Missing worker at high-security lab in New Mexico found dead in remote forest
Key takeaways
- Human remains discovered next to a handgun in a remote northern New Mexico forest were identified this week as those of a missing woman who had worked at a high-security federal lab.
- President Trump told reporters last week that he had been briefed on the missing and dead scientists, which he described as ‘pretty serious stuff.’
- The human remains were discovered in Carson National Forest on Thursday by a hiker, about two hours north of Los Alamos National Forest and two hours east of Taos, according to an update from the New Mexico State Police.
Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, N.M. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images) By Grace Toohey Staff Writer Follow June 2, 2026 2:04 PM PT 2 min Click here to listen to this article Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X Linked In Threads Reddit Whats App Copy Link URL Copied! Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.
Human remains discovered next to a handgun in a remote northern New Mexico forest were identified this week as those of a missing woman who had worked at a high-security federal lab.
Melissa Casias was first reported missing almost a year ago from her home in Taos, N.M., where her daughter found her valuables — two phones, wallet, identification, laptop — still at home, but Casias nowhere to be found.