Neuralink’s ‘Patient 4’ Feared He Would Disappear Months After Receiving Groundbreaking Brain Chip…Now His Wife Tells the Heartbreaking REAL Story

Rumors are circulating that one of the patients who received a brain chip from Elon Musk disappeared under mysterious circumstances.

Rumors about the disappearance of Mike Melgarejo, known as “Patient 4,” began after his social media accounts disappeared. and a GoFundMe popped up claiming it was “not in the right place.”

Family friend Ryan Biggs kicked off the campaign, writing: “[Mike’s] ready to give up on life, people. This is not a euphemism.

Melgarejo, a 44-year-old survey technician from San Diego, was diagnosed with ALS in 2022. The disease is gradually robbing him of his ability to speak.

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a fatal and incurable neurological disorder that gradually paralyzes patients.

In February, he volunteered to have the Neuralink chip implanted in his brain. It wasn’t a cure, but it allowed him to briefly become the first brain implant patient to hold down a full-time job, completing basic tasks remotely using the power of his mind.

But since the GoFundMe account launched in June, speculation about his whereabouts has increased, with some online sleuths claiming his alleged “disappearance” is linked to Neuralink.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, his wife, Dalila, broke her silence to reveal that any conspiracy allegations were absurd.

Mike Melgarejo was the fourth patient to receive the Neuralink brain implant

She said the family had simply wanted to keep her husband’s heartbreaking deterioration in health confidential. But as the rumors began to affect them financially, she felt compelled to speak out.

“Our family is really going through something terrible. My husband will end up dying within a year or two, and there is nothing anyone can do to help him,” said Dalila Melgarejo.

“I don’t know where all this is coming from, or why anyone is saying something or creating problems where there aren’t any, or making malicious accusations. I mean, the Neuralink system is very helpful. They’ve been nice.

In a video on Substack – titled Where TF is patient four? – Independent journalist and content creator Audrey Henson said it was unusual that Melgarejo was one of the only Neuralink patients not present on social media.

Musk’s company has created several X accounts for brain implant patients, allowing them to share their experiences and progress with the public.

Thirteen people have reportedly received a Neuralink brain chip.

But participation in the social media program is not mandatory, and the Daily Mail has learned that Melgarejo deactivated his own X account before having the brain implant installed.

Mike Melgarejo (center) and his wife, Dalila (left), posed for a photo in November 2025, showing that he is still battling ALS. They said Neuralink continued to support the family

In his article on Substack, Henson accused Neuralink of heavily promoting successful stories of brain implants while burying news of their alleged failures.

She pointed out the allegedly suspicious contrast between Neuralink’s June 2025 video showing Melgarejo thriving and the GoFundMe launched the same month describing him as “ready to give up on life.”

Henson suspected foul play, suggesting that fundraising for Melgarejo’s care could be hush money to circumvent FDA reports of adverse side effects related to Neuralink use, claiming that Biggs had ties to insurance risk management.

But Dalila called his alleged “disappearance” from social media a false story, adding that her husband chose to keep his ongoing battles with ALS confidential, even refusing to participate in future interviews hosted by Neuralink.

“Seeing a loved one go through the effects of ALS on a person’s body, and keeping their mind intact, their brain is the only thing that doesn’t stop working. The rest of their body does,” she told the Daily Mail.

“It’s horrible for me to see that, and how many times Michael has laid in bed crying, sobbing because of what he’s going through, knowing that he’s going to die at a very young age.”

However, the family went public with their difficulties in late June after Melgarejo could no longer continue working to support his wife and son.

“I work too,” Delilah said. “Even having two incomes with a child is overwhelming sometimes, and he was no longer able to support himself. So we went through a very difficult time where we couldn’t even pay our rent in July.

Additionally, Melgarejo’s friends are desperately trying to find a new home that would be more accessible for her wheelchair than the family’s current second-floor apartment, making travel for medical exams nearly impossible.

Melgarejo (pictured) was diagnosed with ALS, a fatal neurodegenerative disease that leaves patients paralyzed. He is slowly losing his ability to speak this year

Biggs created the GoFundMe account to help them through 2025. The first Neuralink patient, Noland Arbaugh, used his social media influence to spark a surge of donations in just a few weeks.

But Melgarejo’s wife feared that the allegations against Neuralink — that the company withheld information about brain implant trials and even kept Melgarejo’s decline in health a secret — had crippled their fundraising efforts.

“If that’s why people are stopping donating, I don’t even have the words to say it, because it’s really helped us… If that’s why, then I’m very disappointed in these people,” she said.

“What’s happening to us, what’s happening to Michael, is real.”

The Daily Mail spoke with Henson about his investigation into Melgarejo and his claims that Neuralink has not been transparent about their ongoing brain procedures.

She said the timing of a Neuralink patient update video, in which Melgarejo revealed he was still working, and Biggs’ post mentioning Melgarejo was “not in a good place,” led her to suspect Musk’s company was not telling the truth.

“I support this investigation. “It was based on documentary evidence that merited scrutiny,” Henson told the Daily Mail.

“We shouldn’t need viral surveys to ask whether trial participants are receiving adequate support.”

Henson added that Neuralink director Shivon Zilis’ alleged $3,000 donation to Melgarejo’s fundraiser also raised a conflict of interest under FDA regulations.

The Daily Mail contacted Neuralink for comment on all allegations, but has not received a response.

Neuralink’s N1 implant is the size of a quarter, with dozens of wires carrying electrodes that interpret the brain’s neural activity

According to donation records on Melgarejo’s GoFundMe page, Shivon Zilis, director of Neuralink, donated $3,000 for the patient’s continued care.

Despite allegations of potential wrongdoing on Neuralink’s part, Dalila said the company was in constant contact with her husband and checked on his condition and the implant every three months.

“They were very helpful in setting up his monitor, getting him comfortable, and really helping us with what we needed.” So the company itself, the people, the employees that are here, have been a godsend,” she said.

Dalila added that their family is extremely grateful for all the support they have received and hopes they will be able to overcome the rumors that blindsided them this fall.

“People need to stop making things up. This is what is happening. Sometimes when people make assumptions, they create something out of nothing.