Inexplicable Disappearances and Deaths of U.S. Scientists

A troubling trend is emerging. A number of scientists and researchers in the U.S., many linked to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, defense, and advanced technology sectors, have either died or gone missing since 2023.

Nine names frequently appear in news reports.

• Michael David Hicks — A research scientist at NASA JPL, he died on July 30, 2023, at 59. The cause of death wasn’t disclosed, and no autopsy records were available.

• Frank Maiwald — Principal investigator at NASA JPL and a long-time colleague of Hicks, he passed away on July 4, 2024, in Los Angeles, aged 61. Details surrounding his death remain vague, with only a single obituary and no autopsy reported.

• Anthony Chavez — A former employee of Los Alamos National Laboratory. He disappeared in May 2025 at around 78 years old, leaving behind his personal effects when he left home on foot. He has not been found.

• Monica Reza — An aerospace and materials scientist working with NASA JPL and AFRL, she went missing while hiking in Angeles National Forest on June 22, 2025, at the age of 60, despite extensive search efforts.

• Melissa Casias — An administrative assistant at Los Alamos National Laboratory, she was last seen on June 26, 2025. At 53, she had dropped off her husband, her phone was factory reset, and she left her car and belongings behind as she walked down a highway. She remains missing.

• Nuno Loureiro — A plasma and fusion physicist at MIT. He was shot multiple times at home in Brookline, Massachusetts, on December 15, 2025, dying the following day at 47.

• Carl Grillmair — An astrophysicist at the California Institute of Technology, he conducted significant research funded by NASA JPL. He was shot to death at his home in Llano, California, on February 16, 2026, at the age of 67. A suspect has been arrested.

• William Neil McCasland, a retired Air Force major general who previously led AFRL’s classified space and defense programs, vanished from his Albuquerque home on February 27, 2026, at age 68. The search for him is ongoing.

Media attention surrounding this situation has surged lately, generating widespread interest. Some have speculated—perhaps prematurely—that there might be a conspiracy connecting these events.

On a recent episode of “The Glenn Beck Program,” Glenn addressed the rising theories, emphasizing how quickly they can emerge.

He explained that, while the nine incidents might seem linked, they constitute a “mixed data set.”

“If you analyze this, there are confirmed crimes with clear explanations. Some cases are of missing persons, others are isolated homicides,” he said.

Glenn contended that the idea of these scientists being interconnected is overstating the evidence.

“Think about it—pharmaceuticals, fusion, space… This doesn’t conclusively show any ties. It’s more of a stretch,” he noted. “It’s a tech guy with a defense angle.”

Addressing the notion of “organized silence,” Glenn pointed out that academic institutions and research bodies typically avoid disclosing details due to privacy, ongoing inquiries, and legal reasons. He emphasized that phrases like “passed away suddenly” are common, but don’t imply any cover-up.

“I’m not one to dismiss conspiracy theories, but it feels like we’re trying to connect dots that don’t link up,” he mentioned.

To demonstrate how easily conspiracy theories can gain traction, he referred to recent incidents in his own industry.

“In the past year, we’ve lost eight people in my field,” he shared, naming several individuals, including prominent talk hosts and journalists. “None of these are related, but you could draw lines if you wanted.”

“We’ve got a list of maybe 25 names—all of whom died within the last year,” he said.

Glenn concluded with a caution: “Be wary of propaganda. There’s a lot of noise out there, and one can easily manipulate data to fit any narrative.”

For more insights, you can watch the video linked in this article.