foreign rocket propulsion technology, interpreting it as vital for national security.
McCasland was reportedly involved in securing funding for Reza’s project.
Additionally, Los Alamos National Laboratory, pivotal in designing and developing nuclear materials, recently reported another disappearance within the same timeframe.
Melissa Cassias, 54, vanished on June 26, 2025, after informing her husband she’d go to a secondary location at Los Alamos to conduct work tasks.
Following a routine stop to bring lunch to her daughter, she was last seen walking along NM 518 heading east. “All of Melissa’s belongings, including her wallet and factory reset cellphone, were found in her home,” stated Sergeant Ricardo Breceda of New Mexico State Police.
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The fatalities of individuals connected to U.S. nuclear and space initiatives have also ignited debate.
Frank Meiwald passed away on July 4, 2024, at 61. A scientist from Germany, he contributed to various significant projects at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, though the cause of death was not disclosed.
Michael David Hicks, another JPL alumnus, died the previous July at the age of 59. He played key roles in several NASA missions, specializing in the properties of celestial bodies, though the cause of death remains unreported.
Carl Grillmare, a noted astrophysicist at Caltech, was shot at his residence on February 16. He had faced prior issues with an alleged assailant, leading to police involvement indicated by reports.
Nuno Loureiro, director of MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center, was murdered on December 15, 2025, while with family at home. The shooter is believed to be connected to a separate incident at Brown University.
Among those troubled by these patterns is Tennessee Representative Tim Burchett (R), who expressed, “There are too many people missing,” during a recent interview, adding that “Nothing happens by chance in this town.”
