By As reports of attacks and unexplained incidents involving scientists tied to UFO research and space programs grow, authorities have renewed interest in the 2024 death of an Air Force veteran who had agreed to testify before Congress on alleged classified UFO programs—a death officials ruled an accidental drug overdose but which continues to draw scrutiny from lawmakers and investigators.
Matthew James Sullivan, 39, died at his home in Falls Church, Virginia, on May 12, 2024. The Northern District Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the cause of death to be accidental drug intoxication involving alcohol, alprazolam, cyclobenzaprine, and imipramine.
Jeremy Corbell says Matthew Sullivan was scheduled to testify to Congress before his “suspicious suicide”
“People need to look into that. The FBI is involved, has been involved for quite some time.” https://t.co/KsAj0yVMov pic.twitter.com/1DD9IDx3Rx
— UAP James (@UAPJames) April 18, 2026
Sullivan, a Bronze Star recipient who served during Operation Enduring Freedom, had previously worked with the Air Force Intelligence Agency, the National Air and Space Intelligence Center, and the National Security Agency. According to new reports, he had recently agreed to testify before Congress regarding what was described as a long-running, classified “legacy UFO program” involving crash retrieval operations across multiple federal agencies.
Those sources said Sullivan claimed to have personally observed unidentified aerial objects in U.S. government custody and had been preparing to disclose those details during a congressional hearing scheduled for November 2024.
His death has drawn attention on Capitol Hill. Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) called the circumstances “grave concern” and referred the matter to the FBI in an April 16, 2026, letter, citing possible national security implications.
In the letter to FBI Director Kash Patel, Burlison wrote: “Mr. Sullivan’s death was a local Virginia medical examiner case, and the manner and circumstances of his death raise substantial questions, as he was preparing to provide testimony to Congress.” He added that “the sudden and suspicious circumstances surrounding his death raise significant concerns about potential foul play and the safety of other individuals involved in this matter.”
The FBI, while declining to address Sullivan’s case directly, confirmed it is examining broader patterns involving scientists’ deaths and disappearances. “While we do not comment on specific incidents, the FBI is spearheading the effort to look for connections into the missing and deceased scientists. We are working with the Department of Energy, Department of War, and with our state and local law enforcement partners to find answers,” the agency said in a statement.
At Sullivan’s funeral, retired Maj. Gen. David Abba, a former director of special programs who later led the Department of Defense Special Access Program Central Office, described the scope of Sullivan’s knowledge, stating he carried “the burden that a select few in this nation have of truly understanding what’s going on.”
Recently, a congressman stated that his knowledge of some of the classified information regarding UAPs had made him a “target.”
Sullivan’s case has been compared to that of other figures who have publicly raised concerns about unidentified aerial phenomena. David Grusch, a former Air Force and intelligence official, testified before Congress in 2023 that the U.S. government possessed UFOs and non-human “biologics,” and later said he faced reprisals and credible death threats. According to sources, a version of Grusch’s 2022 complaint to the Intelligence Community Office of the Inspector General referenced concerns tied to Sullivan’s death.
The inspector general’s office said only that “IC OIG can neither confirm nor deny the existence of any ongoing or potential investigations.”
Authorities continue to classify Sullivan’s death as accidental, though questions about its timing and context persist among some lawmakers and advocates of expanded UFO disclosure.
Separately, a new set of alleged documents tied to a former Los Alamos National Laboratory official has reignited debate over whether the U.S. government has conducted long-running classified research into unidentified aerial phenomena.
The materials, described as internal memos, technical sketches, meeting notes, and photographs, were obtained by investigative filmmaker Jeremy Corbell, who said they came from the son of the deceased official, identified only as “Johnny.” The documents purportedly reference a 1991 classified meeting at Los Alamos focused on “atmospheric anomalies,” a term often used within government to describe what are now called UFOs or UAP, reported The New York Post.
🚨 The son of a late Los Alamos cyber security official says he has documents proving the U.S. government has been investigating UFOs for decades.
The material was reportedly handed to Jeremy Corbell for the upcoming documentary Sleeping Dog pic.twitter.com/CBCcG4vpju
— UAP Reporting Center (@UAPReportingCnt) April 19, 2026
According to Corbell, the files link laboratory research to well-known incidents, including the 1987 Gulf Breeze sightings in Florida and the 1989 Belgian UFO wave, and indicate participation by personnel from the CIA, NSA, and multiple military branches. Some materials also reportedly reference collaboration with academic institutions, including MIT.
Corbell characterized the documents as evidence of sustained classified inquiry, stating: “This is a real scientific study at the classified level within our military of UFOs.”
The materials are expected to feature in his upcoming documentary Sleeping Dog, directed by Michael Lazovsky and scheduled for release in May 2026.
Los Alamos National Laboratory has not commented on the claims, and no government agency has independently verified the authenticity of the documents.
The allegations come amid ongoing concern over a series of unexplained deaths and disappearances involving individuals with ties to national security fields. Two people connected to Los Alamos—retired engineer Anthony Chavez, 78, and administrative assistant Melissa Casias, 53—remain missing after disappearing in 2025 under unclear circumstances.
Lawmakers have taken notice. The House Oversight Committee has requested briefings from the Department of Defense and the FBI, citing potential national security concerns. Some officials have raised the possibility of foreign involvement, while President Donald Trump has said he hopes the incidents are coincidental but has been briefed on developments.
Family members of some of the individuals involved have cautioned against broad conclusions, noting that not all cases share clear connections and that some involve routine personal factors. Law enforcement agencies continue to treat each case independently, and no confirmed link to UFO-related research has been established.
Corbell has said the timing of his documentary is unrelated to the recent cases, describing the release as part of a broader effort to increase transparency around government handling of unidentified aerial phenomena.
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