New forensic findings in the death of Melissa Casias, an administrative assistant at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, are raising questions about the circumstances of her demise. Police have confirmed that a forensic reconstruction of Casias's skull revealed no projectiles, a detail that casts doubt on initial theories of suicide. Casias's skeletal remains were discovered on May 28 in New Mexico's Carson National Forest, accompanied by a handgun that her family stated did not belong to her.
The New Mexico State Police informed the Daily Mail that while the initial CT scan of the skull did not show any bullets, this does not entirely rule out a gunshot wound. However, former FBI agent Ben Hansen, who is examining the case, expressed strong suspicions of foul play. Hansen told the Brian Entin Investigates podcast that he believes there is an "80 percent" chance of foul play, contrasting it with the possibility of suicide due to depression.
Hansen has put forth a more alarming theory, suggesting Casias may have been killed using advanced technology, such as a directed energy weapon. These weapons are described as capable of firing beams of microwave radiation and charged particles. He also mentioned technologies like 'voice-to-skull,' which can project voices into a person's head, potentially inducing a form of brainwashing, and weapons that may cause symptoms similar to those reported by individuals experiencing Havana Syndrome.
Casias, 53, disappeared on June 26, 2025, after dropping off her husband, also an employee at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, at the facility. Her behavior that morning was described as out of character by her husband, Mark. He stated that Casias claimed she needed to return home because she had forgotten her security badge, despite him observing that she had the badge with her when she dropped him off.
According to their daughter, Sierra, Casias later visited her workplace to drop off a sandwich and reiterated her intention to work from home due to the forgotten badge. However, Casias ultimately returned home to leave behind her work and personal phones, both of which were later found wiped clean of data. Surveillance footage last captured Casias walking alone on State Road 518, approximately three miles from her residence, around 2:20 p.m. She was reportedly without her keys, identification, or purse.
Hansen suggested that Casias's unusual behavior may have been influenced by a foreign actor or that she was "enticed" to leave, believing she would return. He noted that her actions align with patterns observed in other cases involving scientists, nuclear lab workers, and military personnel with ties to classified research.
The New Mexico medical examiner's office has not yet officially announced a cause of death for Casias, whose remains have been in the custody of officials since June 1. Meanwhile, private investigator Thomas McNally has faced backlash from the Casias family. Court records indicate that Mark Casias filed a restraining order against McNally, alleging a campaign of harassment and defamation. McNally had previously suggested that Casias's disappearance was linked to marital issues, a claim her daughter has denied.
