Fox News host Will Cain drew attention on his program to a series of deaths and disappearances involving individuals connected to sensitive U.S. government research institutions, including NASA, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and Los Alamos National Laboratory.
In a recent segment on “The Will Cain Show,” Cain discussed seven cases, noting overlaps in their professional backgrounds and urging viewers to consider the developments concerning. “There’s a story that caught our attention,” he 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.” Cain displayed photos of those involved on screen.
Cain began with Carl Grillmair, a 67-year-old Caltech astrophysicist who contributed to NASA-supported space telescope and infrared projects. Grillmair was shot and killed outside his home in Llano, California, in February 2026. Authorities arrested a suspect in connection with the incident, which stemmed from a reported carjacking and burglary.
He also referenced Frank Maiwald, a senior NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientist specializing in advanced satellite and space instrumentation systems. Maiwald died in Los Angeles in July 2024 at age 61; his cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.
Cain then addressed several missing persons cases. Monica Reza, a 60-year-old aerospace engineer and former director of materials processing at NASA’s JPL, vanished in June 2025 while hiking in California’s Angeles National Forest. Her case remains open.
Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. William Neil McCasland, former commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory with oversight of advanced space and surveillance programs, has been missing since February 2026 from his Albuquerque, New Mexico, home. Reports indicate connections between projects he oversaw and Reza’s work.
Two individuals with ties to Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico were also noted. Melissa Casias, who held an administrative position with security clearances at the lab, disappeared in June 2025. Her remains were later found in a national forest; the cause of death is pending further investigation. Anthony Chavez, a 78-year-old retired lab employee and engineer, vanished in May 2025 while out for a walk near his Los Alamos home. He has not been located.
Cain mentioned Nuno Loureiro, an MIT plasma physicist and nuclear fusion researcher, who was fatally shot in his Brookline, Massachusetts, home in December 2025. Police linked the case to a separate shooting incident.
A former FBI assistant director, Chris Swecker, commented on the potential risks for individuals with high-level access, citing Casias as an example of someone who could be a target. Cain noted that authorities have not officially connected the cases but highlighted shared institutional ties to NASA, Air Force research, and Los Alamos. He questioned whether the overlaps warrant further scrutiny or represent unrelated events.
The segment referenced reporting by the Daily Mail and has contributed to broader online discussion of the cases amid ongoing investigations. Federal officials have previously stated that available information does not indicate a coordinated national security threat.
