Crime24 April, 20266 min read
FBI Investigates Connections Among Missing And Deceased U.S. Scientists, Including 2023 Cases
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
FBI launched a national probe into deaths and disappearances of at least 10 scientists. Linked scientists worked on sensitive nuclear and aerospace research.
FBI probes scientist deaths
A multi-agency investigation in Washington has focused on whether there are connections among the deaths and disappearances of at least 10 people tied to the U.S. scientific community, including “missing and deceased scientists,” the FBI said in a statement to multiple media outlets. The National Post reported that on Tuesday the FBI announced it was “spearheading the effort to look for connections into the missing and deceased scientists,” and that the cases date back to 2023. USA Today said the federal government is paying attention to “a list of about 10 cases,” spanning several years and involving people from different backgrounds and circumstances.
“The list includes multiple scientists, spans several years and involves a patchwork of people from different backgrounds and circumstances.”
The Los Angeles Times reported that the FBI launched a broad investigation into “at least 10 scientists and staff connected to highly sensitive research,” including four from the Los Angeles area. CNN similarly said the FBI “is spearheading the effort to look for connections into the missing and deceased scientists,” and that it is working with the Department of Energy, Department of War, and state and local law enforcement partners. In parallel, the House Oversight Committee announced it would investigate reports of deaths and disappearances, with the committee saying the cases “raise questions about a possible sinister connection” and seeking briefings from the FBI, the Defense Department, the Department of Energy and NASA.
Timeline and first case
The cases, as described by multiple outlets, began in 2023 and then spread across different states and institutions tied to nuclear and aerospace research. USA Today said the deaths and disappearances began “with Michael David Hicks in 2023,” adding that Hicks’ cause of death was not revealed. CNN likewise described Hicks as one of the first, saying the string “began in 2023” with “the death of Michael David Hicks,” who died July 30, 2023 at age 59, with his cause of death not disclosed.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Hicks died “on July 30, 2023, at the age of 59,” and that “No cause of death was disclosed.” National Post also tied the investigation to a conspiracy theory involving “at least 10 individuals” and said the most recent death tied to the theory was Jason Thomas, whose body was recovered from a Massachusetts lake in March. The Orange County Register placed the first case in 2023 as well, saying the string began with “the 2023 death of Michael David Hicks,” a former scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, and noted that “No cause of death for the 59-year-old Hicks was ever released.”
Officials, families, and critics
The investigation has drawn sharply different reactions from lawmakers, the FBI, NASA, and critics of the underlying theory.
USA Today said Republicans James Comer and Eric Burlison told agencies they were investigating cases of missing or deceased people with “access to sensitive U.S. scientific information,” and it quoted their request for a briefing on “any information regarding these deaths and disappearances, as well as the processes and procedures in place to protect American scientific secrets and ensure personnel safety.”
CNN reported that House Oversight Chair James Comer told “Fox News Sunday” that “It’s very unlikely that this is a coincidence,” and that “Congress is very concerned about this.”
CNN also quoted Rep. James Walkinshaw, who agreed an investigation was warranted but said “The United States has thousands of nuclear scientists and nuclear experts,” adding, “It’s not the kind of nuclear program that potentially a foreign adversary could significantly impact by targeting 10 individuals.”
NASA’s position, as quoted by CNN and the Los Angeles Times, was that “At this time, nothing related to NASA indicates a national security threat,” with Bethany Stevens saying NASA is “coordinating and cooperating with the relevant agencies.”
On the family side, CNN quoted Julia Hicks saying, “From what I know of my dad, there’s no train of logic to follow that would implicate him in this potential federal investigation,” and she added, “I don’t understand the connection between my dad’s death and the other missing scientists.”
How outlets frame the same cases
While the core facts of the investigation are consistent across outlets, the framing varies in how strongly they emphasize the “sinister connection” theory versus skepticism and the lack of established links. CNN foregrounded the House Oversight Committee’s language, saying the reports “raise questions about a possible sinister connection” and quoting Comer’s view that “It’s very unlikely that this is a coincidence.” The Los Angeles Times, by contrast, included a direct statement that “There is no evidence at this point that the deaths and disappearances, which occurred over a span of four years, are connected,” while still reporting the FBI’s role and the committee’s concerns.
USA Today also reported that “critics have dismissed the concerns as baseless conspiracy theories,” and it quoted Daniel Engber calling the panic “unbelievably dumb.” CBC described the killing of Calgary-born astrophysicist Carl Grillmair as having “shockwaves” through academic circles and noted that officials confirmed they would investigate, while also quoting Engber calling it “another piece of flagrant nonsense [that] has ascended to the highest levels of U.S. politics and media.” The National Post described the conspiracy theory as having “found its way to Washington” and becoming the focus of a “multi-agency investigation,” while it also reported that “state and local police across the country have found no evidence linking the cases.”
What happens next
The next steps described by the sources center on federal coordination, congressional information requests, and ongoing searches for missing individuals. The Los Angeles Times reported that the FBI said it is working with the Department of Energy, Department of War, and law enforcement partners, and it quoted the FBI statement: “We are working with the Department of Energy, Department of War, and with our state and state and local law enforcement partners to find answers.” USA Today said the White House and multiple federal agencies are taking a closer look, and it quoted President Donald Trump saying, “Hopefully, I don't know, coincidence, whatever you want to call it,” and that “we’re going to look at it over the next short period.”
“No stone will be unturned in this effort, and the White House will provide updates when we have them.”
Orange County Register reported that Leavitt wrote on X that the White House is “actively working with all relevant agencies and the FBI to holistically review all of the cases together and identify any potential commonalities that may exist,” and it repeated the pledge: “No stone will be unturned in this effort, and the White House will provide updates when we have them.” The House Oversight Committee’s request for briefings is also a near-term action, with USA Today quoting their letters asking for “any information regarding these deaths and disappearances,” and CNN describing the committee’s announcement that it would investigate and seek briefings from the FBI, Defense Department, Department of Energy and NASA. For specific cases, the Los Angeles Times reported that the Missing Persons Unit of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said the investigation into Reza’s disappearance “is still active,” and it quoted the unit: “At this time, there are no clear indications of foul play; however, investigators are continuing to evaluate all possibilities and are not ruling anything out.”
