Former US Air Force Major General Disappears After Trying to Quit Secret Defense Roles

William Neil McCasland, a retired US Air Force Major General and former key figure in American military research, vanished mysteriously from his New Mexico home in late February. He left without his phone, wallet, smartwatch, or glasses, taking only boots and a .38 caliber revolver. His disappearance has sparked intrigue due to his deep involvement in sensitive defense research and his recent attempts to resign from multiple classified positions.

Documents obtained through freedom of information requests reveal that in the days before his disappearance, McCasland, 68, sought to step down from roles linked to Pentagon-affiliated research bodies, including Riverside Research, Sandia National Laboratories, and the Kirtland Partnership, which supports military and nuclear research facilities in New Mexico. His wife, Susan Wilkerson, told investigators he suffered from physical and mental difficulties described as "brain fog," which he cited as a reason for resigning. Notably, he traveled alone to Washington shortly before vanishing to resign from Riverside Research, explaining he could no longer mentally keep up with the work.

On the day before he disappeared, McCasland was seen buying hiking and first aid supplies and attending a dinner with associates from Kirtland Partnership and the US Space Force. An eyewitness described him as quiet and unlike himself. Despite speculation linking his disappearance to secret UFO documents or espionage, authorities have found no evidence supporting such claims. The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office has cautioned against sensational interpretations, stating McCasland held a standard retired security clearance and that no ties to human trafficking or criminal gangs have been found.

McCasland's case is part of a broader pattern of disappearances and deaths involving individuals connected to nuclear and defense research in the US, particularly around New Mexico since 2022. The FBI is investigating possible links among at least ten such cases, though no confirmed connections have emerged. The White House has requested FBI assistance, underscoring the case's significance. Four months after his disappearance, McCasland remains missing, fueling ongoing public and official concern about his fate and the potential implications for national security.