Missing nuclear scientist Melissa Casias was discovered dead last week after disappearing almost a year ago in mysterious circumstances. Credit: Melissa Casias Facebook
The cause of death for the missing scientist who was discovered dead in a New Mexico forest has been reportedly revealed, but it is simply raising more questions.
As The Gateway Pundit reported on Monday, New Mexico State Police announced that they identified the remains of 54-year-old Melissa Casias, a scientist and nuclear lab employee, who worked as an administrative assistant at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).
Casias was last seen alive on June 26, 2025. Her body was found in the McGaffey Ridge area of the Carson National Forest.
This is about six miles from the last place Casias was seen walking before being declared missing.
Although the New Mexico State Police have yet to release an official cause of death, the Daily Mail has learned that her body had a gunshot wound to the skull, and a gun was found close by.
In addition, her body was found skeletonized and propped up in a seated position against a tree in a remote part of the National Forest.
While at first glance this may suggest suicide, Arizona-based investigator Thomas McNally does not agree. He has been working on the case of Casias’s disappearance on behalf of her parents, Joe and Joanne Mondragon.
He suspects that foul play was involved in her death.
“It’s great that the press is getting this story out there because of the Los Alamos stuff,” McNally said, “But it has nothing to do with LANL. If you want to tell the story, tell a real story.”
“I want to be emphatic on this point – this is in no way, shape, or form related to her job,” he added.
Adding to the mystery is that The Mail previously noted that she had left ALL RECORDS from her phones (she had more than one), and her identification behind.
Former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker told the Daily Mail in March that he thought Casias’s disappearance was part of a bigger pattern involving individuals who had access to top-secret government research.
Swecker theorized that Casias’s work at LANL made her a target for abduction. The reason is that an administrative assistant often has access to the same sensitive files as their superiors.
“In a classified lab, or just a high clearance lab, they would basically be in the know on what’s going on,” Swecker explained. “And it wouldn’t be the first time their administrative assistant has been targeted.”
As The Gateway Pundit has reported, a troubling pattern drew scrutiny after the mysterious deaths of scientists tied to America’s most sensitive space and defense programs. Up to 11 have been discovered missing or dead.
FBI Director Kash Patel has launched a major investigation into the mysterious deaths and disappearances of these scientists. President Donald Trump has also publicly stated the White House is looking into the cases, describing the string of incidents as highly suspicious.
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