The cause of death for the missing scientist who was discovered dead in a New Mexico forest has been reportedly revealed, but it is simply raising more questions.
As The Gateway Punditreportedon Monday, New Mexico State Police announced that they identified the remains of 54-year-old Melissa Casias, a scientist and nuclear lab employee, who worked as an administrative assistant at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).
Casias was last seen alive on June 26, 2025. Her body was found in the McGaffey Ridge area of the Carson National Forest.
This is about six miles from the last place Casias was seen walking before being declared missing.
Although the New Mexico State Police have yet to release an official cause of death, the Daily Mail haslearnedthat her body had a gunshot wound to the skull, and a gun was found close by.
In addition, her body was found skeletonized and propped up in a seated position against a tree in a remote part of the National Forest.
While at first glance this may suggest suicide, Arizona-based investigator Thomas McNally does not agree. He has been working on the case of Casias’s disappearance on behalf of her parents, Joe and Joanne Mondragon.
He suspects that foul play was involved in her death.
“It’s great that the press is getting this story out there because of the Los Alamos stuff,” McNally said, “But it has nothing to do with LANL. If you want to tell the story, tell a real story.”
“I want to be emphatic on this point – this is in no way, shape, or form related to her job,” he added.
Source: The Gateway Pundit