Name: Melissa Shirley Casias
Age: 53 years old
Last Seen: June 26, 2025
Location: Toas, New Mexico
Status: Found deceased on May 28, 2026
Case Information
53 year old Melissa Casias was last seen in Taos, New Mexico on June 26, 2025. She was last seen walking alone, headed south along Highway 518 around 2:15 pm.
Background
Melissa works at Los Alamos National Laboratory as an administrative assistant. Her husband, Mark Casias, also works at the lab.
She is an avid hunter and archer who has won multiple competitions, and lives in Ranchos de Taos.
Disappearance
At 6:15 am on June 26, 2025, Melissa Casias dropped her husband off at work at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Melissa also works at the lab, but returned home to Taos to work remotely since she had forgotten her employee badge.
According to her niece, Melissa stopped at the post office, then dropped off lunch for her daughter, Sierra, at a cafe in Taos.
When Sierra returned home from work she found her mother gone. Her vehicle was at the house, as well as her wallet, phone and ID, but there were no signs of Melissa.
Her husband reported her missing around 5:00 pm.
Investigation
The last known footage of Melissa was around 1:00 pm on June 26, 2025. The footage shows her leaving the John Dunn Shops in downtown Taos, then entering her car and driving away.
At 2:15 pm on June 26, 2025, a witness saw Melissa walking alone, headed south on Highway 518 in Talpa. Her family later confirmed it was her by viewing doorbell camera footage.
Melissa’s family has set up a facebook page to help in their efforts to find her. They are offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to her return.
According to a private investigator hired by Melissa’s family, a pair of shoes matching those she was last seen wearing were recovered in New Mexico’s Carson National Forest. DNA analysis on the shoes is pending.
On May 28, 2026, human remains were found near Rio Chiquito Road, close to New Mexico 518 where Melissa was last seen. The remains have been sent to the Medical Examiner for identification and cause/manner of death.
Remains of Melissa Found
On May 28, 2026, a hiker found human remains and a handgun in the McGaffey Ridge area of Carson National Forest. They were positively identified as Casias by the Office of the Medical Investigator.
The autopsy shows Melissa Casias died from a gunshot wound to the head, but the Office of the Medical Investigator marked her manner of death as undetermined. There’s currently not enough evidence to determine whether it was murder or suicide.
Due to the amount of decomposition, the medical examiner could only say that the gunshot occurred ‘perimortem,’ meaning it took place around the time she died but may not have been the actual cause of death.
Appearance
Hispanic female born on November 1, 1971. Melissa has brown hair, brown eyes, stands 5’4 tall, and weighs 115 pounds.
She has several tattoos; a dragon on her right ankle, a dream catcher on her left shoulder, and a bow and arrow on her left arm.
Clothing & Accessories:
Melissa was last seen wearing a turquoise shirt, jeans, and white & pink tennis shoes.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Melissa Casias please contact the New Mexico State Police at (505) 425-6771, or Crime Stoppers at (505) 843-STOP.
You can also submit an anonymous tip online.
Resources & Further Information
Find Melissa Casias – Facebook
Ranchos Woman Reported Missing – Taos News
Ranchos Woman, a Los Alamos National Labs Employee, Reported Missing – Taos News
State Police Investigates Disappearance of LANL Worker From Ranchos de Taos – Sante Fe New Mexican
Family Of Missing Los Alamos National Laboratory Employee Seeks Help From Public – KRQE
Missing Mom Dropped Lunch Off To Her Daughter Before She Disappeared – People
Videos & Flyers
My feeling is, she got abducted and it was by chance they picked her up. My other feelings is, she is still alive but can’t get away.
I hope I’m wrong BUT I think the husband had something to do with her disappearance.