Eleven US scientists dead or missing in four years
Reliability
Based on 27 sources
Publications (14)
Sources (27)Fact-Checking
85 claimsRetired Air Force Major General William Neil McCasland, 68, vanished from his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on February 27, 2026, leaving behind his phone, glasses, and smartwatch, but taking a .38 revolver.
Michael David Hicks, a research scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, died on July 30, 2023, at age 59 from unknown causes, with no public autopsy record.
Three scientists with ties to Hicks also worked at JPL: Monica Reza, Frank Maiwald, and Carl Grillmair.
Open Questions
5 questionsAt least 11 US scientists have died or disappeared.
According to Daily Mail - Science & Tech, Daily Mail - News, Daily Mail - Home, TV4 Nyheterna, Daily Express - World, Expressen12 US scientists have died or disappeared since 2022.
According to The Independent - MainContext: The discrepancy in the count affects the perceived scale of the phenomenon and may influence public and official concern.
The deaths and disappearances may be connected and represent a grave threat to national security.
According to Daily Mail - Home, Daily Mail - Science & Tech, Daily Express - WorldThe narrative is a conspiracy theory with no coordinated pattern, rejected by experts and families.
According to The Guardian - Main UK, en.wikipedia.org, The Independent - MainContext: This fundamental disagreement shapes whether the events are treated as a national security issue or a baseless internet rumor.
The Department of War responded that there are no active national security investigations of any reported missing person.
According to Daily Mail - HomeThe FBI is investigating the missing scientists theory, and Congress is demanding briefings.
According to The Independent - Main, en.wikipedia.org, Daily Mail - Science & TechContext: Contradicts whether federal agencies are actively treating the cases as a national security matter.
February 27, 2026.
According to Daily Mail - Science & Tech, The Guardian - Main UK, Daily Mail - Home, Daily Express - World, en.wikipedia.orgFebruary 28, 2026.
According to Daily Mail - NewsContext: A minor factual discrepancy that could affect timeline analysis but does not change the overall story.