The wife of retired Air Force Major General William Neil McCasland has addressed what she called “misinformation” about his disappearance.
McCasland, who led major Air Force science and technology portfolios, has been missing since February 27—no sightings have been reported as of Monday, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office said.
His wife, Susan McCasland Wilkerson, issued a statement against “misinformation” in which she said her husband did not have dementia and dispelled rumors about a “concerning” phone call.
She also said she doubts that Neil McCasland was kidnapped for any classified information he may have known from his career in the military or for his “brief association with the UFO community.”
Newsweek has contacted Wilkerson via direct message on social media for comment.
The Context
McCasland’s disappearance has attracted national attention because he oversaw major Air Force science and technology programs and previously led the Air Force Research Laboratory, roles that placed him near highly classified projects.
The case has prompted coordination between the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI’s Albuquerque field office, New Mexico State Search and Rescue, Albuquerque Mountain Rescue, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the Albuquerque Police Department, his wife said.
What To Know
The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office said McCasland was last seen on February 27 at about 11 a.m. in the area of Quail Run Court NE in Albuquerque, and a Silver Alert was issued due to unspecified medical issues, with authorities urging residents to report any tips.
In a statement posted to Facebook earlier this month, Wilkerson said dozens of official searchers, along with friends and neighbors coordinating with authorities, have used ground teams, horseback units, drones, helicopters, three types of search dogs, and neighborhood canvassing, including checks for Ring and wildlife videos.
She said she wanted to “dispel” some of the “misinformation” about the case, including what she said were some people’s assumptions that the health condition mentioned in the Silver Alert issued for McCasland was Alzheimer’s.
“Neil is at some risk, but not from dementia,” Wilkerson said. “He was not confused and disoriented.”
Wilkerson also said, “There was no concerning Friday-morning telephone call to a close relative.”
“I have been in contact with all of his close relatives and some not-so-close ones,” she said. “This is a complete fabrication.”
Wilkerson then went on to say that while her husband “had access to some highly classified programs and information,” but retired nearly 13 years ago, and “has had only very commonly held clearances since.”
“It seems quite unlikely that he was taken to extract very dated secrets from him,” she said.
This comes after investigative journalist Ross Coulthart, who is known for his work looking into UFOs, said during Sunday’s episode of his podcast, Reality Check with Ross Coulthart, that the disappearance “is an issue of grave concern.”
Wilkerson also addressed some chatter around McCasland’s relationship “with the UFO community” – he previously led the Air Force Research Laboratory and did work tied to sites historically associated with UFO investigations.
After McCasland retired, he worked briefly with former Blink-182 frontman Tom DeLonge, who founded the organization To The Stars, which previously did research on UFOs.
“Neil worked with Tom for a bit shortly after his Air Force retirement as an unpaid (Neil’s choice) consultant on military and technical/scientific matters to lend verisimilitude to Tom’s fiction book and media activities,” Wilkerson said.
But she added that there was “less contact” between the men and the “UFO community” after a Russian hacking incident.
“Neil does not have any special knowledge about the ET bodies and debris from the Roswell crash stored at Wright-Patt,” she said. “Though at this point with absolutely no sign of him, maybe the best hypothesis is that aliens beamed him up to the mothership.”
“However, no sightings of a mothership hovering above the Sandia Mountains have been reported,” she said.
Coulthart questioned the timing of McCasland’s disappearance, as the week before he was last seen, U.S. President Donald Trump announced in a Truth Social post that he had directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to begin identifying and releasing any government files related to unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and aliens.
On Monday, when the search entered its 11th day, a police spokesperson told The New York Post: “Investigators have contacted more than 600 homeowners in the neighborhood near Mr. McCasland’s residence to request security camera footage or information.”
McCasland is described as 5 feet 11 inches tall, approximately 160 pounds, with blue eyes and white hair, according to police alert’s details.
What People Are Saying
Susan McCasland Wilkerson said in her Facebook post: “I am so grateful to one and all for their unflagging dedicated efforts and support. All the thoughts and prayers from around the country are much appreciated. I will update if/when any real information comes in.”
Journalist Coulthart, who is known for his work looking into UFOs, said during Sunday’s episode of his podcast, Reality Check with Ross Coulthart, that the disappearance is a “grave national security crisis,” as he is a man “with some of the most sensitive secrets of the United States in his head.”
What Happens Next
Investigators will continue canvassing, collecting and reviewing home security footage, and pursuing tips in coordination with federal and local agencies.
Wilkerson said she would provide updates “if/when any real information comes in,” and expressed gratitude for nationwide messages of support.