Retired Air Force Major Gen. William “Neil” McCasland disappeared between 11 a.m. and noon on February 27 near his Albuquerque, New Mexico home, leaving behind his phone, glasses, and wearable devices, while his gun and wallet remain missing, according to the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. The 68-year-old aerospace engineer was last seen wearing a light green, button-up outdoor shirt before vanishing during a one-hour period when his wife was away for an appointment.
Search Efforts and Last Known Movements
The sheriff’s office reported McCasland first interacted with a home repairman around 10 a.m. the morning he disappeared. Despite extensive search efforts including foot teams, horseback patrols, drones, helicopters, and specialized search dogs, no significant leads have emerged. Authorities located a U.S. Air Force sweatshirt roughly a mile from his residence but have yet to confirm if it belonged to McCasland.
He is described as 5 feet 11 inches tall with white hair and blue eyes and is believed to have left on foot. Known as an avid outdoorsman, McCasland often hikes, runs, and cycles in the Northeast Heights and Sandia Foothills of Albuquerque. Residents in the area and hikers with potential video footage have been urged to submit material to assist in the search.
Case Background and Official Statements
McCasland retired in 2013 as commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, where he was involved with military UFO programs from 1947 to 1969. He holds a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from MIT. His wife emphasized that he does not have dementia or Alzheimer’s and dismissed theories linking his disappearance to classified information, noting he has held only commonly held security clearances since retirement.
The FBI has joined the ongoing investigation, but no evidence of foul play has been found. The sheriff’s office issued a Silver Alert and continues to seek public assistance through video submissions and tips. McCasland’s wife expressed frustration over the lack of progress in locating him.
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