The White House has agreed to investigate the recent deaths and disappearances of approximately ten U.S. scientists with ties to sensitive research.
U.S. Authorities Investigating Multiple Cases
Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy questioned the White House about the recent disappearances and deaths of around ten American scientists since mid-2024, noting their access to classified nuclear and aerospace research materials.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated she would look into the matter and that the administration would consider it a case worth investigating if the reports are true.
FBI Previously Notified of Cases
In March, U.S. Representative Eric Burlison reported the disappearances and deaths to the FBI.
Notable Cases Among Missing Scientists
Among those missing is 68-year-old William Neil McCasland, a retired Air Force general and former director of the Air Force Research Laboratory, who was reported missing in February. Police have found no evidence of foul play.
In May of last year, 79-year-old Anthony Chavez, a former employee of the Los Alamos National Laboratory, disappeared. The same month, 54-year-old Melissa Casias, a current employee of the same laboratory, also went missing. Additionally, 60-year-old Monika Rezy, a director at a NASA research laboratory, was reported missing while hiking.
Recent Deaths Include Physicist and Astrophysicist
In December, 48-year-old physicist Nuno Filipe Gomes Loureiro, director of the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center, was shot and killed by an acquaintance who had previously committed a shooting at Brown University.
In February, 67-year-old astrophysicist Carl Grillmair from the California Institute of Technology was shot and killed on his porch; a 29-year-old man with a prior criminal record is a suspect.
Potential Espionage Concerns Raised
Chris Swecker, former Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, suggested the possibility of espionage, noting that U.S. scientists have long been targets of foreign intelligence services, particularly in areas related to rocket propulsion.
No Confirmed Connections Established
Authorities have not yet confirmed any connections between the disappearances and deaths. Given the thousands of individuals working in U.S. research institutions, each case may be an isolated incident stemming from personal issues or random crime.
Without complete details, drawing conclusions about potential links is premature, and such reports can fuel conspiracy theories about cover-ups of state secrets.