NASA Nuclear Engineer Found Dead In Burned Tesla

This was not widely reported at the time.

A resurfaced report reveals a NASA engineer was found dead in Alabama last year after crashing his Tesla.

The parents of the engineer initially believed he was missing until authorities located his Tesla, which was burned so badly it was unrecognizable.

The New York Post reported more on the engineer’s death:

A NASA nuclear scientist died after a fiery crash in a rural Alabama town last year, which at the time caused suspicion among family members.

Joshua LeBlanc, 29, died in a fiery crash in his Tesla on July 22, 2025.

The crash happened in Huntsville, Alabama where his Tesla was found burned beyond recognition at about 2:45 in the afternoon, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency told Fox News Digital.

The vehicle collided with a guardrail, then several trees, before the vehicle burst into flames.

He uncharacteristically failed to show up to his job as an aerospace technologies electrical engineer at NASA, where he worked on nuclear propulsion projects.

His body was also burned beyond recognition, and police confirmed his identity three days later after his body was transported to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.

At the time, his family told KLFY that they feared he had been abducted and that he had left his phone and wallet in his home at the time of the disappearance.

Police tracked LeBlanc down using the data from his Tesla Sentry Mode, and found that his vehicle sat at the airport in Huntsville for four hours on the morning of his death.

His family said his trip west was not part of his plan for the day, and that uncharacteristically, he was not communicating with them.

NASA nuclear engineer found dead in burned Tesla after vanishing from his Alabama home last year https://t.co/gmqYCtfcvS pic.twitter.com/cQxPNevggj

— New York Post (@nypost) April 23, 2026

The news of the engineers’ death comes as over 10 scientists and engineers linked to NASA have been reported either missing or dead in recent months.

Ten scientists who worked at sensitive nuclear or space technology laboratories have gone missing or are deceased – and now, the FBI is investigating the cases and looking for connections. pic.twitter.com/M5akupHYYN

— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 22, 2026

CNN reported more on the uptick in missing and disappearing scientists:

A nuclear physicist and MIT professor fatally shot outside his Massachusetts residence. A retired Air Force general missing from his New Mexico home. An aerospace engineer who disappeared during a hike in Los Angeles.

These are among at least 10 individuals connected to sensitive US nuclear and aerospace research who have died or disappeared in recent years, prompting concerns whether they are connected and fueling speculation online about the possibility of nefarious activity.

The FBI now says it “is spearheading the effort to look for connections into the missing and deceased scientists,” adding that it “is working with the Department of Energy, Department of War, and with our state … and local law enforcement partners to find answers.”

Separately, the Republican-led House Oversight Committee announced Monday it will investigate reports of the deaths and disappearances of the individuals, whom it said had access to sensitive scientific information.

The reports “raise questions about a possible sinister connection” between the deaths and disappearances, the committee said in its statement, seeking briefings on the matter from the FBI, the Defense Department, the Department of Energy and NASA.

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The Defense Department said only that it would respond to the committee directly, and the Department of Energy referred questions to the White House.

In a post on X, NASA said it is “coordinating and cooperating with the relevant agencies” in relation to the scientists.

“At this time, nothing related to NASA indicates a national security threat,” NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens said.

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