A wave of unexplained deaths, disappearances, and suspected foul play involving scientists linked to NASA and US nuclear research facilities has fuelled growing public concern and renewed scrutiny within intelligence and security circles in the United States.
The latest case involves Michael Hicks, a senior scientist associated with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), whose death in July 2023 has now been added to a list of nine individuals whose cases continue to raise unanswered questions. Hicks, aged 59, worked at JPL in California between 1998 and 2022, contributing to several high-profile space missions, including the DART asteroid impact mission, Near-Earth Object tracking programmes, the Dawn mission, and Deep Space-1.
Despite his prominence in aerospace research, no official cause of death or post-mortem findings have been publicly disclosed. In a further unusual detail, his obituary reportedly included a request for donations to Alcoholics Anonymous, a detail that has drawn additional attention in media commentary.
His long-time colleague Frank Miewald also reportedly died in July 2024 under unexplained circumstances, further adding to the unease surrounding personnel connected to the same research environment.
Reported Cases of Scientists’ Deaths and Disappearances
| Name | Affiliation | Incident | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Hicks | NASA JPL | Death (unexplained) | 2023 | Deceased |
| Frank Miewald | NASA JPL | Death (unexplained) | 2024 | Deceased |
| Monica Reza | NASA JPL | Missing during hiking trip | 2025 | Missing |
| Gen. William Neil McCasland | US Air Force | Disappeared from home | 2025 | Missing |
| Carl Grillmair | NASA JPL | Found murdered at home | 2025 | Deceased |
| Anthony Chavez | Los Alamos National Lab | Disappeared | 2025 | Missing |
| Melissa Cassias | Los Alamos National Lab | Disappeared | 2025 | Missing |
| Nuno Luriero | Fusion research (Boston) | Murdered by acquaintance | 2025 | Deceased |
| Jason Thomas | Pharmaceutical research | Found dead in lake | 2025 | Deceased |
According to reports circulating in US media, including the New York Post, at least eight other scientists and senior personnel linked to NASA, aerospace research, and nuclear laboratories have died or gone missing in recent months under similarly unclear circumstances.
Among them is Monica Reza, a former director at JPL’s Materials Processing Group, who disappeared during a hiking trip in June 2025 and has not been located since. Retired US Air Force General William Neil McCasland reportedly left his home in February without his phone or glasses and never returned.
In another case, astrophysicist Carl Grillmair was found murdered at his residence, while two employees of Los Alamos National Laboratory—Anthony Chavez and Melissa Cassias—remain missing after leaving behind personal belongings such as wallets and mobile phones.
Additional incidents include the killing of fusion energy researcher Nuno Luriero in December 2025, allegedly by a former acquaintance, and the death of pharmaceutical researcher Jason Thomas, whose body was later recovered from a lake after he had been missing for several months.
Security and Intelligence Concerns
The clustering of these incidents has prompted discussion within US intelligence and defence circles over whether there could be any underlying connection, although no official link has been confirmed.
Former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker, speaking to The Daily Mail, suggested that the cases warrant serious scrutiny given the sensitive nature of the scientific work involved.
He noted that many of the individuals were engaged in advanced technologies with potential dual-use applications in aerospace, defence, and energy sectors.
Swecker also argued that foreign intelligence agencies have long shown interest in US technological research, citing countries such as China, Russia, Iran, Pakistan, India, and North Korea as having strategic motivations to monitor or acquire sensitive scientific knowledge.
Growing Speculation, No Confirmed Link
Despite speculation, no public evidence has been presented establishing a coordinated pattern or external involvement behind the deaths and disappearances. Authorities have not confirmed any operational connection between the cases, and most investigations remain either ongoing or undisclosed.
However, the concentration of incidents involving personnel from high-security research institutions has intensified public debate and media attention.
As inquiries continue, the absence of clear explanations in several of the cases ensures that questions surrounding the fate of these scientists remain unresolved, contributing to an atmosphere of uncertainty around some of America’s most sensitive scientific programmes.