Fox News host Will Cain recently examined a series of deaths and disappearances involving individuals connected to major U.S. government research institutions, including NASA, the Air Force Research Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory, on an episode of “The Will Cain Show.”
Cain reviewed seven cases spanning several years, highlighting the professional backgrounds of those involved in sensitive scientific and defense-related fields. He displayed photographs of the individuals and urged viewers to examine the pattern. “There’s a story that caught our attention,” Cain said in a clip shared on X. “We’re talking about a number of U.S. scientists — some connected to very sensitive research — who have died or disappeared. Let’s break down what we know so far.”
Among the cases, Carl Grillmair, a 67-year-old Caltech astrophysicist who contributed to NASA-supported space telescope and infrared astronomy projects, was shot and killed outside his home in Llano, California, in February 2026. Authorities arrested a suspect and attributed the incident to an alleged carjacking and burglary.
Frank Maiwald, a senior scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory specializing in advanced satellite and space instrumentation, died in Los Angeles in July 2024 at age 61. His cause of death has not been publicly released.
Monica Reza, 60, a former director of materials processing at NASA’s JPL and an aerospace engineer, vanished in June 2025 while hiking in California’s Angeles National Forest. Her case remains open.
Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. William Neil McCasland, who previously commanded the Air Force Research Laboratory and oversaw advanced space and surveillance programs, has been missing since February 2026 from his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Reports have noted potential professional overlaps with Reza’s work.
At Los Alamos National Laboratory, Melissa Casias, an administrative employee with security clearances, disappeared in June 2025. Her remains were later recovered in a national forest; the cause of death remains under investigation. Separately, Anthony Chavez, a 78-year-old retired lab engineer, vanished in May 2025 while walking near his Los Alamos home and has not been found.
In Massachusetts, MIT plasma physicist and nuclear fusion researcher Nuno Loureiro was fatally shot in his Brookline home in December 2025. Police linked the incident to a separate shooting.
Former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker commented on the vulnerabilities faced by individuals with high-level security access, citing Casias as a potential example.
Cain emphasized the shared institutional ties to NASA, Air Force research and Los Alamos but noted that authorities have not established any official connections among the cases. The segment referenced prior Daily Mail reporting and has drawn online discussion. Federal officials have stated that available information does not indicate a coordinated national security threat.
Investigations into the individual cases continue.
