Officials Dismiss UFO Speculation in Missing General's Case
Authorities and family members are actively working to discredit theories linking the disappearance of retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Neil McCasland to his past involvement with UFO research programs. The 68-year-old veteran went missing from his Albuquerque home on February 27, sparking an extensive multi-agency search operation that now includes FBI assistance.
Search Efforts and Unusual Circumstances
According to the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office, McCasland left his residence on foot around 11 a.m. on February 27, leaving behind critical personal items including his cellphone, prescription glasses, and wearable devices. However, his hiking boots, wallet, and a .38-caliber revolver in a leather holster were missing from the property.
Search teams have discovered a U.S. Air Force sweatshirt approximately one mile from his home, though authorities have not confirmed whether it belongs to the missing general. The sheriff's office has deployed rescue teams, search dogs, drones, and helicopters in their efforts to locate McCasland, who stands 5 feet 11 inches tall with white hair and blue eyes.
Addressing UFO Speculation
McCasland's wife, Susan McCasland Wilkerson, has publicly addressed the growing online speculation connecting her husband's disappearance to his past work with UFO research. In a Facebook post dated March 6, Wilkerson explicitly stated that her husband "does not have any special knowledge about the ET bodies and debris from the Roswell crash stored at Wright-Patt."
McCasland previously led the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Greene County, Ohio, a location that conspiracy theorists have long associated with the 1947 Roswell incident. This professional background has fueled widespread speculation about his potential access to classified information regarding extraterrestrial phenomena.
Connection to Blink-182 Frontman
Further complicating the narrative is McCasland's brief post-retirement work as an unpaid consultant for Tom DeLonge, the Blink-182 frontman who founded the organization To The Stars. This group produces books, music, and documentaries exploring unidentified aerial phenomena.
Wilkerson revealed that her husband's involvement with DeLonge and the broader UFO community diminished significantly following the WikiLeaks exposure of political strategist John Podesta's emails, at least one of which mentioned McCasland. "There was less contact with Tom after that," Wilkerson confirmed.
In a poignant statement addressing the speculation, Wilkerson remarked: "This connection is not a reason for someone to abduct Neil. Though at this point with absolutely no sign of him, maybe the best hypothesis is that aliens beamed him up to the mothership. However, no sightings of a mothership hovering above the Sandia Mountains have been reported."
Official Statements and Public Appeal
The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office has issued a Silver Alert and continues to emphasize that any reports beyond official updates remain unverified. In a Facebook post, authorities stated: "There are people who attempt to develop their own theories based on the limited information available to the public, and this makes finding Neil harder."
Officials confirm there is currently no evidence of foul play in McCasland's disappearance, though they acknowledge he has undisclosed medical issues that raise concerns for his safety. Wilkerson has clarified online that while her husband does have medical conditions, they are not related to dementia or Alzheimer's disease.
McCasland is described as an avid outdoorsman who frequently hikes, runs, and cycles in the Northeast Heights and Sandia foothills. He may have been wearing a light green, long-sleeved, button-up shirt when he went missing.
Authorities are urging anyone with information or relevant video footage from February 27 and 28, particularly from the Sandia Mountains or McCasland's neighborhood, to come forward immediately to assist with the ongoing investigation.
