FBI investigates deaths, disappearances of 10 scientists working for government in nuclear, space tech

The FBI is examining whether there are connections among a series of cases involving at least 10 scientists and staff members who were working with sensitive nuclear or space-related information.

The FBI confirmed in a statement on Tuesday that it is “spearheading the effort to look for connections into the missing and deceased scientists,” and is coordinating with the Department of Energy, Department of War, and state and local law enforcement partner agencies, per CBS News.

The review comes amid growing public attention to several incidents over the past three years involving researchers and personnel connected to major institutions, including NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Among the cases drawing scrutiny are a scientist who disappeared while hiking in California, four individuals reported missing in New Mexico, including a general and an administrative staffer, and five others who have died. One of the deaths involved an MIT professor who was killed outside his home by a classmate later revealed to be the Brown University mass shooter.

Last week, President Donald Trump spoke to reporters about the cases, saying he had just left a meeting about the situation, which he called “pretty serious stuff.”

"Hopefully, coincidence... but some of them were very important people, and we are going to look at it,” he said. 

FBI spokesman Ben Williamson told CBS News that the bureau is providing assistance where requested, noting that federal authorities are not typically the lead in cases unless asked by local authorities.

Officials at the Department of Energy acknowledged that the pattern has raised concern, particularly given that employees and contractors at national laboratories could be targets for foreign espionage. However, they emphasised that no evidence has yet linked the cases to any coordinated plot.

“People do just die. Strokes, heart disease, suicide, mugging, it happens," a former DOE official said, per CBS News.