Human remains discovered by a hiker last week in a New Mexico national forest belong to a Los Alamos National Laboratory employee who had been missing for nearly a year. The authorities identified the remains as those of Melissa Casias, according to the New Mexico Medical Investigator’s Office.
The remains were found in the McGaffey Ridge area of Carson National Forest, reported Thursday. Alongside the remains, investigators also located a handgun, stated the New Mexico State Police on Saturday.
The Medical Investigator’s Office is expected to determine the cause and manner of death.
A representative for Casias’ family announced that no comment will be provided until after meeting with investigators. Los Alamos National Laboratory has not yet responded to requests for comments.
The location of the discovery, around 6 miles from Casias’ home, is accessible via a state highway. She was seen walking along this highway on the day she was reported missing.
Casias, 53 years old, was reported missing on June 26 after her supervisor contacted her husband due to her absence at work, explained Mark Casias, her husband, in an interview last year.
On the day of her disappearance, Melissa Casias had dropped her husband off at the laboratory, where both were employed. She intended to complete a work task at another location within the lab but did not return as planned. Later, her daughter Sierra found her mother’s belongings in their Ranchos de Taos home, including keys and a cellphone reset to factory settings.
A family acquaintance later spotted Melissa walking eastbound on State Road 518, as shared by State Police Sgt. Ricardo Breceda last year.
Mark Casias mentioned finding documents revealing the significant stress Melissa faced at the time, although he did not elaborate further. While police have not ruled out foul play, including the possibility of Melissa entering a vehicle, Breceda suggested last year that she might have left voluntarily.
State Police expressed their deepest condolences to Melissa Casias’ loved ones and stated the investigation remains ongoing.