A series of unexplained deaths and disappearances involving scientists linked to critical U.S. Technological and scientific programs has raised concerns within national security circles. Between 2023 and 2026, five individuals with ties to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), nuclear laboratories, and pharmaceutical companies have died, while four others remain missing.
Three Deaths and One Disappearance at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
The most recent case involves Michael David Hicks, a 24-year veteran of JPL, who died on July 30, 2023, at the age of 59. According to the Daily Mail, the cause of his death was not disclosed, and no autopsy was performed. Hicks contributed to the DART mission—NASA’s first attempt to deflect an asteroid—and conducted research on the physical properties of comets and asteroids, publishing over 80 scientific articles throughout his career.
Notably, three of the nine individuals involved had professional connections to Hicks during his time at JPL. Monica Reza, who served as director of the Materials Processes Group, disappeared in June 2025 after going for a hike shortly after assuming her role. She had been leading research on metals for advanced rocket engines, funded by the U.S. Air Force. Frank Maiwald, a colleague of Hicks, died in July 2024 at age 61. He led a study in June 2023 that improved the detection of biomarkers on other celestial bodies; the circumstances of his death were not officially released, with only an online obituary available. In February 2026, astrophysicist Carl Grillmair, 67, was murdered at his home. Grillmair specialized in detecting water on exoplanets and worked on the NEOWISE and NEO Surveyor telescopes, used for monitoring asteroids.
A Pattern Spanning Space Science, Nuclear Energy, and Advanced Technology
The scope of these cases extends beyond JPL. William Neil McCasland, a retired U.S. Air Force general, disappeared from Albuquerque on February 27, 2026, leaving his home with only boots, a wallet, and a .38 caliber revolver. According to the Daily Mail and New York Post, McCasland oversaw funding for Monica Reza’s advanced materials research and possessed classified information regarding nuclear technology. He also participated in online discussions about unidentified aerial phenomena and briefly associated with Tom DeLonge’s organization, To The Stars.
Anthony Chavez, 79, and Melissa Casias, 54, both employees of Los Alamos National Laboratory, disappeared in 2025 after leaving their homes in New Mexico without money, keys, or phones. The Daily Mail reported that Casias held high-level security clearances. In Massachusetts, physicist Nuno Loureiro was murdered in December 2025 by a former student while conducting research on fusion energy. While no direct connection to the other cases has been established, figures like Tennessee legislator Tim Burchett and other researchers have suggested Loureiro’s function may have made him a target. Finally, in March 2026, pharmaceutical researcher Jason Thomas, a specialist in cancer treatments at Novartis, was found dead in a lake after being missing for several months, according to the New York Post.
Suspicions, Reactions, and the Official Response
The string of deaths and disappearances has drawn attention from members of the U.S. Congress and the intelligence community. Former FBI Deputy Director Chris Swecker told the Daily Mail, “You can say all of these are suspicious. These are scientists who worked on critical technologies.” Swecker added that foreign intelligence agencies have long sought to obtain U.S. Technological secrets.
Congressman Tim Burchett of Tennessee stated in an interview with Newsmax, “There are no coincidences in this town. These people have either disappeared or died mysteriously.” NASA and JPL declined to comment on the deaths of Maiwald and Hicks to the Daily Mail, and neither institution specified the professional roles those scientists held prior to their deaths.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of research were the deceased and missing scientists involved in?
The individuals were involved in a range of fields, including asteroid deflection, materials science for rocket engines, exoplanet research, nuclear technology, and cancer treatments.
Did NASA or JPL provide any information about the deaths of Michael David Hicks and Frank Maiwald?
According to the Daily Mail, NASA and JPL both declined to comment on the deaths of Hicks and Maiwald.
What did Congressman Tim Burchett say about these cases?
Congressman Tim Burchett stated, “There are no coincidences in this town. These people have either disappeared or died mysteriously.”
Given the sensitive nature of the work these individuals were engaged in, what further investigations might be warranted to address public concerns and ensure national security?
