In a rather mysterious occurrence, several people directly involved in nuclear science and space research have reportedly died or gone missing since 2022 in unexplained circumstances.
The matter could be viewed as a national security concern, as these scientists were linked to crucial projects that likely required high-level clearances.
While the deaths and disappearances of the people have not been found to be connected to each other, they have definitely caught the attention of the White House and the FBI.
President Donald Trump recently addressed the incidents related to the scientists, highlighting the seriousness of the matter. The case of a 29-year-old NASA nuclear scientist who was burned to death under mysterious circumstances in his Tesla Model 3 in July last year has resurfaced online.
Tesla Crash Kills NASA Nuclear Scientist in Alabama
A report by the New York Post states that Joshua LeBlanc died after his Tesla crashed into a guardrail and trees before the vehicle caught fire in Huntsville, Alabama. This occurred on the same day that LeBlanc’s family reported him missing.
LeBlanc was an aerospace technologies electrical engineer at NASA, where he worked on nuclear propulsion projects. Due to the nature of the incident, police reportedly handed over his body to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences and confirmed his identity after three days.
Since his phone and wallet were left at home, his family was under the impression that LeBlanc had been abducted. Data from his Tesla Sentry Mode revealed the vehicle was at the airport in Huntsville for four hours on the day he died.
LeBlanc’s family confirmed that he was not communicating with them on the day of the incident and that heading west was not a part of his plan for that day.
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11 Other Nuclear Scientists Have Disappeared or Died
LeBlanc was a team lead “on NASA’s Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operation (DRACO), a nuclear thermal propulsion engine.”
The report sheds light on the mysterious disappearances and deaths of 11 other people who were involved in “nuclear science and space research” in the last four years.
Among those who went missing between 2023 and 2026 are “Monica Reza, 60; Melissa Casias, 53; Anthony Chavez, 79; Steven Garcia, 48; and retired Air Force Maj. Gen. William Neil McCasland, 68.”
Six people connected to nuclear science and space research have died between 2022 and 2026. They include “Michael David Hicks, 59; Frank Maiwald, 61; Nuno Loureiro, 47; Jason Thomas, 45; Amy Eskridge, 34; and Carl Grillmair, 47.”
The White House is Aware of The Deaths And Disappearances of Scientists
Responding to the mysterious deaths and disappearances of people linked to nuclear science and space research, President Trump hoped there was no commonality between the incidents. He said:
“I hope it’s random, but we’re going to know in the next week and a half. I just left a meeting on that subject.”
The FBI said in a statement that it was working with federal authorities such as the Department of Energy, the Department of War, and local law enforcement in connection with the deaths and disappearances of the 11 scientists. It read:
“The FBI is spearheading the effort to look for connections into the missing and deceased scientists. We are working with the Department of Energy, Department of War, and with our state and local law enforcement partners to find answers.”