The FBI says it plans to dig into possible connections between the disappearances and/or deaths of at least 10 scientists and government workers over the last few years ... but their family members say it's all a bunch of baloney.
The House Oversight Committee announced Monday they're probing any possible connections between 10 cases dating back to 2023 ... but family members of Melissa Casias, Carl Grillmair, Michael Hicks and Jason Thomas all say there's no way they're linked -- and some have proof.
Melissa was an administrative assistant at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico who vanished in June 2025. A family member, Paul, tells TMZ ... he believes Melissa wanted to go MIA and "does not want to be found."
A&E will pay tribute to Darrell Sheets during this weekend's new episode of "Storage Wars" ... TMZ has learned.
A network source tells TMZ ... the show is currently in the middle of Season 17, with a new episode set to air Saturday, April 25. While Darrell does not appear in the current season, the network plans to honor him with an in-memoriam card during the broadcast.
Leading up to the episode, A&E will also air a marathon of "Storage Wars" from 1 PM to 9 PM, of classic episodes featuring Darrell.
The upcoming season of "Deadliest Catch" will address the death of rookie deckhand Todd Meadows ... but audiences won't see footage from the tragic incident at sea.
Discovery says the series premiere will feature a tribute to Todd -- who died in February while working on the Aleutian Lady -- plus other segments highlighting how his death impacted the crew and the broader fishing community.
The network says Todd will show up in later episodes too.
Ali Leiniö, a Finnish vlogger who posted videos of himself hiking, appears to have died doing what he loved ... because he was found dead in the wilderness.
Ali's body was found in Lapland, Finland earlier this month ... after suffering a fatal seizure while hiking the Käsivarre Wilderness area ... according to Helsingin Sanomat, a Nordic newspaper.
His remains were recovered April 10 ... a little over a week after he uploaded his final YouTube video to his nearly 88,000 subscribers.
Patrick Muldoon showed off his humor and energy in the last video he ever sent his sister ... even pulling out his old high school chant in the heartbreaking clip.
The actor's sister, Shana Muldoon Zappa, shared the video to Instagram late Wednesday night ... revealing her brother sent it on Saturday during a preview opening of the new Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Check out the clip ... Muldoon excitedly films a painting of St. Ignatius of Loyola -- before breaking out into a chant.
Zappa explains her bro was a fan of the saint ... and, he went to Loyola High School -- so, the chant is a nod to his football-playing days way back when.
"Storage Wars" star Brandi Passante is honoring Darrell Sheets after his shocking suicide ... saying she's at a "loss for words" in an emotional Instagram post.
She reacted to the heartbreaking news of the A&E star's death Wednesday, saying her heart hurts for his loved ones ... and urged people who are struggling to get help.
She pleaded, in part, "I would like to say to everyone, if you are struggling, if you feel hopeless or like no one cares. I assure you they do!! You are not alone. Please reach out for help." Brandi's emotional message was paired with a selfie with Darrell as well as BTS images of them together.
Celeste Rivas' family says they're "devastated" by newly released autopsy findings ... and confirm they won't attend an upcoming hearing for D4vd, who's charged with her murder.
The Rivas Hernandez family, through their attorney, tells TMZ ... they're suffering "profound emotional pain" after reviewing the report into their daughter's killing ... describing the details as "horrible and gruesome." They're now asking for privacy, understanding and patience as they process the tragedy.
The family also says Celeste's parents, Jesus and Mercedes, will not attend D4vd's hearing scheduled for Thursday.
We broke the story ... the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner had actually determined Celeste's cause and manner of death months ago -- back on December 9 -- but the findings were kept under wraps due to a court-ordered security hold requested by LAPD during the investigation.
Now that the info is public, L.A. County M.E. Dr. Odey Ukpo is speaking out ... saying it's "unfathomable" the grieving family had to wait so long for answers.
Ukpo emphasized transparency is critical not just for accountability, but to help communities understand and prevent future tragedies.
The M.E.'s report ultimately ruled Celeste's death a homicide caused by multiple penetrating injuries from unspecified object(s).
As we reported ... authorities arrested D4vd last week. He's now been charged with Celeste's murder.
Police in Arizona are investigating claims "Storage Wars" starDarrell Sheets was being bullied online before he committed suicide.
The Lake Havasu Police Department tells TMZ ... "We are aware of these cyberbullying accusations and that is a part of the active investigation."
We broke the story ... Darrell was found dead in his Lake Havasu home Tuesday morning and police say it appears he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner is speaking out about being muzzled for months in the Celeste Rivas murder case, TMZ has learned.
The M.E. says Celeste's cause and manner of death was determined way back on Dec. 9 but the information was only made public on Wednesday because there was a prior court order initiated by the LAPD that had been preventing them from releasing their findings.
In a statement, Dr. Odey Ukpo, says ... "After several months, I am grateful this information can now be released, not only to the public, but also to the grieving family enduring loss. It is unfathomable they have had to wait this long to learn what happened to their daughter."
"The transparency of the information contained in our findings and reports is essential for empowering the community to make informed changes to affectively reduce fear and allowing the community to take informed action," he added. "Making the Department’s information publicly available is not just about accountability, it is about social justice and prevention."
Rene Nezhoda says people online mercilessly cyberbullied Darrell Sheets before his death ... and, he hopes this will serve as a wakeup call to all the online menaces out there.
Nezhoda spoke about Sheets -- who cops found dead in his home early Wednesday morning -- in a video ... admitting the two had their run-ins because they both competed intensely against each other.
Nezhoda says, deep down, he and Sheets were friends ... and he's sad his pal's gone now. He also says he hopes cops will look into cyberbullying claims Sheets made about others as they investigate his death.
Lee Najjar -- best known to "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" fans as Kim Zolciak’s elusive "Big Poppa" sugar daddy -- has died at 68.
The wealthy Atlanta real estate investor passed away Saturday, April 18 -- tragic news confirmed by his daughter Katelin via a slate of IG Story pictures of them together and an emotional tribute. Lee's cause of death is unknown.
The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner also confirmed his death to TMZ.
Najjar became a notorious off-camera figure during the early seasons of 'RHOA' -- as the mystery man bankrolling Zolciak’s luxe lifestyle -- all while he was still reportedly married to another woman.
"Storage Wars" star Darrell Sheets is dead, TMZ has confirmed.
Lake Havasu Police in Arizona tell TMZ ... Sheets apparently died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Officers responded to a report of a deceased individual at his house at about 2 AM Wednesday, police say. He was pronounced dead at the scene ... his body has been transferred to the Mohave County Medical Examiner's Office.
Celeste Rivas' cause of death has just been revealed ... and the medical examiner in Los Angeles says she was killed by multiple penetrating injuries with unspecified objects, and her death was ruled a homicide.
The M.E. says there are "2 penetrating wounds of the torso with smooth edges that may represent sharp force injuries. The wound -- [3/4 inch length and 1.5 inches deep] -- on the upper abdomen penetrates the liver, and the wound on the left chest -- [9/16 inch length and 2 inches deep] penetrates one of the left intercostal spaces, with disruption of the adjacent ribs' cortical surfaces."
It's interesting that the M.E. uses the word "may," which is something the defense will jump on.
It should also be noted that the M.E. says there were "multiple superficial linear abrasions on the right dorsal hand." It does not say whether or not these could be defensive wounds.
The M.E. also says that her left ring and pinky fingers were amputated, but the body diagram shows that her right pointer finger with the "Shhh" tattoo was intact.
Angels legend Garret Anderson's cause of death has been revealed ... with officials stating the World Series champion passed away due to complications with his pancreas.
The 53-year-old's tragic death was due to "acute necrotizing pancreatitis." Gallstone disease and alcohol use are the two leading factors for the complication, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
As TMZ Sports previously reported, Anderson suffered a medical emergency at his home in Newport Beach, CA on Thursday ... and dispatch audio detailed an unconscious male amid the request for service.
David Wilcock, the American paranormal writer and YouTuber, has died ... TMZ has learned.
Authorities in Boulder County, Colorado say deputies were dispatched Monday after a 911 call came in around 10:44 AM for an unknown problem just outside the town of Nederland.
Authorities say the emergency communications specialist who took the 911 call believed the caller might have been in the middle of a mental health crisis.
Gregg Foreman -- a founding member of the alternative group The Delta 72 -- has died.
Friends and collaborators of Foreman's -- including Wesley Eisold from the group Cold Cave -- confirmed the news ... remembering him as a truly unique star and passing along their condolences.
A cause of death for Foreman has not yet been released.
