The body of a missing Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) employee has been discovered in a New Mexico national forest.
LANL employee Melissa Casias’ body was discovered by a hiker in Carson National Forest on May 28, which CNN notes was “nearly 11 months” since she mysteriously vanished without a trace.
While her body has been positively identified, the cause and manner of death haven’t yet been determined, though a handgun was found near her remains.
Human remains belonging to a lab employee have been found in the Carson National Forest in New Mexico.
Investigators say a gun was found near the remains of Melissa Casias, who worked at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. pic.twitter.com/NilrUFSdCe
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) June 2, 2026
A missing persons report filed by the New Mexico State Police early last July revealed that “[s]he was last seen on June 26, 2025, at approximately 2:15 pm walking southbound on NM 518 from Talpa, NM.”
“She was last seen wearing a white and turquoise shirt and blue jeans,” the missing persons report continued.
Her purse, ID, and cellphones — one of which had been factory-reset — were later found at her home, which lies 15 miles from where her body was located.
“She was reported missing on June 26, 2025, after failing to show up for work and never returning home following a visit to her daughter’s workplace,” according to CNN.
Casias’ niece and sister, Jazmin McMillen, previously told a CNN affiliate last year that the family was desperate for answers.
“No matter what, we need to find answers,” she said. “We don’t want to stop looking. I think regardless of what the situation is, if she left on her own or if there’s foul play involved, we just want to find her.”
As previously reported, Casias was, prior to her being found dead, among a large number of somewhat high-profile scientists who’d gone missing within the past year or so.
“There are now 10 American scientists who have either gone missing or died since mid-2024,” Fox News reporter Peter Doocy pointed out during a White House press briefing two months ago.
PETER DOOCY: “There are now 10 American scientists who have either gone missing or died since mid 2024. They all reportedly had access to classified nuclear or aerospace material. Is anybody investigating this to see if these things are connected?”
KAROLINE LEAVITT: “I’ve seen… pic.twitter.com/CCqhmwQx7D
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 15, 2026
Prior reporting identified only eight missing/dead scientists: Jason Thomas, Carl Grillmair, William Neil McCasland, Nuno Loureiro, Casias, Monica Reza, Anthony Chavez, and Frank Maiwald
Another addition was Steven Garcia, a government contractor at the Kansas City National Security Campus, which reportedly produces over 80 percent of all non-nuclear components used in nuclear weapons. He was last seen on Aug. 28.
“The 48-year-old was last seen leaving his Albuquerque, New Mexico, home on foot, carrying only a handgun,” according to NewsNation.
Reporter and podcaster Lauren Conlin noted that Garcia’s disappearance was awfully similar to retired Air Force General McCasland’s disappearance. He was last seen on Feb. 27.
“The former general left his New Mexico home with only a pair of boots and a handgun, and did not take his phone, smart devices or glasses,” the Daily Mail reported, adding that he had “allegedly possessed top-secret knowledge of nuclear and UFO-related secrets.”
“It’s like the same thing,” Conlin reportedly said about this. “The same thing, the state of New Mexico.”
Missing nuclear official becomes TENTH person tied to dark pattern surrounding U.S. secrets –Another person with links to America’s nuclear secrets has gone missing as the disturbing list of deaths and disappearances in recent years continues to grow. Steven Garcia, 48, vanished… pic.twitter.com/gpHL1cpLM0
— CLG News (@legitgov) April 11, 2026
The most recent death occurred in March.
“Jason Thomas, a pharmaceutical researcher testing cancer treatments at Novartis, was found dead in a Wakefield lake on March 17, 2026, after disappearing without a trace three months earlier,” according to the Daily Mail.
Prior to his death was the death of astrophysicist Carl Grillmair, 67, who was killed at his home on Feb. 16 after reportedly being shot on his front porch early in the morning.
“Before his murder, the California Institute of Technology researcher’s work was heavily supported by NASA JPL, and Grillmair was personally involved with major space telescope missions led by NASA,” the Daily Mail reported.
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V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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