4 Missing Persons with Nuclear Ties Spark Concern in New Mexico

Authorities investigate disappearances of individuals with access to classified materials

Apr. 17, 2026 at 12:18am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a security badge or access card for a nuclear research facility, the details and textures of the object starkly illuminated by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, creating a stark, gritty, and investigative visual aesthetic.The disappearances of individuals with access to classified nuclear materials raise urgent questions about security and oversight.Albuquerque Today

At least four people with ties to nuclear research or weapons programs have gone missing in New Mexico over the past 11 months, prompting concerns from the White House and renewed discussion around the cases. The missing individuals include a retired Air Force leader, a property custodian, an administrative assistant, and a former staffer - all of whom had some level of access to classified information.

Why it matters

The disappearances have raised national security concerns, as the missing persons may have had knowledge of sensitive nuclear programs or materials. Authorities are investigating whether the cases are connected or simply coincidences, while online speculation has linked the disappearances to potential UFO/UAP research ties.

The details

The four missing persons cases in New Mexico include: Maj. Gen. William Neil McCasland, a retired Air Force leader reported missing in February 2026; Steven Garcia, who went missing in August 2025 and worked at the Albuquerque branch of the Kansas City National Security Campus; Melissa Casias, an administrative assistant at Los Alamos National Laboratory who disappeared in June 2025; and Anthony 'Tony' Chavez, a retired former staffer at LANL who went missing in May 2025. Police have stated that McCasland and Garcia took weapons with them when they disappeared.

  • In February 2026, Maj. Gen. William Neil McCasland was reported missing near his home in northeast Albuquerque.
  • In late August 2025, Steven Garcia went missing.
  • In late June 2025, Melissa Casias disappeared.
  • In May 2025, Anthony 'Tony' Chavez went missing.

The players

Maj. Gen. William Neil McCasland

A retired Air Force leader who was reported missing near his home in northeast Albuquerque in February 2026.

Steven Garcia

An individual who went missing in late August 2025 and reportedly worked as a property custodian at the Albuquerque branch of the Kansas City National Security Campus, which handles non-nuclear components of nuclear weapons.

Melissa Casias

An administrative assistant at Los Alamos National Laboratory who reportedly went missing in late June 2025.

Anthony 'Tony' Chavez

A retired former staffer at Los Alamos National Laboratory who went missing in May 2025.

Barry Roth

The Chief Archivist of the National UFO Historical Records Center in Rio Rancho, who commented on the online speculation surrounding the disappearances.

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What they’re saying

“I've seen the report, Peter. I haven't spoken to our relative agencies about it. I will certainly do that and get you an answer. If true, of course, that's definitely something I think this government and administration would deem worth looking into, so let me do that for you.”

— Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary

“But you have one person involved that has alleged ties to the UFO/UAP community, and then all of a sudden people might find other patterns that might tie the other people in. When you do a deep dive into it, there isn't really any other connection.”

— Barry Roth, Chief Archivist, National UFO Historical Records Center

“If there's no pattern that initially exists, they'll find a pattern that exists that points to that specific topic of interest they're looking at, and they'll start making tie-ins. You can take pretty much any subject and create a pattern for it if you look hard enough.”

— Barry Roth, Chief Archivist, National UFO Historical Records Center

What’s next

President Donald Trump said he had a meeting about this issue and hopes to have more information in 'the next week-and-a-half'. Authorities continue to investigate whether the disappearances are connected or simply coincidences.

The takeaway

The disappearances of these individuals with ties to nuclear research or weapons programs have raised national security concerns, prompting the White House to look into the matter. While online speculation has linked the cases to potential UFO/UAP research, authorities are focused on determining if there is a genuine pattern or if the disappearances are unrelated.