A woman scientist’s remains were discovered in a forest nearly a year after she went missing. Melissa Casias, a 53-year-old administrative assistant at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, vanished in June 2025. After months of searching, her skeletal body was found next to a firearm in the McGaffy Ridge area of Carson National Forest on May 28 this year. The skull showed signs of a gunshot wound.
New Mexico State Police confirmed the body as Ms. Casias but stated that the cause and manner of death are yet to be determined. The remains will undergo further examination by medical investigators. There are concerns that she may have been murdered since her daughter mentioned that she did not own a gun. Detectives are investigating the ownership of the firearm found at the scene.
Thomas McNally, a former FBI detective working on Casias’ case, mentioned that her decomposed body was found leaning against a tree with a gun nearby. Despite the forest being home to wildlife like bears and cougars, there were no signs of animal activity around the body.
Casias’ family expressed their shock on Facebook, stating that her body was found in an area previously searched. They are determined to seek justice. Before her disappearance, Casias had returned home unexpectedly, claiming she forgot her work badge. She then spent time at home before visiting her daughter at work for lunch, after which she disappeared.
Upon her disappearance, her car was found at home with personal belongings inside. Investigators discovered that her phones and cloud data had been wiped clean. Extensive search efforts involving ground teams, K9 units, and drones yielded no results until the recent discovery by a hiker.