Person · Llano, CA
Dr. Carl J. Grillmair
- Who: Caltech/IPAC astronomer who found the GD-1 stellar stream and worked on NASA's NEO Surveyor planetary-defense telescope. His CV lists no military or classified work.
- What happened: he was shot on his porch in Llano on 16 Feb 2026. Freddy Snyder, 29, is charged with murder and has pleaded not guilty; officials have stated no motive.
- His widow's view: the killer wanted revenge over a 911 call he blamed on Carl, and the conspiracy theories are "absolute nonsense".
- Open question: in December 2025 deputies found Snyder near the property with a loaded rifle, and that weapons charge was dropped without official explanation.
Caltech/IPAC astronomer. Caltech/IPAC astronomer who found the GD-1 stellar stream, led an early exoplanet water-vapour study and was instrument characterization specialist for NASA's NEO Surveyor planetary-defense telescope. He was shot on his porch in Llano on 16 Feb 2026. Freddy Snyder, 29, is charged with murder and has pleaded not guilty. No motive has been stated by officials.
On the record
- Killed 16 Feb 2026.
- List check (Igor's list and the press lists): entry checks out. The list leaves out his real planetary-defense role on NEO Surveyor.
- As the list had it: "Astrophysicist & Astronomer, Caltech / NASA IPAC. Deceased (Feb 2026). Focused on dark matter, exoplanetary systems, and infrared space observations."
- Cause or status, as sourced: Homicide by gunshot wound (LA County Medical Examiner: torso; DA filing: neck). Freddy Snyder charged with murder, carjacking and burglary; pleaded not guilty 26 May 2026; presumed innocent. Motive not stated. Widow believes revenge over a 911 call she thinks the killer blamed on Carl: proposed, not demonstrated.
- Shot once on his porch in Llano on 16 Feb 2026; ME ruled homicide.
- Freddy Snyder charged with murder, carjacking and burglary; pleaded not guilty 26 May 2026 (case 26AVCF00232).
- On 20 Dec 2025 deputies found Snyder near the property with a loaded rifle; the weapons charge was later dropped. Grillmair did not make that 911 call.
- IPAC obituary: NEO Surveyor instrument characterization specialist, 147 refereed papers, pilot with a home observatory.
- His CV lists no DoD, military or classified work.
- IPAC colleagues Tom Greene and Joe Masiero say the deaths are unrelated.
Claims (5)
His killing is linked to Loureiro's and part of a pattern.speculationSourced, unconfirmed
The killer wanted revenge because he thought Carl had called 911 about him. Conspiracy theories are "absolute nonsense".firsthandSourced, unconfirmed
He was targeted over NEO Surveyor or telescope secrets, or did "missile or rocket science".speculationSourced, unconfirmed
The dismissed December weapons charge is suspicious.analysisSourced, unconfirmed
A man came back to the property with a baseball bat in early Feb 2026.secondhandSourced, unconfirmed
Connected
Astronomy, dark matter and planetary defense fieldCaltech / IPAC orgNASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory orgNASA orgFrank W. Maiwald personDr. Michael David Hicks personMonica Jacinto Reza personDr. Nuno F. G. Loureiro person