Nuclear issues, UFOs, suspicions of interference… In the United States, series of enigmatic disappearances of scientists worries

In four years, eleven researchers working on Space or nuclear at the heart of the largest American institutions have been killed or gone missing. A series of incidents that raises questions up to the White House and whose cause is more than enigmatic.

February 27, 2026, New Mexico. In Bernalillo County, in Albuquerque, Susan McCasland Wilkerson is in a hurry. It is after 11 am and the retiree is expected for a medical appointment. She slams the door of her home, leaving her husband William Neil, 68 years old, inside. For some time, this former high-ranking US Air Force officer has been wandering: occasional memory loss, fatigue, mental fog … But this Friday, everything seems to be going well.

However, at 12:04 pm, when Susan crosses the threshold of the house again, returning from her appointment, absolute calm reigns. William is gone, surprisingly without warning. Even stranger, his glasses, his cell phone, and his smartwatch, which he usually takes everywhere, are scattered on the living room table. All the couple’s vehicles are neatly parked in the garage. Only a red backpack, a pair of hiking shoes, and a .38 caliber gun – one of the many weapons of the ex-military man – are missing. Quickly, Susan raises the alarm and law enforcement is deployed. They comb the city without finding any trace of the sixty-year-old, except for a gray sweatshirt stamped with the logo of the Air Force, found about two kilometers away, according to the Albuquerque Journal.

More than a month and a half later, William Neil McCasland has still not shown any signs of life. The veteran vanished with the state secrets accumulated throughout his career. For several decades, he held some of the most sensitive positions in the Air Force, particularly heading the research laboratory at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, famous for allegedly housing extraterrestrial debris.

Context: The article discusses the mysterious disappearances of researchers working on space and nuclear-related projects in prominent American institutions over the past four years. The focus is on one specific case of a retired US Air Force officer who went missing under peculiar circumstances.

Fact Check: The article discusses various theories and speculations surrounding the disappearances, including potential links to extraterrestrial activities, internal US operations, and foreign interference. The involvement of Chinese espionage is mentioned as a possible explanation for the disappearances.

Fantasy around UFOs

The case, which initially appears to be an isolated incident, has quickly been linked to other mysterious disappearances. Over the past four years, eleven people – mostly scientists – have died in suspicious circumstances or gone missing in the US. Their commonality? They all worked for prestigious and confidential institutions in the country. From an ultra-secret laboratory of atomic technology to NASA, the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, and the FBI, these individuals had access to vital data in the fields of space exploration or nuclear activity.

Since the revelation of this dark series, numerous conspiracy theories have emerged on the other side of the Atlantic. Many internet users believe that the disappearances are related to the work of the individuals, who were more or less involved in extraterrestrial life issues. A hypothesis dismissed by Romuald Sciora, director of the US Political and Geostrategic Observatory at IRIS. “We can speculate that their disappearance is related to UFOs, but I don’t believe it at all,” he asserts. While adding, “Imagine that the United States is hiding things about aliens, they would need to have access to extraordinary information to justify their elimination. For me, we are in the realm of science fiction. It seems more likely that they were killed for their knowledge in the nuclear field.”

Fact Check: The article discusses the various conspiracy theories surrounding the disappearances, including speculations about extraterrestrial involvement and the potential motives behind the targeted individuals’ knowledge in specific fields.

Context: The article presents the skepticism of experts regarding the connection between the disappearances and extraterrestrial activities, emphasizing the more plausible explanations related to the individuals’ specialized knowledge and the potential threats it might pose.

Suspicions of foreign interference

According to Romuald Sciora, the series of events seems unlikely to be a mere coincidence. “In my opinion, there are three possibilities. The first, their successive disappearances are a coincidence, but that seems a bit too much. The second, the scientists were eliminated as part of an internal operation in the United States, but I also don’t believe that,” he enumerates, skeptical.

“The most likely according to me is the idea of foreign interference. Defense and nuclear topics can be considered dangerous by other countries,” he explains. “This series of assassinations could represent a strategy for the secret services of a competing power.”

The USA specialist envisions few nations with “considerable means” to conduct such a large-scale operation. “Although hypothetical, my suspicions would first turn to China. It’s the only power capable of doing this.” He notes that several similar interventions have already been carried out on an international scale. Last June, Israel eliminated sixteen leading researchers from the Iranian nuclear program.

Fact Check: The article discusses the speculation around potential foreign interference in the disappearances, with experts pointing towards countries like China as capable of orchestrating such operations. The involvement of international espionage is emphasized as a plausible explanation for the incidents.

Context: The article delves into the theories suggesting foreign involvement in the disappearances, highlighting the geopolitical implications and potential threats to national security associated with the targeted individuals’ expertise.

An interference hypothesis also mentioned by James Comer, chairman of the House Oversight Committee. The Republican representative from Kentucky admitted to initially believing in “some sort of absurd conspiracy theory” the first time he heard about these disappearances until the details of the cases were presented to him. “We know that many countries around the world would like to benefit from our expertise and nuclear capabilities. And these people who were at the forefront of this field are either dead or missing,” he warned. While claiming that the issue had become one of Congress’s priorities and that it was a “threat to national security.”

Even Donald Trump declared that he takes these disappearances very seriously, in a speech last Thursday: “I hope it’s just a coincidence,” he said. “But we’ll find out within a week and a half.”

Fact Check: The article mentions the concern expressed by former President Donald Trump regarding the disappearances and the government’s intention to investigate the matter further. Trump’s statement is presented in the context of the ongoing discussion surrounding the mysterious incidents.

Context: The article includes quotes from political figures emphasizing the seriousness of the disappearances and the potential national security risks associated with the targeted individuals’ knowledge, highlighting the government’s response to the situation.