A bizarre 2023 X post of only “Cole Allen,” credited to the account “Henry Martinez,” has led to theories linking Allen to NASA, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California, and several missing scientists.
The account and the post — the only post the account ever made — offer few clues, beyond the profile picture, the cartoon character Pepe the Frog, used in some contexts as a symbol of alt-right ideology.
The Martinez account joined X in Dec. 2023, posted “Cole Allen,” the name of the man in custody in connection with the White Correspondents’ Association Dinner Shooting in D.C., Saturday, and went dormant.
An eerie coincidence, or something more?
After the post resurfaced, comments noted the eerie coincidence, making light-hearted claims that this might be the world’s direct evidence of time travel. But others took it further, linking Allen and Martinez to a streak of missing or dead scientists.
An account called Wise Advice noted,
🚨 Internet detectives found something odd: An account with one post ever mentioned ‘Cole Alle’ years ago. Now people are linking a same-name ‘Henry Martinez’ to NASA, where Cole Allen reportedly interned. Coincidence or Conspiracy?”
Others linked someone named Martinez to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. Notably, no credible news reports, academic publications, or official NASA documents confirmed that a “Henry Martinez” held a position at JPL connected to the claims circulating online.
The alleged NASA connection
Meanwhile, some allege that Allen previously worked for NASA. And some versions of the claim cite a documented background detail: that Allen, recognized as a “Teacher of the Month” in Torrance, California, and described as having a mechanical engineering background, participated in a 2014 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship at Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Allen’s alleged links to scientists
All this comes after a cluster of deaths and disappearances involving scientists and researchers tied to aerospace, nuclear, and defense work has drawn national attention, with several cases linked—directly or indirectly—to NASA and its Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Among the most prominent is William “Neil” McCasland, a former Air Force Research Laboratory commander who disappeared in New Mexico in February 2026. Other frequently cited cases include JPL-affiliated scientist Michael David Hicks, who died in 2023 without a publicly disclosed cause, and Monica Jacinto Reza, who vanished while hiking in California in 2025.
Additional names appearing in reports include government contractor Steven Garcia and MIT physicist Nuno Loureiro, reflecting a mix of disciplines and institutions.
The cases vary widely in circumstance, ranging from missing-person reports to confirmed deaths, including accidents and violent incidents. For example, one NASA engineer was found dead after a car crash, while others disappeared under unclear conditions.
Despite the shared association with sensitive fields like aerospace or energy research, investigators and experts caution that the individuals worked in different areas and locations, with no confirmed operational link between them.
The growing list has prompted a federal response. The FBI and a congressional oversight committee have opened inquiries into whether any connections exist, while the White House has acknowledged the issue publicly.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration would review the reports, and President Donald Trump stated he hoped the incidents were coincidental but expected answers.
Officials emphasize that, so far, there is no confirmed evidence of a coordinated pattern or national security threat, even as the investigation remains ongoing.
But, though certainly creepy, the claims linking the “Henry Martinez” X account, NASA, JPL, and the broader set of scientist deaths and disappearances remain unverified and largely driven by online speculation rather than established investigative findings.
Published: Apr 27, 2026 02:31 pm