Remains of Missing Los Alamos Employee Found in National Forest

Human remains discovered by a hiker in a New Mexico national forest have been identified as a Los Alamos National Laboratory employee who had been missing for nearly a year. Authorities announced that the remains found in the McGaffey Ridge area of Carson National Forest belong to Melissa Casias.

The discovery was reported on Thursday. The New Mexico Medical Investigator’s Office confirmed the identification of the remains. A handgun was also found alongside them, according to a statement by the New Mexico State Police.

The Medical Investigator’s Office is tasked with determining the cause and manner of death. Casias’ family representative stated there would be no comments until an upcoming meeting with investigators. Los Alamos National Laboratory representatives didn’t respond to requests for comments over the weekend.

The area where the remains were found is about six miles from Casias’ home. It is accessible via a state highway, which Casias was seen walking along on the day of her disappearance.

Melissa Casias, aged 53, was reported missing on June 26 last year. On that day, her supervisor contacted her husband, Mark Casias, as she hadn’t shown up for work. In an interview the previous year, Mark Casias shared that his wife had dropped him off at the laboratory, a federal energy research institution where they both worked. She had mentioned plans to visit another site within the lab but didn’t return as expected.

The family’s daughter, Sierra, later found Melissa’s belongings, including keys and a cellphone reset to factory settings, at their home in Ranchos de Taos. That same afternoon, a family friend spotted Melissa walking east on State Road 518, as confirmed by State Police Sgt. Ricardo Breceda.

Mark Casias remarked that documents revealed his wife had been under extreme stress, though he chose not to disclose further details. Although authorities did not eliminate the possibility of foul play, such as Melissa getting into a vehicle, Breceda previously suggested she might have left voluntarily.

The State Police extended their condolences to the Casias family. The investigation remains active.