Death of Max Spiers

On 7 January 2019 the cause of Spiers's death was released as drugs and pneumonia.

On 16 July 2016, the death of UFO investigator Max Spiers (or Maxwell Bates-Spiers, (1976–2016) caused controversy among some conspiracists, which led to reports from BBC News and other news outlets.

Spiers died on 16 July 2016 in Warsaw, Poland, while visiting a friend. In a multi-part short documentary series on his death, made by the BBC, his mother stated that she had been concerned about Spiers's mental health prior to his death, and that she believed he had "gotten involved with the wrong crowd." A final video taken of Spiers before his death revealed what his mother interpreted as signs of substance intoxication; she had seen him in a similar state in the past after using heroin. Another conspiracist, who was close to Spiers, suggested that his drug use was controlled by extraterrestrial life.

Max Spiers died in Poland from an overdose of Xanax on 16 July 2016.

On 30 August 2016, an investigation was launched by Polish authorities into the circumstances surrounding Spiers' death, including as a possible involuntary manslaughter. In December 2016, British authorities announced they would launch an inquest into his death, which is distinct from an investigation with an aim to convict. (Conviction is undertaken by the Polish Prosecutors' Office, who may choose whether to accept the inquest's findings.) A coroner told the inquest he was waiting to receive a report from Polish authorities. As a result, the proceedings were adjourned until February 2017.