Melissa Casias, a 53-year-old employee of Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, is found dead in the state’s national forest nearly a year after she disappeared, multiple outlets report. CBS News and BBC News say Casias went missing in 2025, with her family and associates describing how she vanished after leaving her home near Taos. The Guardian, and others including Fox News, report that New Mexico authorities identified the remains found after a hiker discovered them in the Carson National Forest. Fox News says police identify the case as an investigation, with some reporting noting the body was found near a handgun. Fox News also reports that Casias’ family rejects suicide as the explanation and suspects foul play, including criticism of the circumstances surrounding her death. The Los Angeles Times and Washington Times state that Casias’ death is being treated as part of broader law-enforcement attention involving missing or deceased federal scientists and staff connected to sensitive research. BBC News adds that online speculation around related cases is tied to broader, debunked claims, while officials continue to investigate Casias’ disappearance and death.