Aerospace engineer Monica Reza vanished during a hike on California’s Mount Waterman trail ten months ago. Extensive searches by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s teams and volunteers yielded only one piece of clothing near the trail, leaving her whereabouts unknown.
Family and Friends Raise Alarms
Reza’s family and friends express deep concerns that her June 22 disappearance links to her advanced aerospace research at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Close contacts, including relatives and associates familiar with the case, report fears for their own safety following federal interest in the matter. Many spoke anonymously due to these worries.
One family member described the incident as “highly suspicious,” stating, “I know it was much more than her possibly just falling off a cliff or some random person on the trail who could’ve taken her. I had always suspected this was work-related. I know in my gut that she was abducted.”
Federal Inquiry into Scientist Disappearances
In April, President Donald Trump announced an administration inquiry into Reza’s case and those of 10 to 12 other U.S. scientists and researchers with high-level clearances in defense, nuclear, and aerospace sectors. Many vanished mysteriously or died under unclear circumstances. Trump noted on April 30 that he received updates on the probe, adding, “Some of them that we looked at were very sad cases, in some cases, some were sick, some left this earth self-inflicted. Sometimes there is a connection… So far, we’re finding that there’s not much of a connection.”
Social media buzz highlights cases involving JPL affiliates and Los Alamos National Laboratory personnel, fueling speculation of targeted actions against U.S. defense and space experts. Online narratives group deaths, missing persons, and natural causes into patterns suggesting foul play, possibly tied to national security or unidentified aerial phenomena.
Reza’s Professional Background
Reza, a humble JPL materials processing director, rarely discussed her work. In the 1990s, she co-invented Mondaloy, a nickel-based superalloy for rocket engines at Rocketdyne. Her projects received Air Force Research Laboratory funding under retired General William ‘Neil’ McCasland, with both linked to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
McCasland’s February 27 disappearance from his Albuquerque home intensified suspicions. He left behind glasses, phone, and devices, but his wallet, revolver, holster, and backpack were gone.
Details of the Hike
The 60-year-old, 4-foot-11 Reza lived alone in her $1.25 million Glassell Park home after her husband’s recent cancer death. She was rebuilding her life, attending Vedic Yoga & Meditation classes in Glendale and planning to teach there.
The night before, Reza shared tea with neighbors, excited about the hike. She joined a male yoga instructor and female friend, riding with the instructor to start at 6:30 a.m. They reached the 8,041-foot summit by 8:30 a.m. Around 8:45 a.m., Reza and the instructor jogged downhill—unusual on rocky terrain—with her just yards behind. She paused smiling for photos near Double Delight Peak around 9 a.m., the last confirmed sighting.
“All of a sudden she was just gone,” a family member said. “I just don’t understand that they were walking in a wide open space and then she suddenly disappears without them hearing her yell or anything.”
Search Efforts and Ongoing Probe
LA County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau leads the active investigation. Officials state, “At this time, there are no clear indications of foul play. However, investigators are continuing to evaluate all possibilities and are not ruling anything out.”
Montrose Search and Rescue deployed aerial support, canines, thermal imaging, and ground teams, but found no trace. Volunteers later discovered a hat, though unconfirmed by detectives. Reza was fit, cautious, and not suicidal, friends emphasize.
“The Search and Rescue teams are very experienced, and they had the coordinates where she was last seen,” a long-time friend noted. “It’s mostly dry brush out there… When they didn’t find her within a few days, I immediately thought, ‘Someone took her.'”
Other Related Cases
Similar incidents include:
- Melissa Casias, 53, Los Alamos admin assistant, last seen June 26 near Talpa, NM; phone factory-reset.
- Anthony Chavez, 78, ex-Los Alamos employee, missing May 8 from Los Alamos.
- Steven Garcia, Kansas City National Security Campus custodian, vanished August 28 from Albuquerque.
- Michael David Hicks and Frank Maiwald, JPL scientists, died of natural causes in 2023 and 2024.
Skeptics point to high numbers of scientists (tens of thousands) and annual missing persons stats: 1,200-1,600 in national parks, over 500,000 nationwide.
Current Status
White House officials coordinate with FBI and agencies on nearly a dozen cases tied to NASA, JPL, Los Alamos, and military retirees. Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly stated, “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.”
Family fears persist: “Whoever did this, if it was not an accident, was a professional,” one member said. Searches paused due to storms but plan to resume.
