Former Air Force General with UFO Connections Vanishes from New Mexico Home
It has now been fifteen days since retired Air Force General William 'Neil' McCasland, a 68-year-old veteran with connections to rumoured UFO research programs, disappeared from his Albuquerque residence. The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office has released an updated timeline of his last known movements, revealing concerning details about the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
Detailed Timeline of Disappearance
McCasland was last seen around 11am on February 27 near Quail Run Court NE in Albuquerque's Northeast Heights area. According to the newly released timeline, he was speaking with a home repairman at 10am that morning. His wife, Susan McCasland Wilkerson, departed the home approximately one hour and ten minutes later.
When Susan returned at approximately 12:04pm, she discovered an empty house with several of her husband's personal items left behind, including his mobile phone, prescription glasses, and wearable devices. Notably missing were his hiking boots and a .38-caliber revolver. Susan reported McCasland missing at 3:07pm, prompting immediate response from the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office.
Search Efforts and Discoveries
Investigators believe McCasland may have left his home on foot. Search teams later discovered a US Air Force sweatshirt roughly one mile from the residence, though officials have not confirmed whether this garment belonged to the missing general. The sheriff's office has released a new image showing McCasland wearing a light green, long-sleeve button-up outdoor shirt, suggesting he may have been wearing this clothing when he vanished.
Extensive search operations have been conducted across Albuquerque's Northeast Heights and the nearby Sandia Foothills, an area of rugged desert terrain where McCasland frequently hiked, ran, and cycled. Dozens of volunteers and law enforcement officers have searched on foot and horseback, while drones, helicopters, and specialized search dogs have combed the challenging landscape.
UFO Program Connections and Speculation
McCasland's background has drawn particular attention due to his previous leadership roles at facilities associated with advanced aerospace research and rumoured extraterrestrial investigations. A veteran of Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, he previously led both the Phillips Research Site and the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson in Ohio. These facilities have been rumoured to hold extraterrestrial debris connected to the famous 1947 Roswell incident.
While UFO enthusiasts have linked these facilities to secret studies of advanced aerospace technology and unexplained phenomena, official records maintain they focus on national security and experimental defense projects. McCasland's name became associated with UFO topics following the 2016 WikiLeaks release of emails from John Podesta, Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman.
In these communications, musician Tom DeLonge, founder of Blink-182 and the UFO-focused To The Stars Academy, referenced McCasland multiple times, claiming he had advised him on disclosure matters and helped assemble an advisory team. DeLonge suggested on a podcast that McCasland and other insiders were advising him on a gradual disclosure of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena information to the American public.
Family Response and Investigation Status
McCasland's family has pushed back against speculation that his former access to classified programs could be connected to his disappearance, noting that he retired from military service nearly thirteen years ago. Authorities have issued a Silver Alert for McCasland, though his family confirms he does not suffer from dementia or Alzheimer's disease.
The sheriff's office stated: 'While there is currently no evidence indicating foul play, investigators are examining all available information as the case remains active.' Because several personal items were left behind, investigators are trying to determine whether McCasland left voluntarily or encountered trouble shortly after departing his home.
Public Assistance Requested
Authorities are urging residents near the McCasland's neighborhood to review security camera footage from February 27 and 28, particularly between 9am and 2pm. Investigators are also asking hikers who may have worn GoPro cameras or recorded cellphone video in the Sandia Foothills to check their footage for any sign of McCasland.
McCasland is described as five feet eleven inches tall with white hair and blue eyes. The FBI has joined the search effort, which continues to focus on the rugged desert terrain surrounding Albuquerque where the avid outdoorsman frequently engaged in recreational activities.
