Missing nuclear lab worker found dead in New Mexico forest amid string of missing scientists

New Mexico authorities identified human remains discovered by a hiker as those of a missing Los Alamos National Laboratory employee whose case gained attention due to the publicity surrounding a string of deaths and disappearances of U.S. scientists linked to space, defense and nuclear research.

The New Mexico State Police announced on Saturday that the remains belonged to Melissa Casias, a 53-year-old Taos resident who worked as an administrative assistant at the Los Alamos National Laboratory.

“Through coordination with the Office of the Medical Investigator (OMI), the individual has been positively identified as a missing person, Melissa Casias,” the police said in a statement.

“The cause and manner of death have not yet been determined. The remains will undergo further anthropological examination by OMI."

A hiker had discovered the human remains, now identified as Casias’, in the McGaffey Ridge area of the Carson National Forest on May 28, according to the report. The New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau was notified about the hiker’s discovery, and investigators also learned that a handgun was found alongside the remains.

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Sabertooth said:

I did not realize it was from "years ago."
The thread's title, "...String of Missing Scientists," is what caught my eye.

From a RELATED ARTICLE:

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1. Speculation that China, Russia or Iran is involved
Following the launch of a House Oversight Committee investigation into the disappearances, Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., believes that the country’s adversaries could be connected to the scientists’ disappearances and deaths.

“I would not be surprised if our adversaries, China, Russia, Iran or any other adversary saw an opportunity to take out some of our nation’s top scientists,” Burlison told News Nation, adding that he is “worried for the rest of our nation’s scientists.”

“These scientists are not hardened. They don’t have a security detail. So they would be a very easy target,” Burlison said.
In a statement this week to News Nation, the FBI confirmed that it's “spearheading the effort to look for connections into the missing and deceased scientists.”

“We are working with the Department of Energy, Department of War, and with our state and local law enforcement partners to find answers,” the FBI said...

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This is recent news.

A hiker had discovered the human remains, now identified as Casias’, in the McGaffey Ridge area of the Carson National Forest on May 28, according to the report. The New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau was notified about the hiker’s discovery, and investigators also learned that a handgun was found alongside the remains.

She went missing June of last year.