The 2022 death of Amy Eskridge, a researcher once based in Huntsville, Alabama, is once again attracting attention this week as part of a growing list of scientists who have died or disappeared under unusual circumstances.
Online investigators and watchdog accounts are now identifying Eskridge as the 11th case in a series involving individuals connected to U.S. military, nuclear, and aerospace work. While officials have not confirmed any links between these incidents, the overlapping timelines and sensitive research backgrounds have led to increased scrutiny.
President Donald Trump addressed the mounting questions Thursday, saying he had “just left a meeting” on the issue and promised answers soon, calling it “pretty serious.” He added: “I hope it’s random, but we’re going to know in the next week and a half.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Friday that the administration is taking a comprehensive approach by coordinating with federal agencies and the FBI to investigate the cases for any potential common threads.
“In light of the recent and legitimate questions about these troubling cases and President Trump’s commitment to the truth, the White House is actively working with all relevant agencies and the FBI to holistically review all of the cases together and identify any potential commonalities that may exist,” Leavitt said. “No stone will be unturned in this effort, and the White House will provide updates when we have them.”
Eskridge passed away on June 11, 2022, in Huntsville at the age of 34, according to obituary records. Her death has been reported as a self-inflicted gunshot wound, although few official details have been released.
Eskridge was a co-founder of the Institute for Exotic Science and described her work as focused on experimental propulsion concepts, including what she referred to as “antigravity” research. In a 2020 interview with YouTuber Jeremy Rys, she claimed that going public with her research resulted in significant backlash.
“We discovered antigravity, and our lives went to (expletive) and people started sabotaging us,” she told Rys. “It’s harassment, threats. It’s awful.
“If you stick your neck out in public, at least someone notices if your head gets chopped off,” Eskridge added. “If you stick your neck out in private, they will bury you. They will burn down your house while you’re sleeping in your bed, and it won’t even make the news.”
She went on to say that she was feeling increased pressure due to her work. “I have to publish because it’s only going to get worse until I publish,” she said, adding that the situation was “getting more and more aggressive.”
Eskridge’s death is now being cited alongside cases involving retired Air Force Maj. Gen. William “Neil” McCasland, NASA scientist Monica Jacinto Reza, Contractor Steven Garcia, astrophysicist Carl Grillmair, MIT physicist Nuno Loureiro, NASA engineer Frank Maiwald, Los Alamos-linked employees Melissa Casias and Anthony Chavez, NASA researcher Michael David Hicks and pharmaceutical scientist Jason Thomas.
The National Nuclear Security Administration at the Department of Energy is investigating reports related to personnel at federal labs and sites. “NNSA is aware of reports related to employees of our labs, plants and sites and is looking into the matter,” the agency said.
There is currently no publicly available evidence linking Eskridge’s death to other cases, and authorities have not suggested any connection between her research and the circumstances surrounding her death.
Nonetheless, her name has become a focal point in alternative technology discussions, where speculation has persisted for years. However, these claims remain unverified and are not backed by official findings, reports said on Friday.