NM - Retired Maj. Gen. William Neil McCasland, 68, who led Air Force Research Laboratory, Bernalillo County, 27 February 2026

[RedHaus]

Thanks for posting the recent LE update, @sds71. It provides much needed information. Sadly, like others have opined, it appears to me there are two options based on four key data points.

A. Revolver taken by Neil
B. Neil's possible USAF sweatshirt found
C. No electronic devices taken by Neil
D. Wallet, presumably with ID taken by Neil

Option 1: Neil had a special place he went to take his own life - with the gun, he dropped his sweatshirt as he would never have a future need for it, had no need for electronic devices as he did not want to be found, and ID on him if he was.

Option 2: Neil had a special place he went to be alone for the afternoon but he had an accident or medical event and has passed away - took gun to protect himself from predators, he accidentally dropped his sweatshirt, he left electronic devices behind to 'drop out', and he has his wallet for his ID in case something went wrong.

As active as my imagination can be while sleuthing a case, I really don't think anything clandestine or malicious has occurred.

IMO

 

[Han]

He probably put on his glasses first thing every morning. Why leave them behind to leave by foot? You’d need to see after all. Unless the glasses had GPS? A few do.

MOO doesn’t seem like self harm. Shrugs

 

[caradana]

I credit those seeking logical explanations for what I MOO: theorize was an illogical departure
This is an incredibly impressive, technical, senior-level, skilled man whom I MOO: believe encountered a medical obstacle of some kind that was formidable.
I don’t believe he was kidnapped or coerced. I think the aliens let the man be … I hope he is safe, healthy, at peace and if not on this plane, on another.
His wife reads as devoted to him and I hope for that level of love and commitment for myself when the time comes! Xo

 

[ThoughtFox]

I was with you up to this question. Why would knowing he was going for a hike mean she should know what he was wearing?

Because a person who lives with him would usually be able to tell which clothes and shoes were missing since that day, even if she didn't see him leave. I mean, that's usually the case when someone goes missing - their relatives notice what they took with them or left behind.

 

[Rikissa]

Because a person who lives with him would usually be able to tell which clothes and shoes were missing since that day, even if she didn't see him leave. I mean, that's usually the case when someone goes missing - their relatives notice what they took with them or left behind.

That depend on how observant someone is about what others wear, and what's in their wardrobe. It's said that most people use only 10-20% of the clothes they own, and if those clothes still are at home, it might be difficult for others to remember what items are missing.

I recently moved, and clean out (and donated) more than half of the clothes in my closets, and there had been several items I didn't even remember having bought and/or still had.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

I was with you up to this question. Why would knowing he was going for a hike mean she should know what he was wearing?

She mentioned that Neil was talking with the repairman, so she was there with him before he left for the hike. If she was standing there looking at him and the repairman, I would think she would know whaat he was wearing.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

So according to the time line, a repairman was there at 10:00am, wife leaves at 11:10am, wife returns at 12:04pm and finds Neil gone.
Questions.....what time did the repairman leave? Who was there when the repairman left? What was being repaired? Did Neil have a vehicle? Was it still at the house? Did Neil leave a note with his plans, i.e. activity, destination return time

As I mentioned earlier, I question that timeline---his wife leaving for an appointment and returning back home in less than an hour. This just seems so very tight to me.

And if she left, and he went on his hike, was the repairman gone? I do wish we knew if said repairman was well known to them, and trusted to be in the house alone. Or not.

i wish they would include said repairman's details in the timeline. It would help rather than confuse.

And, have we heard anything about cameras yet????

 

[nhmemorymaker]

SBM

So he left with a gun and his wallet.
To me it reads: boots to comfortably walk on uneven terrain (ie. somewhere woody/remote), gun for obvious reason, and wallet to make sure he is identified once found.

It's giving bad vibes.

Gun could possibly be for snakes or javalinas(!!)... learned about those javalinas in the Nancy Guthrie case.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

This is the first time I have seen that he took a firearm.

Because he left his watch and phone at home, I have been concerned that he might have been planning self-harm. Now that I see that he also left his prescription glasses at home and took a revolver with him, I am even more concerned that it was self-harm. The only thing that doesn't fit in with that is that he took his wallet.

Though I am not really in the self harm camp as yet..... He could take that wallet to make certain they knew who he was when found.
But as another posted mentioned.... what else WAS in the wallet? If JUST the ID, that is telling.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

I feel for his wife and other family.

I believe her if she says he did not have dementia, but she alludes to risk.

I can only think of three reasons to bring a weapon on a walk. Fear of encountering a dangerous random person or animal, fear of someone specific you are meeting up with, or the tragic reason.

Without more to go on, probably the 2nd or 3rd reason, but a secret meeting just seems unlikely, IMO/JMO.

Off topic, but I liked his wife's statement. Even during an extremely difficult time, she has her sense of humor or maybe she has a great personality.

 

[Trino]

His wife stated he didn’t have dementia.

It seems there is confusion over a silver alert, which is MOSTLY for dementia, etc. However, it can be used for a missing elderly person, which, in this case, seems to be relevant.

 

[alexwood]

Here's a new article with video:

Search on for retired Air Force general who went missing 2 weeks ago in New Mexico

 

[Ontario Mom]

If the General were any other 68 year old man who mysteriously left his home without his glasses and any of his trackable/wearable devices, but had a gun with him, and hasn't been heard from in 2 weeks I suspect most of us would presume suicide.

It's the most probable answer, IMO.

 

[wnk]

IME, there's definitely a large overlap between military vets and concealed carry / 2nd amendment folks (especially out west), so I would NOT assume him bringing a weapon with him meant he intended to harm himself. I know military and former-military folk who don't go anywhere without a gun - yes, even a walk around their neighborhood or a hike.

MOO.

 

[Catmommy]

IME, there's definitely a large overlap between military vets and concealed carry / 2nd amendment folks (especially out west), so I would NOT assume him bringing a weapon with him meant he intended to harm himself. I know military and former-military folk who don't go anywhere without a gun - yes, even a walk around their neighborhood or a hike.

MOO.

Of course, but do they also leave their phone and glasses behind when they go out armed, even for a stroll? I don't know of anyone who leaves those vital things behind and just takes a gun. Heck, you need your glasses to aim.

 

[Ontario Mom]

IME, there's definitely a large overlap between military vets and concealed carry / 2nd amendment folks (especially out west), so I would NOT assume him bringing a weapon with him meant he intended to harm himself. I know military and former-military folk who don't go anywhere without a gun - yes, even a walk around their neighborhood or a hike.

MOO.

I know people that always carry so I did wonder about that but given the additional details, specifically what he did take with him and what he didn't take with him, it doesn't appear to be a random walk around the neighborhood.

jmo

 

[ChatteringBirds]

know military and former-military folk who don't go anywhere without a gun -

Okay, fair enough. I wonder if that was his norm or out-of-character. And whether going out without his watch and phone is his norm.

Perhaps we have made incorrect assumptions.

 

[al66pine]

It seems there is confusion over a silver alert, which is MOSTLY for dementia, etc. However, it can be used for a missing elderly person, which, in this case, seems to be relevant.

@Trino. thx for your post.
In 2019 & 2026, NM legislature amended statutory criteria for Silver Alerts.

Now NM Silver Alerts do not require a doctor's or medical professional's diagnosis that the missing individual suffers from Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia, etc.

NM Silver Alert can be issued if:
--- missing person is 50 or older, or
--- reporter believes missing person displays signs or symptoms of Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia, cognitive decline or impairment, regardless of age.

moo
========================================================
NM statute. BBM & USBM for emphasis.

"SECTION 1. Section 29-15-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1995,Chapter 146, Section 2, as amended) is amended to read:
"29-15-2. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Missing Persons Information and Reporting Act:..."

"E. "endangered person" means a missing person who:....
"(6) has Alzheimer's disease, dementia or another degenerative brain disorder or a brain injury; or..."

"N. "silver alert" means a notification relating to an endangered person:
(1) who is a missing person; and
(2) who is fifty years or older; or
(3) who the reporter believes displays signs or symptoms of Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia, cognitive decline or impairment, regardless of age;..."

Source:

https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/25%20Regular/final/HB0197.pdf

Universal Citation: NM Stat § 29-15-3.2 (2025)

 

[al66pine]

"Wearable Devices"???
"...he vanished between 11 a.m. and noon, while his wife was out of the house for an appointment. His phone, glasses and "wearable devices" were found in the home. His wallet, hiking boots and a .38-caliber revolver are unaccounted for."
(Bbm)
^ Retired Air Force general vanishes in 1-hour window from home, gun and wallet missing 03.13.26

Which specific wearable devices* were found in the home?
smartwatches? (Email? Texting? Tracking specific medical factors? Financial transactions/ account balances?
fitness trackers?
smartglasses?
Can GoPro's send data to the cloud?
What about hearing aids?
Smart rings, other jewelry?
What else?

Why leave any or all of these behind at home?
Or why not take any or all w him?

====================================================
*".. a category of small electronic and mobile devices with wireless communications capability designed to be worn on the human body and are incorporated into gadgets, accessories, or clothes. Common types of wearable technology include smartwatches, fitness trackers, and Wearable electronic devices are often close to or on the surface of the skin, where they detect, analyze, and transmit information such as vital signs, and/or ambient data and which allow in some cases immediate biofeedback to the wearer..."
^ Wearable technology - Wikipedia

 

[al66pine]

I've missed info about motor vehicle registered to him (or wife or household members, if any).
Left behind at home/garage/driveway?
Found in parking lot/shoulder of road?
Trailhead?

Anyone?