9 Top Scientists Die or Vanish in Past Year

Mysterious deaths and disappearances raise concerns about national security

Apr. 1, 2026 at 8:30pm

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In the span of just 9 months, 9 top-level scientists in the United States have died or vanished without a trace. Seven of them were connected to the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) or the institutions it directly funds, which develops sensitive aerospace technologies for national defense.

Why it matters

The deaths and disappearances of these high-profile scientists, many with connections to classified government research, have sparked concerns about potential foul play and the security of America's most sensitive defense technology programs.

The details

The victims include aerospace engineer Monica Jacinto Reza, who co-invented a critical rocket engine alloy called Mondaloy, and Melissa Casias, an administrative assistant at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Other victims include Retired Major General William Neil McCasland, who commanded the AFRL, and three others who died together in a car accident in New Mexico. The circumstances around many of these incidents remain unclear, raising questions about whether there is a coordinated effort targeting scientists with knowledge of advanced defense technologies.

  • Monica Jacinto Reza went missing on June 22, 2025.
  • Melissa Casias went missing on June 26, 2025, just 4 days after Reza.
  • Jacob Prichard, Jaymee Prichard, and 1st Lt. Jaime Gustitus died on October 25, 2025.

The players

Monica Jacinto Reza

A 60-year-old aerospace engineer and Technical Fellow at Aerojet Rocketdyne who later moved to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). She was the co-inventor of Mondaloy, a critical nickel-based superalloy used in rocket engines.

Melissa Casias

A 53-year-old administrative assistant at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), a facility known for nuclear weapons research and national security science.

William Neil McCasland

A Retired Major General who commanded the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) from 2011 to 2013 and oversaw government funding for Reza's Mondaloy alloy program.

Jacob Prichard

One of three individuals who died in a car accident in Talpa, New Mexico on October 25, 2025.

Jaymee Prichard

One of three individuals who died in a car accident in Talpa, New Mexico on October 25, 2025.

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What’s next

Authorities continue to investigate the deaths and disappearances, looking for any connections between the victims and potential motives behind the incidents.

The takeaway

The unexplained deaths and disappearances of these high-profile scientists have raised serious national security concerns, as many were connected to classified defense technology programs. Determining if there is a coordinated effort targeting individuals with knowledge of sensitive government research remains a top priority for investigators.