Retired Major General William Neil McCasland was photographed leaving a sporting goods store in New Mexico one day before he disappeared from his Albuquerque home on February 27, according to a newly released image from the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office. The photo, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by Los Angeles Magazine journalist Lauren Conlin, shows McCasland carrying a large white bag and a smaller item during daylight hours on February 27. McCasland's wife, Susan Wilkerson, reported he left their residence around 11am local time without his phone, wallet, wearable technology, or prescription sunglasses, and alleged he 'planned not to be found.' McCasland's military career involved access to classified information related to UFOs and nuclear weapons programs.
Sheriff's Office Releases Photo Following FOIA Request
The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office released the photograph after journalist Lauren Conlin submitted a Freedom of Information Act request. In a post on X, Conlin noted that McCasland was wearing sunglasses and appeared alert as he exited the outdoor equipment retailer. The image shows him carrying a large white carrier bag and a smaller item under his left arm. Conlin suggested McCasland may have been collecting previously ordered goods from the store, as the retailer allows customers to place orders online and pick them up in person. The contents of the packages remain unknown.
McCasland Left Home Without Personal Items on February 27
Susan Wilkerson told a 911 operator in February that her husband departed their home around 11am local time on February 27. 'He's left his phone, he changed his clothes into I don't know what. I think he's on foot,' Wilkerson said in the recorded call. She stated McCasland left without his mobile phone, wallet, wearable technology, and prescription sunglasses. Wilkerson alleged her husband 'planned not to be found.' McCasland remained affiliated with the Kirtland Partnership, a charitable organization supporting Kirtland Air Force Base, a military research facility and nuclear weapons laboratory in New Mexico.
Witness Reports Dinner with McCasland on February 26
Officers interviewed an unidentified female witness by telephone who stated she and a US Space Force member had dinner with McCasland the evening of February 26. The witness said she worked alongside McCasland and described his security clearance level: 'He was the head of Air Force Research Lab to the point the man's names are in the UFO documents that are fixed to be released. He's in that depth, so he has a very high security clearance.' The witness said McCasland did not behave normally during the dinner on February 26. 'I was shocked this morning when I saw the alert because what I noticed Thursday evening [February 26] is that he wasn't his usual self. He was just kind of spacey and quiet, and you know that happens with people,' the witness stated.
FAQ
When did Major General McCasland disappear?
McCasland disappeared from his Albuquerque home on February 27. His wife reported he left around 11am local time without his phone, wallet, wearable technology, or prescription sunglasses.
What does the newly released photo show?
The photo, released by the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office following a Freedom of Information Act request, shows McCasland leaving a sporting goods store during daylight hours on February 27 carrying a large white bag and a smaller item.
What did the witness say about McCasland's behavior before his disappearance?
An unidentified witness who had dinner with McCasland on the evening of February 26 told officers he 'wasn't his usual self' and appeared 'spacey and quiet' during the meal.
