Search Continues for Missing Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. William Neil McCasland as Unseasonably Warm Weather Hinders High-Tech EffortsBERNALILLO COUNTY, N.M. — An experienced hiker and avid outdoorsman, William Neil McCasland isn’t the typical missing person, but the retired Air Force major general hasn’t been seen since he walked out of his Albuquerque home on the morning of February 27, leaving behind his phone, prescription glasses and wearable devices.As part of the search, authorities flew a helicopter equipped with infrared cameras over the cliffs and canyons near his home at night, hoping to spot him by his heat signature. But the unseasonably warm spring turned the landscape against them.“The mountain was just lit up like a candle,” Lt. Kyle Woods of the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office said. “We couldn’t differentiate from heat signatures and the heat from the rocks.”McCasland, 68, was last seen at his residence in the Quail Run Court NE area of Albuquerque’s Northeast Heights on the morning of Feb. 27, 2026. A detailed timeline released by the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) shows a repairman interacted with him around 10 a.m. His wife, Susan McCasland Wilkerson, left for a medical appointment at approximately 11:10 a.m. and returned at 12:04 p.m. to find him gone. She reported him missing at 3:07 p.m.He left behind items he rarely went without — his cell phone, prescription glasses, and wearable fitness devices.

However, investigators noted that his hiking boots, wallet, a .38-caliber revolver with leather holster, and possibly a red backpack were unaccounted for.A gray U.S. Air Force sweatshirt was later discovered about 1.25 miles east of the home on March 7; preliminary testing showed no blood, and family has not yet confirmed it belonged to him. At a second home in Pagosa Springs, Colorado — roughly 200 miles north — authorities recovered a light green long-sleeve button-up outdoor shirt and hiking boots believed to be his.McCasland is a highly accomplished retired U.S. Air Force Major General who commanded the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy with a Ph.D. from MIT, he spent his career on major space and defense programs. An avid outdoorsman, he frequently hiked, ran, and cycled in Albuquerque’s Northeast Heights and the rugged Sandia foothills.Search operations remain extensive and coordinated through the New Mexico Department of Public Safety and State Police Search and Rescue. Volunteer teams have deployed K-9 units, horses, drones, and ground crews. Over 700 homes have been canvassed, and authorities are reviewing extensive surveillance and doorbell camera footage from the critical window between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Feb. 27. A statewide Silver Alert remains active.Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen and Lt. Woods have stressed there is no evidence of foul play, though nothing has been ruled out. McCasland had reportedly mentioned experiencing “mental fog” in recent weeks, but officials emphasize he was exceptionally intelligent and capable.“Arguably, he would still be the most intelligent person in the room that any of us would be in,” Woods noted.Seventeen days into the search — now approaching three weeks — officials acknowledge the vast, rocky terrain filled with hidden canyons and cliffs makes the effort extraordinarily challenging. Survival odds diminish significantly after this much time in the wilderness.Anyone with information is urged to contact the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office tip line at 505-468-7070.Reported by Bryan KerriganExecutive Director, Unite the Futureunitethefuture.comRecent photo released by Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (left) and official U.S. Air Force portrait (right).Search and rescue volunteers from Sandia respond to wilderness misadventures – News ReleasesRugged Sandia Mountains terrain similar to the search area — cliffs, canyons, and rocky foothills where volunteers continue ground searches.The search remains active. Updates will be posted as new information becomes available. For ongoing coverage and awareness on stories that matter, visit unitethefuture.com.