New Mexico government worker Melissa Casias, 53, who disappeared nearly a year ago, has been found dead in the Carson National Forest.
Authorities confirmed her remains were discovered by a hiker in the McGaffey Ridge area and later identified. A firearm was found nearby, though officials have not determined the cause or manner of death.
Casias, an employee at Los Alamos National Laboratory, was last seen in June 2025 after leaving her home in Ranchos de Taos. Investigators said she had erased data from her devices before disappearing.
The investigation is ongoing.