Search for Missing Retired Air Force General in Albuquerque
Authorities in Albuquerque, New Mexico, are investigating the disappearance of retired Air Force Maj. Gen. William “Neil” McCasland. He vanished within a short hour while his wife was attending an appointment, leaving behind his phone and glasses. Notably, his wallet and gun have not been located.
The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) released an updated timeline on Thursday evening, outlining the 68-year-old aerospace engineer’s last known activities after the FBI joined the search effort almost two weeks post-disappearance.
On February 27th, around 10 a.m., he was last in contact with a home repair service. He went missing sometime between 11 a.m. and noon. In a concerning turn, his cell phone, glasses, and other wearable devices were found in his home, while his wallet, hiking boots, and .38 caliber revolver remain unaccounted for.
A search team did discover a U.S. Air Force sweatshirt a little over a mile from his residence, but it has not been confirmed if it belonged to McCasland. The sheriff’s office has stated that he was last seen wearing a light green button-up outdoor shirt with two chest pockets.
Described as 5 feet 11 inches tall, with white hair and blue eyes, McCasland is thought to have left home on foot. He’s known to love the outdoors, often hiking, running, and biking in the Northeast Heights and Sandia Foothills.
In a statement, the BCSO requested residents in the northeastern Quail Rancourt area to review any home security footage recorded from 9 a.m. on Friday, February 27, to 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 28.
Hikers in the Sandia foothills who may have recorded footage with GoPro cameras or cell phones are also encouraged to check their recordings for any useful information. Any videos can be submitted through a designated portal or by contacting the Sheriff’s Missing Persons Unit.
While many agencies are involved in the search, there have been no signs of foul play. McCasland’s wife expressed on social media that numerous people, including authorities, friends, and neighbors, have participated in the extensive search efforts. This collaboration includes diverse methods like horseback searches, drones, and varying types of search dogs.
She noted her husband does not suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s, dismissing the idea that his military background could be linked to his disappearance. “It might seem plausible that his past in the Air Force is relevant,” she wrote, “but he retired nearly 13 years ago and has had only general security clearance since then.”
He served as the director of the Air Force Research Laboratory before his retirement in 2013, a facility noted for monitoring unidentified flying objects during the mid-20th century. McCasland holds a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from MIT.
Though his wife humorously mentioned the absence of any sign of him, she expressed frustration at the slow progression of search efforts. “Perhaps the most likely theory is that aliens transported him,” she quipped, “but there have been no sightings of the mothership.” This ironic lightness underscores the worry felt by family and friends during this troubling time.
