[IonImplantGuru]

Why beat him up when it would be so easy to just make the guy disappear forever or die in a staged accident? Why let him live?

1. Makes him think twice about testimony;

2. Sends message to other potential whistleblowers at LANL.

[softwarecreator]

Also, there would be less of a vigorous investigation for a beating as opposed to a missing person or a murder.