Autopsy reveals gunshot wound in death of missing Los Alamos worker

New autopsy details have emerged regarding the death of Melissa Casias, a 53-year-old administrative assistant at the Los Alamos National Laboratory who disappeared in June 2025. Casias vanished from her home without her phone, keys, or identification. Her skeletal remains were discovered 11 months later in the Carson National Forest, positioned against a tree with a handgun found nearby.

The autopsy revealed that Casias sustained a gunshot wound through the base of her skull, with the bullet exiting the left side of her head. The Office of the Medical Investigator determined the wound occurred ‘perimortem,’ meaning it happened around the time of death, but could not definitively confirm if the shot was the cause of death due to the level of decomposition.

While the official manner of death remains ‘undetermined,’ a law enforcement source indicated that the placement of the wound is inconsistent with suicide and suggests foul play. Additionally, investigators noted that parts of the remains, specifically the left hand and leg, were found approximately 20 feet from the body and showed signs of wildlife scavenging.