President Donald Trump said there is “not much connection” between several missing or dead experts tied to advanced research programs, despite growing public speculation about a potential link.
Reports and online discussions for weeks have connected a series of deaths and disappearances spanning several years, drawing attention from lawmakers, the public, and government agencies. Trump’s comments come after the White House announced federal investigations into the cases earlier this month.
Trump’s Statement on the Cases
“There are thousands or even hundreds of thousands of scientists working for us, so 10 is a lot, but it’s still a very small number compared to that,” Trump told reporters. He noted that some individuals were ill, others left circumstances unexplained, and some deaths were attributed to other causes, adding, “So far, we’re finding that there’s not much of a connection.”
Trump had previously described the incidents as “pretty serious stuff” and expressed hope they were accidental, but acknowledged that “some of them were very important people.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the situations would be examined by the government.
Congressional Inquiry and Specific Cases
Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., announced Thursday he would investigate 13 scientists connected to nuclear and space research who are missing or dead. “Every adversary on the planet celebrates each one we lose,” Burlison said on X. “We are weaker as a nation today because of these losses, and I’m working to get answers.”
Matthew Sullivan, a 39-year-old former Air Force intelligence officer, died from an accidental drug overdose in Falls Church, Virginia, on May 12, 2024, shortly after agreeing to testify before Congress about government UFO activities. Sullivan had worked for the National Air and Space Intelligence Center, the National Security Agency, and the Air Force Intelligence Agency, and received a Bronze Star during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Burlison stated he asked the FBI directly whether they opened an investigation into Sullivan’s death but said, “They would not confirm or deny.” He added, “I’ve been pushing on this for almost a year. The American people deserve straight answers from their FBI.”
The List of Missing and Deceased
At least 13 people have died or gone missing since 2022, with most working in nuclear science or space exploration under circumstances described as suspicious. The cases began drawing attention after retired Air Force Maj. Gen. William Neil McCasland went missing earlier this year; McCasland had overseen the Air Force Research Laboratory and maintained ties to Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Monica Reza, 60; Melissa Casias, 53; Anthony Chavez, 79; and Steven Garcia, 48, all disappeared between 2023 and 2026. Michael David Hicks, 59; Frank Maiwald, 61; Nuno Loureiro, 47; Jason Thomas, 45; Amy Eskridge, 34; Carl Grillmair, 47; and Joshua LeBlanc, 29, all died between 2022 and 2026.
Official Investigation Underway
The FBI and NASA have both initiated investigations into the cases. The House Oversight Committee on Monday requested information from several federal agencies regarding the deaths and disappearances of at least 11 researchers with ties to NASA, SpaceX, and Blue Origin.
Committee Chairman James Comer and Rep. Burlison sent letters to Kash Patel, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, requesting staff-level briefings by April 27, according to Fortune magazine. Authorities have not confirmed any direct link between the cases.
This story has been updated. CNN’s reporting staff contributed to this report.
