A conspiracy theory alleging that the disappearances or deaths of at least 11 US scientists with ties to space, defence, and nuclear research are part of a nefarious plot involving foreign enemies or UFOs has rapidly spread from the internet to rightwing media and into the mainstream press. The theory has prompted inquiries from Congress and questions from President Donald Trump.
Origins of the Theory
The theory gained traction following the disappearance of retired US Air Force Major General William 'Neil' McCasland on 27 February. McCasland, 68, left his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, without his phone or glasses, carrying only a .38 revolver. Despite a silver alert issued by the Bernalillo Sheriff's Office, no trace of him has been found. As a former commander of the Kirtland Air Force Base's Phillips research site, which focuses on space vehicles and directed-energy technologies, his disappearance raised eyebrows within the UFO community.
Lt Kyle Woods of the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office stated that nothing has been ruled out and that investigators are pursuing every possible link. However, he acknowledged the difficulty of investigating UFO-related theories without concrete evidence.
Other Cases
Reports soon emerged of other missing or dead scientists, including Michael David Hicks, a NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientist who studied near-Earth asteroids and died in 2023 from unknown causes; Monica Reza, who disappeared while hiking in Angeles National Forest in June 2024; astrophysicist Carl Grillmair, shot dead on his porch; MIT physicist Nuno Loureiro, killed by a former classmate; and Jason Thomas, a chemical biologist who disappeared in December and whose remains were found in March. Amy Eskridge, a researcher involved in 'gravity-modification research,' died by suicide in 2022, but a former British intelligence officer claimed she had warned him not to believe any reports of suicide if she turned up dead.
Political Attention
The theory has drawn attention from lawmakers. Republican Representatives James Comer and Eric Burlison sent a letter to multiple law-enforcement agencies demanding an investigation into a 'possible sinister connection' among the disappearances. President Trump has also promised to look into the matter. UFO researcher David Wilcock's suicide in Colorado prompted Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett to suggest that the events are not coincidental.
Expert Analysis
Experts caution against drawing connections where none exist. Greg Eghigian, professor of history and bioethics at Penn State, notes that the theory fits into a long-standing narrative linking UFOs to nuclear facilities and state secrets. He explains that the current wave of conspiracy theories is different from previous ones, as it incorporates concerns about science and medicine that have circulated since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Susan McCasland Wilkerson, McCasland's wife, has debunked the idea that her husband's disappearance is linked to classified information or UFOs, noting that he retired 13 years ago and had no special knowledge of extraterrestrial matters. She humorously suggested that 'aliens beamed him up to the mothership' as a possible explanation, but no sightings of a mothership have been reported.
