A conspiracy theory linking the disappearances or deaths of at least 11 US scientists to a nefarious plot involving China, other state enemies, or UFOs has spread rapidly from the internet into rightwing media and the mainstream press, prompting an inquiry from Congress and questions from Donald Trump.
The theory gained traction after retired US Air Force Major General William “Neil” McCasland, 68, went missing on 27 February from his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico. McCasland, a former commander of the Kirtland Air Force Base’s Phillips research site, left behind his phone and glasses, taking only his .38 revolver. Despite a silver alert, no trace of him has been found.
Other cases cited include Michael David Hicks, a NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientist who died in 2023 at age 59 from unknown causes; Monica Reza, a NASA lab director who disappeared while hiking in June last year; and astrophysicist Carl Grillmair, shot dead on his porch. The list also features MIT physicist Nuno Loureiro, killed by a former classmate; and Jason Thomas, a chemical biologist whose remains were found in March after disappearing in December.
Amy Eskridge, an Alabama researcher who died by suicide in 2022, allegedly told a former British intelligence officer not to believe reports of suicide if she turned up dead. The officer, Franc Milburn, recounted her text messages to NewsNation, claiming she insisted she was murdered.
Lt Kyle Woods of the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office stated that while the UFO community is eager to explore the theory, investigators can only pursue factual leads. The FBI, Department of Energy, and NASA have been asked by Republican lawmakers to provide information, but experts warn the theory may be a product of AI-generated content and social media disinformation.
