Search for Missing Retired Air Force Major General Enters Third Week in New Mexico
Authorities in New Mexico are in the third week of searching for retired Air Force Maj. Gen. William "Neil" McCasland, 68, a former commander of Kirtland Air Force Base’s Phillips Research Site and the Air Force Research Laboratory who vanished after leaving his Albuquerque home on foot around 11 a.m. Feb. 27. At a Monday news conference, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office said there are still no confirmed sightings and announced investigators are examining hiking boots found at McCasland’s vacation home and a U.S. Air Force sweatshirt recovered more than a mile from his residence, though neither item has been definitively linked to him. McCasland left behind his phone, glasses and wearable devices, but his wallet, a revolver, its holster and a red backpack are missing, and a repairman who saw him that morning reported he seemed in a "mental fog" even as deputies describe him as "highly intelligent, highly capable." The FBI joined the case on March 3, and officials have issued a Silver Alert, urged residents to review home-security footage from Feb. 27–28, and stressed they have found no evidence of foul play but are not ruling out any scenario. The case has drawn outsized attention because of McCasland’s senior rank and past access to highly classified aerospace programs, fueling online speculation that his disappearance is linked to his prior work—claims his wife has publicly rejected as unfounded.
📌 Key Facts
- Retired Maj. Gen. William "Neil" McCasland, 68, was last seen leaving his Albuquerque home on foot around 11 a.m. Feb. 27.
- Investigators are probing hiking boots found at his vacation home and a U.S. Air Force sweatshirt found more than a mile from his home, but neither has been confirmed as his.
- McCasland’s phone, glasses and wearable devices were left at home, while his wallet, a revolver, a holster and a red backpack are missing.
- The FBI joined the investigation on March 3, and a Silver Alert remains in effect as authorities ask residents to review security video from Feb. 27–28.
- A repairman who saw McCasland the morning he disappeared described him as in a 'mental fog,' but deputies say there is no clear sign of disorientation and no evidence of foul play so far.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2016 WikiLeaks emails, Tom DeLonge described William McCasland as a key adviser with access to classified programs related to UFOs and advanced aerospace technology, including efforts to brief high-level officials on unidentified aerial phenomena.
Missing US General 'Has a Lot of Information' on UFOs: Congressman — Newsweek
In New Mexico, Indigenous people are disproportionately affected by missing persons cases; as of 2026, there are 198 missing Indigenous individuals reported, despite Native Americans comprising approximately 11% of the state's population (about 235,000 out of 2.1 million), indicating a per capita overrepresentation in missing cases.
MMIP Data Dashboard — New Mexico Department of Justice
From 2017 to 2022 in Texas, Silver Alert activations for missing adults with dementia had an 89.2% success rate in locating the person alive, 6.4% found deceased, and 4.4% unresolved, with a median age of 77 years and most cases involving a missing vehicle.
Analysis of Silver Alert Reporting System Activations for Missing Adults With Dementia in Texas, 2017 to 2022 — JAMA Network Open
Between 2020 and 2026, there have been at least five reported incidents of missing hikers in the Sandia Mountains, New Mexico, including cases where individuals were found deceased due to falls or exposure, and others who were rescued alive after getting lost.
Authorities: Missing hiker is found dead in Sandia Mountains — Durango Herald
📰 Source Timeline (1)
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