Dead and Missing Scientists Reaches 11 as Congress Demands FBI Briefing

What began as a string of localized missing persons cases has officially evolved into a full-scale national security crisis. The list of dead and missing U.S. scientists has now grown to 11, prompting a rare and urgent intervention from the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

This week, lawmakers sent a formal request for a briefing to FBI Director Kash Patel and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, citing concerns that the pattern of disappearances among the nation's top scientific minds may be the work of foreign adversaries.

Where Were the Missing Scientists Last Seen?

A newly released "Last Known Locations" map paints a chilling picture of the scope of the investigation. The cases are clustered around high-security hubs:

• New Mexico (4 Cases): Home to Los Alamos and Sandia National Labs. Missing persons include Anthony Chavez (May 2025), Melissa Casias (June 2025), and Steven Garcia (August 2025).
• California (4 Cases): Centered around NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Caltech. Cases include the shooting death of astrophysicist Carl Grillmair and the disappearance of hiker/materials engineer Monica Reza.
• The East Coast: Includes MIT professor Nuno Loureiro and pharmaceutical scientist Jason Thomas.

"I would not be surprised if foreign adversaries such as China, Russia, or Iran were involved," said Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO), noting the high level of clearance many of these individuals held.

At least 11 US-linked scientists, many connected to nuclear, aerospace, or defense fields have died or gone missing between 2022 and 2026, according to Fox News. pic.twitter.com/TzrSCFxUHp

— Current Report (@Currentreport1) April 21, 2026

The McCasland Case: A General Goes Missing

The catalyst for the current Congressional probe remains the disappearance of Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. William Neil McCasland. Missing since February 27, 2026, after a hike in the Sandia Mountains, McCasland was a figure of immense importance in the aerospace community.

Intrigue around his case deepened when his wife, Susan McCasland Wilkerson, publicly mentioned his ties to the "UFO community" and research into unidentified aerial phenomena. While his disappearance was initially treated as a Silver Alert, the involvement of the FBI's Homicide Bureau suggests authorities are looking far beyond a simple hiking accident.

"Pretty Serious Stuff"

President Donald Trump addressed the growing list last week, confirming that he had recently left a high-level meeting dedicated specifically to this subject. "Well, I hope it's random. We'll know in the next week and a half," the President stated. "Pretty serious stuff."

While some of the deaths on the list, such as NASA's Michael David Hicks, have been officially ruled natural by coroners, the sheer volume of "open" cases involving scientists with access to nuclear and rocket secrets has created a "statistical anomaly" that the White House can no longer ignore.

Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) confirmed that the investigation is now being handled by the "highest levels of security," as the nation waits to see if the 11th name on the list is the last or the latest.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Apr 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published April 22, 2026 at 12:42 AM.