ALBUQUERQUE — Retired U.S. Air Force General William Neil McCasland disappeared during a hike in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Feb. 27, 2024. His spouse, Susan McCasland Wilkerson, told the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office that McCasland had been having "physical and mental" issues and was "experiencing what we've been calling 'brain fog.'" She also stated he seemed unusually "down" and "clingy," and said, "I don't want to go on like this."

The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office stated, "We have previously stated that General McCasland had stepped down from several retiree-affiliated working groups due to what he described as 'brain fog.'" A federal law enforcement official said, "It was a local police investigation, but the FBI provided assistance when the White House asked." The official added, "A lot of those (UAP) cases are being made into things they are not," and said, "The ties are less interesting than they are being made out to be."

McCasland left his phone and other personal items behind when he disappeared. A surveillance photo from Feb. 26 showed McCasland carrying items, including what appeared to be a First Aid kit, at an REI store. Wilkerson told authorities her spouse was trying to excuse himself from multiple projects he was assigned to. She also intimated to police that he may not have wanted to be found.

The Sheriff's Office stated, "The article contains several inaccuracies and characterizations that are not supported by our investigation or reports." The office noted its reports do not reference the Pentagon. The Sheriff's Office stated McCasland had "a standard retiree clearance" and confirmed, "At this time, there is no known connection between this case and human trafficking, gang activity, or other missing scientist cases." Sara Bondink reported on X that McCasland traveled to Washington, D.C., to attempt to resign from Riverside Research, a nonprofit involved in advanced technology projects.