Looking for a retired Air Force general who went missing 2 weeks ago in New Mexico
The search continues for a retired Air Force general who disappeared in New Mexico nearly two weeks ago, local law enforcement officials said Thursday.
A silver alert was issued last week for Maj. General Neil McCasland, who was last seen at his home in Albuquerque at 11 a.m. on Feb. 27, according to the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. McCasland’s wife left their home shortly after 11 a.m. to see a doctor, and McCasland was gone when she returned an hour later.
“Her phone, prescription glasses and wearables were in the residence,” the sheriff’s office said Thursday. His hiking boots and wallet and leather-barreled .38 revolver were missing from home.
Susan McCasland Wilkerson began contacting family members and friends trying to find her husband but finally reported him missing at 3:07 p.m. that afternoon, the sheriff’s office said.
McCasland is described as 5 feet, 11 inches tall with white hair and blue eyes. He may have been wearing a light green long-sleeved, button-down shirt.
Authorities are searching for McCasland using search and rescue teams, dogs, drones and helicopters, the sheriff’s office said. The FBI has confirmed that it is assisting in the investigation.
“To date, BCSO has not received any confirmed sightings or confirmed video showing Mr. McCasland leaving the area or indicating a direction to leave,” the sheriff’s office said.
The sheriff’s office urged the public to come forward with any information they may have about McCasland’s whereabouts.
Officials said last week that there was no evidence of foul play but it is unlikely that McCasland will be out of touch with his family for long. McCasland has medical issues, which the sheriff’s office did not disclose, adding to the cause for concern.
The sheriff’s office believes he left his home on foot.
“He is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys hiking, running, and biking in the Northeast Heights and Sandia Mountains,” it said.
The office appealed to anyone with video taken on Feb. 27 and Feb. 28 in the Sandia Mountains or the McCasland area to review it and send anything that might be helpful.
The sheriff’s office said information other than what it released was “not confirmed or confirmed.”
“There are people who try to form their own opinions based on the little information available to the public and this makes finding Neil difficult,” he said.
Wilkerson, McCasland’s wife, tried to correct the misinformation that was spreading. She wrote on Facebook last Friday that although her husband has health problems, it is not related to dementia or Alzheimer’s.
He then blocked those who do not believe that McCasland was taken because he had some secret information.
“He retired [Air Force] about 13 years ago and has had frequent permits since then, it wrote.
McCasland graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in astronautical engineering. He also holds a doctorate in the subject from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, according to the Air Force.
He has held many roles with the Air Force, including commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
He also oversaw $2.2 billion in funding for the Air Force’s science and technology program and another $2.2 billion in research and development, according to the Air Force.
Wilkerson spoke of McCasland’s connection to the “UFO community.” McCasland once volunteered to work with Tom DeLonge, lead singer and guitarist for Blink-182. DeLonge’s organization, “To The Stars,” has published fiction, music and docuseries related to aliens and UFOs.
McCasland had “little contact” with DeLonge and the UFO community after political strategist John Podesta’s emails were made public by WikiLeaks, Wilkerson said. Podesta, who served in both the Clinton and Obama administrations, shared emails with DeLonge about his interest in UFOs.
Other emails include an exchange about a documentary Podesta participated in, and at least one email mentions McCasland.
Wilkerson said McCasland had no special knowledge of any extraterrestrial bodies or any UFO debris held by the government.
“This connection is not a reason for anyone to kidnap Neil,” he wrote.
Wilkerson did not return a voicemail Thursday seeking comment about her husband’s disappearance.
