Nearly a year after Los Alamos National Laboratory employee Melissa Mondragon Casias vanished without a trace, her family says the search that once centered on bringing her home has become a fight to uncover the truth behind her death.

In a lengthy and emotional public statement shared on June 23, Melissa’s relatives announced a series of major developments in the investigation, revealing they have shifted their focus from searching for the missing mother to pursuing justice after her remains were identified in May.

The family also confirmed they have hired legal counsel, ended their relationship with the private investigation firm that had publicly championed Melissa’s case for months, and continue to reject any suggestion that the 53-year-old voluntarily disappeared or took her own life.

“It’s been a while since we have shared any updates,” the family wrote in a Facebook statement.

“As much as we have wanted to keep hope alive, we knew in our hearts this was going to be a recovery, not a reunion.”

“We are devastated by the confirmation that Melissa is no longer with us. Now, with the knowledge that she is gone, our focus has of course shifted from finding her, to seeking justice.”

The announcement comes just weeks after New Mexico State Police confirmed that skeletonized human remains discovered in a remote area of Carson National Forest on May 28 had been positively identified as Melissa through dental records.

Investigators previously told Los Angeles Magazine that a handgun was recovered near the remains, while an initial CT scan of Melissa’s skull reportedly found no bullets or other projectiles.

Authorities have emphasized that the cause and manner of death remain undetermined pending the completion of the Office of the Medical Investigator’s examination.

Police have repeatedly stressed that they are keeping every possibility on the table.

According to investigators, they continue pursuing investigative leads while following the physical evidence, adding that all potential causes and manners of death remain under consideration until forensic testing is complete.

Melissa disappeared on June 26, 2025, after what should have been a routine workday.

The longtime administrative assistant at Los Alamos National Laboratory reportedly drove her husband, Mark Casias, to work before turning around after realizing she had forgotten her employee identification badge.

She then returned toward Taos County, stopped to deliver lunch to her daughter at work, and was later captured on surveillance footage walking alone only a short distance from her home.

That video became the final confirmed sighting of Melissa alive.

Her unexplained disappearance quickly gained national attention, particularly after online speculation connected her case to several other scientists, government contractors and national defense employees whose deaths or disappearances have fueled widespread discussion in recent years.

While investigators have never publicly linked those cases, Melissa’s disappearance became one of the most closely watched missing persons investigations in New Mexico.

Now, with confirmation that she has died, her family’s priorities have fundamentally changed.

One symbolic change involves the Facebook page that once served as a hub for search efforts.

Relatives announced they have renamed it “Justice for Melissa Mondragon Casias,” reflecting what they describe as a new mission centered on accountability rather than recovery.

The family also disclosed significant changes behind the scenes.

For months, Emerald Eye Investigations and private investigator Thomas McNally had played a highly visible role in keeping Melissa’s case in the public eye, often questioning the early narrative that she voluntarily left home.

However, Melissa’s relatives confirmed the investigative firm is no longer involved.

Despite the separation, the family expressed gratitude for McNally’s efforts over the past year.

“We are grateful for his fierce advocacy,” they wrote.

“We believe he has played a pivotal role in shifting public opinion. He has shown clearly that this was not a voluntary disappearance, rather a potential homicide and should be treated as such. We wish him luck in future endeavors, and our focus remains on seeking Justice for Melissa.”

The announcement follows recent legal proceedings involving McNally and Melissa’s husband.

Earlier this month, a New Mexico judge granted Mark Casias a temporary restraining order against the investigator after allegations that McNally had harassed him through social media and other public communications.

The family did not mention those court proceedings in its statement.

Instead, they devoted much of their message to explaining why they have consistently rejected claims that Melissa voluntarily abandoned her family.

“We want to be very clear, we do not know the details of what happened, and we are not accusing anyone,” they wrote.

“But we have observed extremely unsettling behavior that simply cannot be explained.”

The family argued that early suggestions Melissa willingly disappeared made it more difficult for investigators to fully appreciate the seriousness of the case.

“For the first 11 months, we were very concerned about the claims that Melissa left voluntarily,” the statement continued.

“Because of the narrative spread by her husband that Melissa left, it was a difficult uphill battle to get Melissa’s case to be treated with the seriousness that it deserves.”

Although they stopped short of accusing anyone of wrongdoing, relatives said they continue to believe investigators should carefully examine every aspect of the case.

“Our stance has always been that there are still many stones left unturned and there is so much for law enforcement to explore regarding his whereabouts that day, communications that day and potential involvement.”

They also reiterated that they have never believed Melissa intentionally disappeared or harmed herself.

“We have never believed Melissa left, or that she would hurt herself, and we have faith that the physical evidence, circumstantial evidence, digital evidence and witness statements will lead to the truth coming out.”

To assist with that effort, the family announced they have retained New Mexico law firm Parnall & Adams.

In its own public statement, the firm confirmed it is representing Melissa’s maternal family while the criminal investigation continues.

“Our firm is assisting the maternal family of Melissa Casias to ensure that all facets of the investigation have been completed with the requisite expertise and integrity that Melissa deserves,” the attorneys said.

The firm also encouraged anyone with direct knowledge about Melissa’s disappearance or the discovery of her remains to contact either New Mexico State Police or the legal team.

Attorney David Adams later explained why he believes outside legal assistance may still prove valuable despite the passage of time.

“In my experience, when I am brought in late in a case and investigative errors have already occurred, there is often little that can be done beyond identifying where the investigation fell short,” Adams said.

“But this case is different.”

According to Adams, the investigation remains active enough that meaningful assistance can still be provided.

“Because the investigation is still active, there is a real opportunity to review the work being done, provide meaningful assistance to law enforcement where needed, and help ensure things are handled correctly.”

He also revealed that attorneys have identified what they describe as additional evidence requiring review by the Office of the Medical Investigator.

“We discovered new evidence that had to be included in that investigation,” Adams said, without publicly elaborating on the nature of the material.

Authorities have not announced when the final autopsy findings or official determination regarding Melissa’s death will be released.

Until then, investigators continue gathering evidence while Melissa’s loved ones remain committed to finding answers.

More than a year after she vanished during what appeared to be an ordinary workday, the family says their determination has only strengthened.

“We remain committed to honoring Melissa’s memory and seeing the truth on her behalf,” they wrote.

For those closest to Melissa Mondragon Casias, the heartbreaking confirmation of her death has ended one chapter of an agonizing journey.

But they insist the most important chapter—the search for justice and a full accounting of what happened during her final hours—has only just begun.