The remains of Melissa Casias, a Los Alamos National Laboratory employee who had been missing for nearly a year, have been discovered in Carson National Forest, New Mexico. A hiker found the remains on May 28 in the McGaffey Ridge area, about 15 miles from her home in Taos. Alongside the remains, a handgun was also found, according to the New Mexico State Police.
The state Office of the Medical Investigator confirmed the identity of the remains as Casias, but the cause and manner of death are still under investigation. Further anthropological examination will be conducted by the Office of the Medical Investigator.
Casias, 54, was last seen in June 2025 walking along a highway near Talpa, New Mexico. She had left her belongings, including her purse, identification, and cellphones, at her home. One of her phones had been factory-reset, according to reports at the time. She was reported missing on June 26, 2025, after failing to show up for work and not returning home following a visit to her daughter’s workplace.
Despite the discovery, the New Mexico Department of Public Safety had previously stated that no foul play was suspected in her disappearance. Casias’ family had been actively seeking answers, with her niece expressing the family’s determination to find out what happened, regardless of the circumstances.
Casias is one of at least ten individuals connected to sensitive U.S. nuclear and aerospace research who have died or disappeared in recent years, prompting questions and speculation about potential links between these cases. The Republican-led House Oversight Committee announced an investigation into these incidents, and the FBI is collaborating with the Department of Energy and other agencies to explore any possible connections.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
