Fox News star and White House correspondent Peter Doocy asked Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday directly about a scary new conspiracy theory that has gone viral.
Are American scientists with access to nuclear secrets and materials being secretly targeted?
At least ten such scientists have either died or gone missing since mid-2024, Doocy said.
“There are now 10 American scientists who have either gone missing or died since mid-2024,” Doocy asked. “They all reportedly had access to classified nuclear or aerospace material. Is anybody investigating this to see if these things are connected?”
Leavitt said she is aware of the reports, but that she had not yet spoken with security agencies about the alleged conspiracy.
“I haven’t spoken to our relevant agencies about it,” Leavitt said. “I will certainly do that, and we’ll get you an answer. If true, of course, that’s definitely something I think this government and administration would deem work worth looking into. So let me do that for you.”
Take a look —
PETER DOOCY: “There are now 10 American scientists who have either gone missing or died since mid 2024. They all reportedly had access to classified nuclear or aerospace material. Is anybody investigating this to see if these things are connected?”
KAROLINE LEAVITT: “I’ve seen… pic.twitter.com/CCqhmwQx7D
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 15, 2026
Among the confirmed missing is Air Force Major General William Neil McCasland, who was last seen February 27 near Quail Run Court NE in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Investigators say McCasland left behind his phone, prescription glasses and wearable devices. A gray U.S. Air Force sweatshirt was later found approximately 1.25 miles from his residence.
Also missing is aerospace engineer Monica Reza, who disappeared in June while hiking in the Angeles National Forest in California. Reza had previously worked on a clearance-required government-funded rocket materials project.
So far, authorities have not confirmed any connection between the mysterious cases, and no public allegations of foul play have been made in most of the deaths.
The ten-case tally originates primarily from online outlets and has been picked up by The Daily Mail and Newsweek, among others. The deaths and disappearances span several years and involve individuals in a range of research fields related to nuclear science and aerospace.
But amid the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict and heightened concerns over foreign efforts to target American nuclear and defense expertise, the story has gained traction.
Now, the White House says they are paying attention.