Retired General's Disappearance Takes Mysterious Turn as Facebook Post Claims Sighting Near Trailhead

A retired US Air Force general's disappearance has taken a mysterious turn, adding new layers to an already enigmatic situation. William Neil McCasland, 68, was last seen around 11am local time on Friday near Quail Run Court NE in Albuquerque. Friends noted his unusual absence of his watch and phone, items he typically never left home without. The retired general, known for his love of outdoor activities, had recently completed a 60-mile bike ride and frequented local trails like La Luz and nearby systems.

A woman named Mj Davis posted on Facebook, claiming she had seen someone matching McCasland's description near the Whitewash trailhead in Piedra Lisa Canyon. The post, shared with the Albuquerque Trail Running Crew group, described a man standing near a bridge over an arroyo at the start of the trail. The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) responded in the same thread, urging users to report tips directly to investigators, but did not publicly dispute the sighting.

McCasland's wife, Susan, posted on Facebook that he vanished midday on Friday, and there has been no sign of him since. She stated, '[It] does not seem to have been foul play at all.' The Daily Mail has contacted Susan for comment. A veteran of Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, McCasland previously led both the Phillips Research Site and the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson in Ohio. Some UFO enthusiasts have linked those facilities to secret studies of advanced aerospace technology and unexplained phenomena, though officials maintain they focus on national security and experimental defense projects.

The New Mexico Search and Rescue told the Daily Mail that teams were involved in a mission looking for him in the Albuquerque Open Space area Sunday through Monday. Several of McCasland's friends have shared details about the retired general online, with many saying that he is physically fit and a knowledgeable outdoorsman. His Facebook page is filled with pictures showing him skiing and hiking in the mountains of New Mexico.

However, the BCSO issued a Silver Alert, a public notification used to help locate missing seniors or individuals with certain medical conditions, shortly after McCasland went missing. 'Due to his medical issues, law enforcement is concerned for his safety,' the office said. Daily Mail contacted BCSO and was referred to a statement issued on Tuesday, which says it is coordinating with partners at Kirtland Air Force Base to expand outreach and speed information-sharing that may assist in locating.

Sheriff John Allen said: 'Our priority is finding Mr. McCasland safely. Our investigators and search teams are working continuously, and we're coordinating closely with our local, state, and federal partners.' 'We're asking the public to help by checking and preserving any security camera footage from the area and reporting any information immediately.' The FBI told the Daily Mail on Monday that they are also involved in the hunt, but that the Sheriff's Department is leading the search.

'The FBI Albuquerque Field Office is involved in this investigation, as it is standard practice for the FBI to assist our local law enforcement partners if we have a tool, tactic, or technique that could benefit their investigations,' a spokesperson said. 'The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) is leading this investigation.' Col. Justin Secrest, commander of Kirtland's 377th Air Base Wing, told the Albuquerque Journal the base is working closely with local law enforcement. 'Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time,' Secrest said.

The BCSO shared a missing person's report for McCasland on Facebook, writing: 'Unknown clothing description and unknown direction of travel.' By Sunday afternoon, the BCSO said New Mexico Search and Rescue was assisting in the investigation, the Albuquerque Journal reported. McCasland's name became associated with UFO topics after the 2016 WikiLeaks release of emails from John Podesta, Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman.

In the emails, musician Tom DeLonge, founder of Blink-182 and the UFO-focused To The Stars Academy (TTSA), referenced McCasland multiple times, claiming he had advised him on disclosure matters and helped assemble an advisory team. DeLonge also suggested on a podcast that he was being advised by McCasland and several named and unnamed insiders to carry out a slow disclosure of UAP information to the American public from US government or contractor sources. These claims come from DeLonge and have not been confirmed by McCasland or official records.

There is no public evidence that he participated in UFO crash retrievals, reverse-engineering of non-human technology, or classified extraterrestrial programs. His documented work focused on advanced aerospace research, which has fueled speculation about experimental propulsion and unidentified phenomena in defense circles. Anyone with information was urged to text BCSO at 847411 or call the Missing Persons Unit at 505-468-7070.

McCasland oversaw research at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, where he managed the Air Force's $2.2 billion science and technology program, along with additional customer-funded research. Wright-Patterson has long been linked in UFO lore to the alleged study of materials from the 1947 Roswell incident, though official reports attribute the debris to Project Mogul balloons. He retired from the Air Force in 2013 and later held private-sector positions, including director of technology at Applied Technology Associates.