Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel said Tuesday that the bureau is preparing to release a report “in short order” after reviewing multiple state-level investigations involving missing scientists and other individuals connected to government and defense work, as reported [1]by Fox News.
Patel told Fox News Digital that the review was initiated at the request of the White House and is focused on determining whether any of the cases are connected. “Those investigations are collectively being looked at by the FBI pursuant to (the) President, the White House’s request,” Patel said.
“So we’re reaching out. We’ve already done it, we’re engaged. They’re all state cases, but we’re looking to see if there’s any connections, and we’re going to have a final report here in short order.”
Patel also addressed speculation that the cases may be linked, noting that not all individuals involved are scientists and emphasizing that the bureau is still gathering information.
“We are trying to make sure, was there a connection? Did they, were they all working on the same thing or not? Those questions we’re answering right now with our state and local partners, and we’ll produce a report shortly.”
At least a dozen cases involving scientists and individuals tied to defense and government research have drawn renewed attention in recent weeks. The cases include disappearances, confirmed homicides, and deaths previously ruled accidental, and have circulated widely online as federal authorities examine whether a broader pattern exists.
BREAKING: 11 Scientists & Experts Tied to NASA, Los Alamos, Nuclear & Space Programs: Dead or Missing (2022–2026)
• Amy Eskridge (exotic propulsion) – June 11, 2022: DEAD• Michael David Hicks (NASA JPL) – July 30, 2023: DEAD
• Frank Maiwald (NASA JPL) – July 4, 2024:… pic.twitter.com/Mwe89ujrqn [3]
— Dear Patriot (@Dear_Patriot) April 17, 2026 [4]
The FBI has not indicated how much of its findings will be made public, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
President Donald Trump also commented on the matter earlier this month, telling reporters on April 16 that the administration is working to determine whether the incidents are connected. “I hope it’s random, but we’re going to know in the next week and a half,” Trump said. “I just left a meeting on that subject.”
President Trump just launched a full investigation into the mysterious deaths and disappearances of 10 top U.S. scientists with access to classified nuclear and aerospace secrets.
Trump: “Well, I hope it’s random… but we’re going to know in the next week and a half. I just… pic.twitter.com/HZQU7r0uw0 [5]
— Don Keith (@RealDonKeith) April 16, 2026 [6]
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said Wednesday that officials are continuing to coordinate across agencies. “The White House continues to coordinate across the interagency in order to investigate these events and provide transparency to the American people. We will not get ahead of the investigation,” she said.
The National Nuclear Security Administration has acknowledged awareness of reports involving personnel at its labs and facilities and said it is reviewing the matter.
Among the cases receiving attention is the disappearance of retired Air Force Maj. Gen. William “Neil” McCasland, who oversaw classified research programs and was reported missing from his New Mexico home earlier in 2026.
Another case involves NASA-affiliated engineer Joshua LeBlanc, whose body was found in a burned vehicle hours after he was reported missing.
Also cited is Monica Jacinto Reza, an engineer with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, who disappeared while hiking in California, and Melissa Casias, an employee at Los Alamos National Laboratory who went missing in New Mexico after leaving work.
Another case involves Army biochemist Jude Height, whose 2022 death was ruled accidental after he was struck by a vehicle but has drawn renewed scrutiny from family members and former colleagues who have raised questions about the circumstances.
Federal authorities have not indicated that any of the cases are connected.