New Mexico woman Melissa Casias has been found dead nearly one year after she went missing, with her last sighting being when she dropped off lunch for her daughter at work.
Casias, 53, was reported missing on June 26, 2025, when she didn’t arrive at work or return home after she was last seen around 2:15 p.m. walking southbound on State Road 518 from Talpa. After she was reported missing, the New Mexico State Police (NMSP) classified her as a “missing endangered” person, according to an advisory bulletin.
Nearly one year later on Thursday, May 28, a hiker discovered human remains next to a hand gun in the McGaffey Ridge area of the Carson National Forest, the NMSP announced via Facebook on Saturday, May 30.
The Office of the Medical Investigator later identified the remains as belonging to Casias.
Casias’ family also took to their Facebook page “Find Melissa Mondragon Casias” on Sunday, May 31, to confirm her remains had been found.
“We confirm that the remains found in Rio Chiquito are Melissa. There will be more information to come but what we can tell you now is she was located in an area previously searched,” the family’s statement read. “This is a lot to process, our hearts are heavy and we fully intend to continue to pursue answers for justice.”
Casias’ cause and manner of death will be determined by the Office of the Medical Investigator.
“The NMSP extend their deepest condolences to the Casias and Mondragon families during this difficult time,” the department added in their statement.
On the day of her disappearance, Casias brought food to her daughter at work and left the area around 1 p.m., according to KRQE.
When her daughter returned home from work, she grew concerned when she discovered that Casias had left behind her cell phone, purse, keys and wallet. The family later learned that a person saw Casias walking alone on the road that same day, which was verified by doorbell cameras located along State Road 518.
A Facebook page was created to help amid the search for Casias, which described her as “a beloved mother, daughter, sister and friend.”
The page also shared that they offered a $7,000 reward for information leading to her return.
Additionally, the family set up a GoFundMe page to help raise money for the reward. “This gofundme was set up in Melissa’s parent’s name, for the sole purpose of offering a REWARD for information leading to Melissa’s return. We are looking for support in furthering this investigation,” the page read. “Unfortunately, cases go cold all the time, and the police will sooner or later need to turn their attention to a new crime. We want to keep Melissa’s disappearance in the public eye, and encourage people to share what they know.”
