A renowned Caltech astrophysicist was found shot to death on the porch of his home in Llano, California, on Monday, February 16, 2026. Carl Johann Grillmair, 67, died from a gunshot wound to the torso, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s detectives have charged Freddy Snyder, 29, with murder in connection with Grillmair’s death. Snyder also faces charges of carjacking and burglary, stemming from incidents including a December 28th burglary, according to the Sheriff’s Department. Authorities have not yet disclosed a potential motive or confirmed any prior connection between Snyder and Grillmair.
Grillmair had worked at the California Institute of Technology for 30 years, with 26 of those years spent alongside fellow scientist Sergio Fajardo-Acosta. Fajardo-Acosta described Grillmair as “irreplaceable,” praising his “ingenuity and creativity” and his unique approach to problem-solving. “The field of astronomy has lost a great figure,” Fajardo-Acosta said.
The astrophysicist was known for his extensive research on galactic collisions and the search for water on exoplanets. His work included significant contributions to the study of dark matter, galactic structure, stellar populations and exoplanets, according to Caltech. Grillmair was awarded substantial observation time on both the Hubble Space Telescope and the Spitzer Space Telescope, and received a NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal for his research.
Deputies initially responded to a 911 call reporting an assault with a deadly weapon shortly after 6:00 a.m. On Monday, discovering Grillmair on his front porch. He was pronounced dead at the scene. During the investigation of the shooting, deputies also responded to a carjacking call in the same area, leading to Snyder’s arrest. Snyder’s bail has been set at $2 million.
A Caltech spokesperson confirmed Grillmair’s position as a research scientist at the institute’s Infrared Processing and Analysis Center. The investigation remains ongoing.
