The Case of Melissa Casias and the Erased Evidence

Hi Crime Junkies, I'm your host Ashley. Flowers. >> And I'm Brit. You guys, last year I. received an email from a Crime Junkie. A. woman named Jasmine wanted help because. her aunt had recently vanished from Taos. County, New Mexico. and no one could agree on what happened. to her. But everyone did agree to speak with us. because at the heart of it, they all say. they want to know what happened to her. Her husband and her daughter think that. she left on her own. Other family. believes that she was a victim of foul.

play. To be honest with you, I don't know what to believe. Each side. believes their theory so fervently that. I'm afraid my recounting of the facts as. I know them are going to upset everyone. because even the facts don't make sense. But that usually means that we're. missing [music] something, a piece of. the puzzle that maybe one of you out. there hearing this right now might have. And there is a small chance that missing. piece has bigger implications than I.

could have ever imagined when I first. read Jasmine's [music] email last year. This is the story of Melissa Casillas. On the afternoon of Thursday, June 26th, 2025, 18-year-old Sierra Casillas is. working at a coffee shop in Taos, New. Mexico when she steps away to check a. voicemail from her dad, Mark. Now his. tone is tight, like something is off. He.

wanted her to know that he'd gotten a. call from her mom's supervisor who told. him that Melissa hadn't shown up for. work [music] that day. Now to Mark, that seems impossible. because he and Melissa both work at Los. Alamos National Laboratory. He is a. superintendent, she's an administrative. assistant. They share a car and commute. together every single day, including. that day. So how could she not be there? But Sierra already knows something he. doesn't, which is that Melissa drove the. hour and 15 minutes back from the lab.

after dropping Mark off. So, she was. there at the house at like 7:30, 7:45-ish [music]. when Sierra woke up that morning, which. was way out of the norm, by the way. But, she told Sierra that she had. forgotten her security badge. And since. she was back home anyway, she would. probably just work remotely or maybe. even take the day off. Now, Sierra kind. of assumes that she had done the latter. because she saw her mom for a second. time later in the day, just before 1:00. when she'd stop by the coffee shop. Sierra works at to bring her lunch. Plus, she'd texted her about a half an. hour after that. So, all to say, like,

even though her dad seems worried, Sierra wasn't. Now, since she's at least. had some kind of communication with. Melissa in the last hour, Mark asked her. to text her mom. And she's surprised. when that little message bubble turns. green. iPhone users know what that. means. That message didn't deliver like. normal. Phone's like off or there is no. like regular service, something. So, she opens up the location app where. she can normally see her mom's face pop. up. But, this time. nothing loads. Melissa's location has.

just stopped transmitting. That's when. the worry starts to creep in for her. because her mom never lets her phone. die. This is all concerning enough that. Sierra decides to leave work early to. make sure that her mom's okay. Their. house is just a few miles away. She's. there by like 3:30. The family's white. Jetta is there in the driveway. Their. dogs are outside alone. And that is a. little bit odd since they're really. protective and usually stick to Melissa. like glue. But, inside things are even.

stranger. Melissa's not there, but lots of her. stuff is. On the kitchen table, Sierra. finds her mom's work phone and badge, [music]. her keys, and this small gold chain that. her mother-in-law gave her that she. normally wears like every single day. Then, in the loft area of their house. that what connects to her bedroom, Sierra sees a paycheck that she had. given her mom that afternoon to deposit. for her. And finally, she goes into her. mom's office where she finds Melissa's.

purse, [music] her wallet, and both of. her personal cell phones, her old phone. and then her new one that she just. replaced it with. When Sierra picks them. up, like this is when panic sets in. because. both phones show a welcome screen. That. backdrop that you see when a device is. brand new, except we know these aren't. new. And Sierra realizes that they have been. factory reset, like wiped clean. And. when she tries to log into Melissa's.

iCloud, it seems like the password has. been changed. So, from the house, Sierra. frantically calls her dad. He's not far. behind. He'd caught a ride with a. co-worker. So, whatever's going on, they. can figure it out together when he gets. home. And when he gets there, he walks. through the property with a different. lens. Mark told us that he is a hunter. and a professional outfitter, someone. who takes paying clients through back. country terrain. So, he like knows how. to read the land. And right away, he. began looking for signs of a struggle.

And Melissa's tough, and she's not. someone who would have gone down without. a fight. If someone forced her out of. the house, there would be evidence of. it. But there isn't. Nothing is missing, and. the only thing that catches his eye is. an unfamiliar set of tire tracks in the. driveway, but they share that driveway. with a neighbor. Now, from what he can. tell, he says they're still unknown, maybe not the neighbor's car, but they. look like they might have come from a. Jeep. Not knowing what else to do, Mark. picks up the phone and calls New Mexico.

State Police Dispatch right around 5:00. [music] p.m. New Mexico State Police, this is Thomas. Yeah, this is uh Mark Cassias. Uh you. know what, we're um we cannot locate my. wife. Uh we haven't heard from her all. day. Uh. from work to work this morning was the. last time I saw her work. She My. daughter saw her. around 1:00. All her stuff is here in. the house, but she's not here and it's. just not like her to not call or check. in and and take her purse and her phone.

and it looks like her phone is been My. daughter says it it looks like it's been. reset, but there you know, so we looked. all around the house everywhere on our. property. We cannot find her or nothing. and. I don't know what to do. The car that. she was in is parked here at the house. The keys are here. The house was locked. Uh everything everything was was. is here. You know what I mean? So she. she went from the plaza. She came home. The car was here parked in the yard. The. keys are on the kitchen table. What's.

her name? Melissa Cassias. And we called the hospital to see. because I mean, you know, if anyone No. one There's no one in there. you know, at all like that cuz we. thought well, maybe if something. happened to her. Her purse and. everything's here, so no one would be. able to identify her. And all you said was she took was her. phone? She didn't take nothing. That's the. thing is her phone and everything's here. and she always takes her stuff with her.

My daughter was trying to track her. location and they always track each. other. Mhm. But her But her phone's wiped. The. thing is well, we can't get in she would. never have wiped all the pictures off. and all the information off of her. phone. Officers are dispatched to the Cassias. home and after getting a quick walk. through of the house, they ask Mark and. Sierra to lay out their day [music] in. detail. Now Mark says that he and. Melissa left for work early that morning.

as usual. And we're talking like early. early. His shift starts at 6:30 in the. morning. And And they live like over an. hour away. >> Yeah, and Melissa was behind the wheel. And like she always did, she dropped him. off at his building at around 6:15 and. then she would drive to her building on. campus and park her car there. But today. Mark reminded Melissa that he needed to. run to the bank at 11:00, so she agreed. to bring the car back to him then. Now, what he didn't know is that she turned. around and went home. We know Sierra woke up at 7:45 to find.

her mom there, which surprised her. But. when Sierra mentions that Melissa's. excuse about like being home was like. her forgotten badge, Mark says, "Wait, that that can't be right." He had. watched Melissa hand her badge to. security at the guard check himself when. they got to the lab that morning. Mark. says that he started calling and texting. Melissa at around 10:45, but he wasn't. getting anything back, which he says. concerned him cuz A, they normally talk. throughout the day. B, more than needing.

to go to the bank at 11:00, like she was. his ride home, but she seemed to be MIA. So he eventually asked Sierra to pass. along a question to her mom. Should he. just find another ride home? >> And did they often communicate through. Sierra like that? >> No, never. So that stood out even if she. didn't think too much of it at the time, but like now it does. And so Sierra. reaches out and she gets a response from. her mom. Yes, tell him to find a ride. home. That was at 1:33 p.m. Not too long. after she'd stopped by to bring Sierra.

lunch. >> And why isn't she just answering Mark? This is the thing, I couldn't tell you. >> I mean, I'd be pissed. Well, Mark says. that it wasn't unheard of for him to get. rides home with a colleague, so he says. that like I mean, he doesn't say he was. pissed or whatever, he just says he. makes this plan, didn't think much more. of it until Melissa's supervisor called. him at around 2:00 saying that she'd. been a no call, no show, which he says. that is what totally threw him for a. loop. Now, on the phone with dispatch, Mark had said that Melissa didn't take.

anything with her. But when he and. Sierra actually look more carefully, a. few small things are missing. Melissa's toothbrush, her reading. glasses, and sunglasses. And most. significantly, what they calculate to be. a 90-day supply of her thyroid. medication. >> That doesn't exactly scream foul play. No, but Melissa just leaving without a. word to her family does not make sense. either. Mark tells police that they were.

supposed to leave the next morning for a. camping trip. And beyond that, Melissa. is a devoted mother. Mark has three. daughters from a previous marriage, but. Sierra is Melissa's only child, and the. two of them are close in a way that is. hard to overstate. Especially after. Sierra survived a car accident in 2022. that killed her best friend, a girl who. had been like a sister to her. And from. that, Sierra suffered serious injuries, and the emotional damage lingered for. longer than the physical. Like it had.

been a rough few years. But things were finally looking up. Sierra had just graduated high school. She was set to move to Albuquerque in. the fall for beauty school so she could. become an aesthetician. And Melissa had. planned to rent a two-bedroom apartment. there to like stay with her for the. first couple of months just to like get. her settled. And Mark told us that he. planned to kind of go back and forth. Plus, he tells police that they have a. strong marriage. Melissa has never. mentioned wanting to leave him, like. never mentioned wanting to leave the. girls, none of it. Like this just.

doesn't make sense. >> Right, so why would she walk away from. all of that? That's the question that. hangs in the air as family members who. had gotten word about her being missing. start arriving. Like Melissa's parents. [music] and her brother, her sister. Trudy, and Trudy's daughter Jasmine. Melissa's parents, Jose and Joanne. Mondragon, live nearby, although they. had been in Albuquerque visiting Trudy. that day. But once they heard what was. going on from Sierra, they were in the. car. And these are long-time Crime.

Junkie listeners. So, even in shock, they said that they felt like they were. prepared and knew what to do. They. worked the phones during the 2 and 1/2. hour drive to Taos, calling relatives. and hospitals, hoping that Melissa would. be home safe by the time that they got. there. Instead, they pulled up to a. property bathed in police lights. [music] And they were told to wait. outside, away from Mark and Sierra. Now, they don't believe for a second that. Melissa left on her own. Something bad.

must have happened. And they already. have someone in mind, Diego Martinez, who is Sierra's ex-boyfriend. Now, Diego. had been behind the wheel in the crash. [music] that killed Sierra's best. friend. He suffered a traumatic brain. injury in the crash, and according to. the family, his behavior became. frightening. In 2024, Sierra took out a restraining. order against him, citing physical. abuse, break-ins, stolen keys, and. threats against her and loved ones,

including specific threats against. Melissa. Diego had also sent Melissa. sexually explicit text messages. And did. Mark and Sierra bring him up at any. point, too? Not that I know of. Still. though, from the very first night, Diego's name is already on the table. But before that thread can even go. anywhere, something else comes up. Jasmine has been blasting [music]. missing person posts on social media. since the moment she understood what was. happening. And almost immediately, someone had reached out. And this isn't.

just anybody. This is a guy named Lloyd, who has known both Melissa and Mark. since they were children. And he tells Melissa's brother that he. saw Melissa earlier that afternoon. walking along a highway close to her. house, highway 518, in a spot that is. just a couple of miles away. He says. that she was wearing a white sweater, and she was kind of like stumbling or. staggering. And there was this old blue. Dodge truck nearby, sort of lurking. Now, this is where the cohesive story I wish.

I could tell you fractures right down. the middle. Because from this point on, almost every significant moment in this. case is going to come in at least two. versions, with plenty of contradictions. along the way. So, let me just lay out. the sides for you right now. In one corner, you have Mark and all. four of his daughters, including Sierra. I'm going to call them the Casillas. household, even though they don't all. live there. In the other corner, you.

have Melissa's parents, some siblings, her niece Jasmine, some friends, and I'm. going to call them the Mondragons, even. though not everyone on that side carries. that name. And as far as the Mondragons. are concerned, this moment, when this. tip from Lloyd comes in, is the exact. moment that they begin to become. suspicious. Not of Diego, who they'd first told. police about, but of Mark.

When that tip from Lloyd comes in, Jasmine rushes to tell police what he. saw. They have to check this out, go to. where he saw her. She could be hurt, she. could be. Jasmine doesn't know, but this at least. is a trail that they can follow, right? But instead of being excited about the. lead, Mark immediately shuts it down. He. tells officers there's no way that this. was Melissa, because she wasn't wearing. a white sweater that day. Sierra. remembers that she had on a light. turquoise top when she saw her like.

around lunchtime. >> Okay, she could have changed. And also, he says, Melissa doesn't have a limp. So, in his mind, the top's neither here. nor there, because he's like, whoever. this woman is that's like stumbling or. staggering, this is definitely not my. wife. >> Unless it is and she got hurt, which is. like all the more reason to go check it. out and make sure it's not her. >> Listen, I know. But like, here's the. thing, the biggest WTF moment for me is. that. police just go along with it. No need to.

check that out. Mark says it's not her, we're moving on. You're kidding me. I. wish I was exaggerating. But no. What if. she got the limp because she like jumped. out of her car? I mean, she could have. been drugged. >> The girl could have tripped over a. pebble while just like out on a walk. Like, I could talk about this for hours. and we're going to get into it more. later, I promise. But. they decide not to look. And in the. meantime, that night, when the. Mondragons get to talk to Mark, they're.

expecting a husband out of his mind with. worry. >> Yeah. Instead, what they get is anger. Mark tells them that he and Melissa had. gotten into an argument that morning. before they left for [music] work. He. had caught her vaping. They bickered. throughout the entire drive to the lab. [music] And when she dropped him off, she told him to find his own effing ride. home. Wait. Mark didn't mention any of that to. police. >> Oh, no. And he doesn't for a while. But.

if the Mondragons' account is accurate, it means that Mark knew from the jump. that Melissa wasn't planning to drive. him home. Not because of anything that. Sierra later relayed in the day. And on. top of that, they say that Mark starts. badmouthing Melissa almost immediately, telling them that Melissa had been on a. roll with eff-ups lately, that she had. destroyed their finances, accumulating. debt, getting backed up on tax payments, And are police searching the place at.

all, or are they just taking all these. statements that first night? No, they. they searched. Mark lets police, including lead investigator Agent. Ezekiel Esquivel Mata. He goes through. the house and like they take. photographs. And while there was nothing. that stood out to the first responding. officer who did that like once over of. the place. You know, when you come at it with an. investigator's eye and you like zoom in, there is more that you pick up on. Like. they hone in on a pair of Mark's hunting. boots sitting [music] on his and.

Melissa's bedroom floor next to a fish. tank. Some of the mud on them look. fresh, but Mark insists [music] that he. hadn't worn those boots in ages. And he. points to what he says is proof, a. spider web inside. Nobody put their foot. in there recently. Except when agents. look, they don't see any spider webs. For a man who says that he's been at. work at Inside all day, fresh mud on. hunting boots is a hard thing to explain. away. Then, when agents review the scene. photos the next [music] morning, this is.

now Friday, June 27th, they get more. suspicious. Right next to one of those boots is a. dried drop. of something. Something that looks an. awful lot like it could be blood. So. when the Mondragons and Melissa's. friends are out canvassing neighborhoods. and hanging out missing person flyers, Mark goes in to talk to police. Agents. put the photos in front of him. They ask. him about the stain, but Mark says he's.

sure that's not blood. But he's getting. like more and more agitated as the. questioning continues until finally he. asks if he should get a lawyer and he. just ends it right there. But they. detain him and seize his phone, which is. worth noting because despite what he. apparently later tells his daughters, he. did not hand it over voluntarily. according to what police told us. They. have to apply for a search warrant to. get its contents by doing a forensic. download, which that's going to take.

some time. But one thing they're able to. do really quickly while he's at the. station that day is verify his alibi. The lab confirms that he was at work. that day And even his drive home is. accounted for because of that co-worker. who gave him a ride. He confirms that. trip. However, that doesn't close. anything out. No, it doesn't seem like. he could have physically done anything. to Melissa, but that doesn't prove that. he wasn't involved or that he doesn't. know more than he's letting on. So,

police get a search warrant for the. comb. They take Melissa's phones, they. take Mark's boots, and they run a. presumptive test on that stain by the. fish tank, which comes back positive for blood. So, they send out swabs of that for further. testing. Meanwhile, the Mondragons. decide to organize a search party, which. kicks off at Melissa's parents' house on. Saturday, June 28th. Now, Mark says he. didn't even know that that was. happening. I guess he stumbled across. news of it on Facebook. But once he.

does, he shows up. Not to help them look. for his missing wife, though. According to the Mondragons, he comes to. tell them that he's figured it all out, and he is sure that Melissa left on her. own. He says he'd spent some time going. through her paperwork and discovered. that their finances were in far worse. shape than he had actually realized. >> I mean, is he basically showing up and. saying, "Don't look for her again?" I. don't think those words, "Don't look for. her," came out of his mouth, but he is.

there to tell them why he thinks she. left on her own. He already told them. about the finances, though. Like, he. mentioned it that very first night. >> Right, but he now he wants them to. understand like the severity of it, which he says he is just now finally. like getting a good grasp of. Though, like the signs seem to have been there. So, starting a couple of years back, that's when Mark says he got this. humiliating wake-up call. He had taken. some co-workers out to lunch, tried to. pay, and his cards were declined. He.

looked into it and learned that his. checking and credit accounts were. overdrawn, and that his savings account. had been drained. When he confronted. Melissa about it, she told him that. she'd used the savings to pay their. taxes. An explanation that he accepted. But it rattled him enough that he. decided to separate their finances. He. told us that he took over the major. bills like vehicle payments, health. insurance, and he left Melissa to handle. the smaller monthly expenses. But by.

June of 2025, there were at least two. huge signs that things had only gotten. worse. One, their wages were being. garnished. And two, their security clearances at. the lab had been suspended because of. their deteriorating financial situation. Melissa even had to move workspaces. because she no longer had the clearance. required for the office where she'd been. working. Then. how can he claim that he didn't know how.

bad things were? Well, I mean, he's more. saying that he didn't realize how. catastrophic it had gotten, which is. kind of hard for the Mondragons to. believe because the couple had been hit. with more than a dozen lawsuits or. claims over the years. Mostly tied to. unpaid debts, business disputes, and. family matters. But he maintains that he was in the dark. on a lot of this stuff. That Melissa was. like intercepting legal paperwork and. hiding letters from attorneys or. whatever. >> doesn't make any sense. Like why would. she want to do that? I have no idea. But.

either way, like it seems like all of. this financial stuff was coming to a. head because he says that when he. confronted her about the wage. garnishment and asked how they were. going to afford Sierra's beauty school, Melissa told him that she had gotten a. lawyer and that they had an upcoming. court date to appeal a lawsuit judgment. But now, he just found out apparently. that wasn't true. There was no ongoing. appeal. And in all her paperwork, he'd. also discovered that she had applied for.

a personal loan to cover Sierra's. tuition and been rejected. And based on. the dates of things, it looks like she. had just gotten that rejection days. before she disappeared. Now, on top of. that, Mark tells everyone that things. weren't going well for Melissa. professionally. Besides the clearance. issue, she had also been flagged for. performance problems at work. So, Mark's theory, the one that he's telling. everyone, is that the pressure must have finally.

just reached a boiling point and Melissa. bolted before it all came crashing down. But, but, he also predicts that she's. going to be home before the weekend is. over because she has an important work. meeting on Monday. Or, you know what? He floats another. idea. Maybe Melissa loved Sierra so much. that she left on purpose so that Mark. could declare her dead in a few months. and then collect her life insurance and. like set Sierra up financially. What? >> Or, maybe she's just hiding out at her.

best friend's house. Someone should. probably check there. So, his theory is. what? Everything? Everything but foul. play, it seems. Where is he saying he. thinks she actually is though? Like, the. most likely place? I don't think anyone. gets like a clear answer about that. That's the thing. To the Mondragons, the. whole thing sounds less like a husband. trying to find his wife and more like. somebody trying to rapidly workshop. explanations. On top of that, while he's. coming up with all of the ways that she.

could have just walked off on her own, he finds time to criticize their search. efforts, saying that they're looking in. the wrong places, places Melissa. wouldn't go because she didn't know them. well. And he keeps bringing up his. confirmed alibi, even though nobody is. asking him about it. So, being the crime. junkies that the Mondragons are, they start recording their interactions. with Mark in the one-party consent state. of New Mexico. Starting with a call that Trudy made to.

check on Sierra the next day, Sunday. And she shared that recording. >> [music]. >> with us. I'm going to play you a snippet. of that call. In the parks and forests you love, there. are stories waiting to be told. I'm. Dilia D'Ambra, the host of Park. Predators, [music]. a true crime podcast that reminds you. sometimes the most beautiful places hide. the darkest secrets. Listen now wherever. you get your podcasts.

We know exactly what's going on, but I'm. not telling no one [ __ ] Okay. Well, as. long as you're sharing that with the. police, that's amazing. Well, you know. what I told the cops today I that we. have information. They're not even. calling me. I I sat there and knocked on. their door yesterday, would not answer. the thing, and I finally told the. detective, "If you're going to go over. there," I said, "I have a lot of. information, but if I'm going to go over. there and you're going to start. interrogating me again, I'm not going.". Well, we need to be concentrating on We. need to be concentrating on finding her. What's that? We need to find her.

>> there, Trudy. You understand? NO, NO, NO. I'M saying No, what I'm saying is. it doesn't help if you're locked up at. the police station. You need You need to. be out there. Well, you need to be out there doing I. went over there. I didn't know. You guys. never told me that this was going on. that this legal search was going on. yesterday. I'm like, "What the [ __ ] is. going on over here?" I never knew about. that. You I never knew about any of. that. No one's telling me what you guys. are doing. I could be directing and. saying, "No, focus on this area. Focus.

like I did the other day." You're. telling people all over that don't make. no sense. Well, we're. We are very open for you to share with. us what you what you want, what you're. willing to. Because, you know what? We. awesome. I I understand that that that they that. they said there was some sort of a drop. of blood in here. [ __ ] there's no. blood in here. And besides, like I told. you. the time frame does not match. The only. time she could have been hurt by me.

because I was identified in Los Alamos. No, you were at work. Mark. >> Mark, watch Trudy. Let me say something. so maybe you'll understand this. It's so. simple. If there was a drop of blood and. there was blood in this house, that. means I would have had to have hurt. Melissa before we left to work, right? Correct? No. That's why they let me out. of over there when they had me over. there. Up I was up in Los Alamos. Obviously, they determined everything. was in the time. >> I know you were at work. Melissa was fine at 1:00 in the.

afternoon in Los Alamos. >> You were at work. No, no. I know that. They said I had a. gallon of blood on the floor and it's. irrelevant to Melissa. >> Right. No, and it makes sense. >> This call goes on for a little while. longer. No matter how upset Mark gets, Trudy [music] tries to keep calm. And. she, you know, she's not being. confrontational at all. She is in. information gathering mode. She wants to. keep him talking. And that's when he. says something that catches her really.

off guard. Honestly, one of her biggest. takeaways is this. >> And then so I changed the locks to all. the doors so she would have to she. cannot come in with the key and grab her. stuff and bail. She would have to. contact Sierra to open up the thing. We. put cameras up and everything to to see. if she was coming in. >> Okay. And you know what? That's a good. idea. The cameras. He changed the locks. 3 days after she vanished. >> Yeah. Which like, why would he even need to do. that if she left her keys behind?

>> Dude, that's the thing. Like, I don't. think he ever explains that. I'm like, she left her keys. She couldn't get in. anyway. >> I know. >> Also, I I still don't get where she. would go. Like, she didn't take her. phone. It sounds like she couldn't have. taken any money. She's got nothing with. her. >> not nothing. Remember, she Well, according to Mark and Sierra, she's. missing from the house is what her. toothbrush, her reading glasses, her. sunglasses, and then that 90-day supply. of her thyroid medication. >> Even that is like a little weird though, right? Like that's not exactly like a. disappearing packing list. Well, the.

Mondragons say that from the start they. think that Mark was trying to plant the. idea that someone came to get Melissa. pointing to those unfamiliar tire tracks. in the driveway. Remember as evidence. that another man had picked her up. But. the thing is like he doesn't say who. that would be though. I mean is he. implying that she like left him for. another man? >> It's hard to tell what he's saying. because Mark has offered a lot of. theories over the months about where she.

might have gone. Florida, Arizona, Washington, maybe she left with the help. from a contractor that she was having an. affair with. >> Wait, she was having an affair? No, that's the thing not that anyone knows. of. I think he's just guessing. Says, you know, it could have been a. contractor or maybe a hunter she knew or. a photographer from Colorado. Sometimes. he insinuates to the family that he. knows exactly where she is or who she's. with, but he won't give names which. feels so weird to them and weird to me. Even the theory that she would leave him. for another man in general though, I.

can't really get my head around from his. telling. Because in his first interview. he told detectives that their marriage. was great. There was nothing wrong. there. But that's not what police heard. from other people. Some of whom. described Mark as egotistical and. controlling. A man who allegedly. emotionally and financially abused. Melissa. And people have different. understandings of Mark and Melissa's. finances. Some say that she was burdened. with paying for everything even though. Mark made more money. So sure, she might.

have been in debt, but like in their. eyes that's really Mark's fault. And. yeah, there were lawsuits and stuff, but. records show that the majority of those. were against Mark alone. Some people. even say that the couple had talked. about splitting up after Sierra. graduated. And Mark had basically said. that everything was his, so Melissa. should be ready to just move out. So, when Melissa was talking about her plans. to stay in Albuquerque with Sierra, it sounded to them more like a marital.

separation than than just like this mom. helping her daughter get settled, which. is what Mark was saying. >> And Sierra had just graduated, right? >> Like like nearly a month before this. So, the timing is interesting, which police obviously confront him. with. Now, initially, he tells them none. of this is true. And he told us the same. thing. Though he acknowledges that. Melissa had told people that stuff. But. according to Agent Mata, Mark ultimately. confirmed it to police, admitted that he.

had encouraged Melissa to leave if she. wasn't happy. I mean, so. maybe this is why he seems so confident. in this walking away theory? Like he. told her to go. >> Maybe, but then why won't he tell people. who he thinks she's with if he thinks. that he even has like a sliver of an. idea? I mean, here's one of like the. stranger parts of this story. Mark. starts putting up these mysterious posts. on social media. Coded language he says. that only Melissa could understand. A.

way to let her know that he's tracking. her. Tracking her how? Or to where? I. don't know. He is not an easy guy to get. a straight answer from. Well, I'm like. thinking back, is he talking about like. a hunting tracking? Like he's like. on to her trail somehow? That, yes. And. listen, some of her trail that day has. already been confirmed by police. The. Cassias' home didn't have surveillance. cameras or anything like that, but there. were some outside the shopping plaza. where Sierra worked. And there is.

footage of Melissa alone, seemingly. fine, going to drop off lunch for her. daughter. At 12:56 p.m., Melissa's white. sedan comes in hot to a handicap parking. spot. Like she bumps into that I don't. know what I want to call it a guardrail, but you Like a parking stop. >> Yeah, like and it's so hard that the. whole car kind of shakes. So, she like. backs up a little bit. And then like 10. seconds later, she gets out of the car. and calmly starts walking down the. sidewalk with a sandwich for Sierra in. one hand. Then another camera picks her up in the.

plaza. We get a better look at her. She's in that turquoise T-shirt with a. sweatshirt or something like that tied. around her waist and jeans. And then a. minute later, she is back on that same. camera walking back to her car. No. sandwich anymore, but she's holding a. piece of paper in her hand, that check. that Sierra asked her to cash for her. Now, the parking lot camera picks her. back up getting into her car. But the. video cuts off before we actually see. her pulling away. So, I don't know what direction she went in,

but she had to have made it home after. this since her car, her keys, her. wallet, everything was. back there at the house, right? >> But I don't think Mark believes anything. happened to Melissa there, like at the. house. His searches seem to be more. focused in the spot along Highway 518. where Lloyd spotted Melissa. Wait, I. thought he was adamant that that could. not have been Melissa. Okay. So, Mark told us that when that lead came in.

that first night when police were there, he was totally unaware that the tipster. was someone who actually knew Melissa. So, that's like he dismissed it because. like he didn't want investigators going. on this like wild goose chase. Again, I. still think the reason he dismissed it. doesn't make sense, but whatever. But. then he says at some point over the. first couple of days, he learned that. Lloyd was the caller. And so I guess by. Tuesday, July 1st, enough time had. passed that he's at least willing to. entertain the idea that maybe it could.

have been. So, he drives out to that. stretch of highway looking for circling. birds, which is like a potential sign of. human remains. >> Right, but that means he's now on board. with a foul play theory. No. >> [laughter]. >> I know. Mark told our reporter Nina that. he never thought Melissa met with foul. play. But, if Lloyd's tip is true and if. Melissa had been injured or abducted, she wouldn't have made it far from that. spot. Like it's summer, it's hot,

remains attract scavenging birds. So, that's why he looked there on that. Tuesday morning. Like, you know, in an. absence of knowing what happened, maybe. everything's possible even if it's not. what he believed. Now, he told us that. when he went out that way, he happened. to see Lloyd outside in his yard. And. so, he decided to stop by and speak with. him. Now, police still haven't reached. out to Lloyd at that point, by the way. This is 5 days after Melissa was last. seen. And when Lloyd lays out what he. actually saw for Mark, this is when.

something shifts for Mark. Because Lloyd. says that he never described Melissa as. stumbling or staggering when he spoke. [music] to her brother. He tells Mark. that Melissa was just there 1 minute, gone the next. And Lloyd didn't actually see her get. into that blue truck that he saw or. anything like that. But like, that is. kind of the implication that he's. making. >> Wait. So, does Mark think this was. Melissa or not? >> Well, now he seems more convinced that. that was her. And if she wasn't injured.

or acting odd, it actually plays into. his theory that she wasn't in distress. She just like left. And what do the. Mondragons think? They've always felt. like this could have been her stumbling. or not. But even if she wasn't. stumbling, the Mondragons still believe. that she could have been in danger when. she was out there. They think everything. about this is screaming foul play. They. don't believe for a second that she left. willingly. Every theory that Mark has. about her walking away is just that, a. theory and a constantly changing one at.

that with no proof. So, after this. search when Mark comes to them again and. he's like, "I found something that makes. me even more positive that she left on. her own.". I imagine that they're pretty skeptical. But this time it's not just stories or. his word. This time Mark has proof. Armed with information from Lloyd about. exactly where he last saw Melissa and. the blue truck, Mark had taken Sierra. out to retrace Lloyd's steps. And in.

essence, he's trying to retrace. Melissa's. Not with old school hunting. tactics, he was looking for any house. with a surveillance camera pointed at. the road. And dude hit paydirt. He finds. a video from a house off of Highway 518. that you have to see to believe. The. timestamp is 2:18 p.m. on June 26th when. Melissa, alive and well, not stumbling, comes onto frame. She's alone and. walking at a brisk pace. Not as if she's.

scared or anything, just purposefully. She's wearing what looks to me like the. same outfit we saw her in when she. dropped lunch off to Sierra. But now her. hair is pulled back and she's carrying a. small backpack on her shoulders. For the Casillas side, this video is. proof that Melissa walked away on her. own two feet by choice. And Mark told us he wasn't thinking. about vindication or exonerating himself. at that moment, but it's hard to ignore. what this video means. That there might.

be a whole 'nother side to this story. A. completely different narrative about how. and why Melissa went missing. that will have you questioning. everything. Melissa Casillas part two, take two, ABC. marker. Just when everyone was beginning to. believe that something happened to. Melissa in her home, even, video footage.

emerged that proved Melissa was out of. her house and walking down Highway 518. alive and well. Something her husband, Mark Cassias, has been saying since. early on. And his version of events. reads like a completely different book. Not a shady, callous husband who had his. wife killed, but a frustrated one who. says that his wife abandoned him and. their daughter, leaving behind not so. much as a note or explanation. [music].

Even then, though, Mark says that some. of the allegations against him aren't. just misinterpreted, they're downright. wrong. So, let's go back to that first. night when police were there and the. Mondragons showed up and told us that. Mark was hostile and bad-mouthing. Melissa. Mark told us that never. happened. He says that he didn't speak. with them at all that night. [music] He. was completely focused on dealing with. police. Then there's that argument that. we're told he and Melissa had that. morning about the e-cigarette, right? He.

like caught her vaping. >> Mhm. It takes him a few interviews to. come clean about any relationship issues. to police, but he says that he only. withheld that information because he. wanted them focused on finding Melissa, not eyeballing him. He also says that. this like fight or argument wasn't some. big blow-up, just this like minor like. marital spat. And he denies that Melissa. ever cursed at him or told him to find. his own ride home. >> Well, didn't that come from him in the. first place? >> Well, that's what the Mondragons say, that he told them that. But, when we.

talked to him, he said, "No, that's not. true. He never said anything like that.". We also asked him about an early theory. he apparently mentioned, the one that. really rubbed some people the wrong way, right? About Melissa making herself. disappear so that he could declare her. dead and then get the life insurance. money for Sierra. Now, Mark, to us never. really confirmed or denied whether or. not he said that, but what he did tell. us is that he knows a person has to be. [music] missing for years before any of. that becomes legally relevant anyway. And actually, police come to learn that.

Melissa didn't even have a life. insurance policy anymore. I mean, she. used to, but that policy expired years. ago. Though, I'm not really sure if Mark. knew that. And Melissa's financial. records showed just how bad things had. gotten. Investigators find out that she. had negative account balances that. swallowed up half her paycheck the. second they hit and maxed out credit. cards that she hadn't made payments on. in months. And let's talk about the. physical evidence, like the muddy boots,

right? Mark says that he had recently. asked Melissa to refill the fish tank, which was right above where the boots. were sitting. And so, he thinks that. maybe she might have spilled [music]. water and re-wetted like old dried mud. that was already on them from like a. previous hunt. Which investigators think. is plausible. >> And the boots mattered like a lot less. once his alibi was confirmed though, right? >> Yeah, and like the same logic I think. then extends to the blood if it's even. human blood. We actually still don't know that for.

sure because what we know is they did. that presumptive test. It is blood. Police still didn't have the lab results. back when we last spoke to them. But. Mark is saying, "Listen, that could have. come from processing game or even from. their dog." But either way, it's hard to. make it mean much when we now know, to. your point, Melissa was clearly alive. and walking on her own after she left. the house. >> Well, and even if it does come back as. her blood, like she lived there. And. there's that, right? It's not like it's.

like this pool or anything. >> Right. So, blood and boots, put those. aside. >> Mhm. There's also the tech of it all. Investigators find out that Melissa. emailed a coworker the morning of the. 26th saying that she was going to be. late because something had come up with. her daughter Sierra. That wasn't true. So, it seems like Melissa was telling. [music] everyone a different story so. that she could make herself free that. day. >> Mhm. Mark, TBD exactly what she said to. him in the car on the drive there, but. like he seemed to think that she was.

going to be at work. >> Mhm. She told Sierra that she'd come. home because she forgot her badge, which. she had with her, we know. But, she told. her job something was up with her. daughter. And then, what they pull from. her phones, this is the detail more than. anything else that makes me think. Melissa had some kind of plan. Cuz. forensic downloads show that both of her. phones, they weren't wiped clean at the. same time. The older phone that she had, the one that she'd already replaced,

that was factory reset at 8:02 a.m. And then, her newer phone was wiped at. 1:38 p.m. I obsessed over this because. my gut tells me that if someone else. wiped the phones, I would think that. they would have wiped them both at the. same time, right? I mean, unless they didn't know that she had two. phones. Like, wiped one thinking it was. the phone, realized their mistake, and. had to come back and wipe the second. one. >> we know that Melissa must have reset.

that first phone at home, right? Because. remember, she's there when Sierra woke. up at around 7:45, right? So, the one. that she doesn't use, like in my mind, the one she doesn't use or she's not. going to need that day gets reset in the. morning. >> Mhm. Just get it over with. Then, she. has her phone through the day as she's. like bringing Sierra lunch, right? You. can't even say someone else has her. phone is like sending these messages. We. have her on video bringing Sierra lunch. at 1:00. Then, Melissa sent her daughter. that last text message at 1:33. And I mapped everything. Like, all of. that lines up to where if Melissa is at.

home when that reset happens at 1:38, then she could have very realistically. left then and then been at the spot she. is seen at on Highway 518 on camera at. 2:18. That's all the things that make me. believe like it had to be her who reset. them. But. why did she reset them? This is the. thing. I don't know. I mean there. I mean I I I feel like there's two. scenarios, right? Like if if she reset.

them, two scenarios. And like in those. scenarios, it's her walking away, right? Like so one, she took her own life, in. which case I don't know why you would. have to wipe all of your devices. >> I mean, unless you were hiding stuff you. didn't want anyone to ever find out. about. >> when you leave a note for that? Like it. to me this is like if you're if if. you're so overwhelmed by like your. marriage or your financial situation or. whatever, like why do you have to like. why would you leave this mystery behind? Like so it to me this doesn't make a ton. of sense. So the second option is she. walked away to start over, to live.

somewhere else, be with someone else, whatever that looks like. And in that. scenario, maybe something on those. phones would have told people exactly. where she was going or like given away a. plan that she didn't want found out. And. have police pulled her iCloud data? Oh, this is where it goes like a layer. deeper. They tried. Okay. She didn't. just wipe her phones. Apple told them. >> [music]. >> that her backup had been completely.

scrubbed, too. Like her iCloud with. nothing left to recover. I didn't even realize that was possible. Is that actually possible? Agent Ezekiel. Esquivel Mata says that that level of. digital erasure takes intention. Like. it's more than just hitting a few. buttons on an iPhone. >> Yeah. So, he does think though that like. Melissa would know how to do it or I. assume at a minimum could Google it. This is not like an impossible thing to. do. It's like supposed to be your data. You should be able to erase it.

>> Right. So, is everyone pretty much in. agreement that Melissa is the one that. wiped everything? >> Not necessarily. No, like the Mondragons. really wanted investigators to geofence. the Cacias' home to see if maybe other. devices connected, like either to her. device or the internet or whatever. Google around that time. But, Google. actually stopped providing that data to. law enforcement in 2024. But, they're. really adamant they don't think that. Melissa would have done this. They say. that she was very sentimental, like.

person who held on to every photo and. every memory. And so, they can't imagine. a world where she would decide to erase. all of that. And really, that. disagreement over what Melissa would or. wouldn't do, over who she really was, I. think that's really at the heart of. everything. Because the tension between. the two sides in this case goes way. beyond the investigation. [music]. Mark and his daughters say that the. Mondragons spent years shunning Melissa.

over her separation from the Jehovah's. Witness faith. That they barely knew. Sierra, didn't even meet her until she. was a few years old. And they claim that. they are only now presenting themselves. as people who were like central to her. life. But, we asked the Mondragons about. this and they totally deny that. They. say that Melissa was very present in. their lives. There's regular calls, overnight visits, helping with medical. appointments. Like, Melissa had taken. time off work to take her mom to the. hospital for a knee replacement and then. she was going to take care of her after. that. That appointment was scheduled for.

June 30th, four days after she vanished. But, whatever the truth is about those. relationships before June 26th, the. aftermath made everything worse. Mark. and his daughters say that the extended. family cut them out of the search. entirely, withholding incoming tips, blocking them from the Find Melissa. Facebook page, and launching a GoFundMe. without ever consulting them. Now, the. Mondragons say that donations will fund. a reward for information leading to.

Melissa's safe return, but Sierra feels. like they exploited the tragedy, basically. The Casillas side also says. that the Mondragons fueled rumors that. Mark was abusive and directly involved. in Melissa's disappearance. Both things. that he and his daughters vehemently. deny. Then there are the search efforts. themselves, which the Casillas side. thinks the Mondragons wasted critical. resources on, directing people to places. Melissa would never go, they say. And. they blame her brother for bungling that.

whole Lloyd tip early on. I mean, the. whole stumbling, staggering description, Agent Mata says that was the reason. investigators didn't follow up, not a. contributing factor, the deciding. factor. And more than that, according to. Mark, Lloyd told him that the blue truck. that he saw was a newer model, not an. older one like the family had originally. relayed. So, like Mark, Agent Mata. blames a chain of bad details that cost. them days. >> But let's be real here, it was still. Mark who told police not to check it out.

in the first place. And like. >> Yeah. since when does the missing. person's spouse call the shots during an. investigation? Like the responsibility's. on the police here. I completely agree. with that. And remember, they didn't. interview Lloyd until after Mark talked. to him. And I also have to say like a. huge part of why I think there is such a. great divide between families. is that the investigation has not felt. robust. Like it leaves each family. feeling like enough isn't being done, which leaves so much room for suspicion.

and speculation. Like forget the Lloyd. of it all, right? Like you took Mark's. word, you didn't talk to Lloyd until. like after Mark did, days later, fine. There was this other tip that came in, and I was. shocked at how it was handled. So, a couple of days after Melissa. disappeared, this tourist was near a. church in Taos, New Mexico, when she. noticed a man on horseback who appeared.

to be praying. It was an interesting. sight, so she decided to take a photo of. him. But then she noticed that he seemed to. be crying and apparently was. intoxicated. So, she approached him and. asked if he was okay, and he told her. that they had been searching for his. missing cousin up in the mountains. [music] and that he'd found her body. decapitated. Now, I don't know if he gave a name for this. so-called cousin before he rode off, and. that tourist didn't know what to make of.

that interaction. She like didn't have. any context. But later that night, she. saw a missing person poster for Melissa, and I guess she put two and two. together, so she reported the encounter. to police and gave them a copy of the. photo that she had taken. Investigators showed them to Melissa's. family, and they weren't related to the. man, but they did know him. Her brother. recognized the guy as 64-year-old Rick. Valerio, known as Wild. He works with.

horses near a local golf course. And guess what he drives? A blue Dodge truck. Agent Mata went to. speak with Rick on Monday, July 21st. >> When did they know about this tip? So, that part's unclear. The family seems to. think that it was right away, but Mata. insinuates that it was later, which is. why they're not talking to him for like. a month. But I don't want to get hung up. on the police response time, because I. think the proper thing to get hung up on.

is the interview itself. Because. according to police, once they talked to. Rick, he admitted that he helped with. search efforts, but he denied everything. else. So, they just dismissed the lead. They think Rick concocted the story for. attention. So, the Mondragons actually got the body. cam footage of this interview that makes. them like rule him out. And be prepared. to scream. I'm going to play you the entire.

interaction between Agent Mata and Rick. Valerio so you can make your own. determinations about the questions asked. and the answers Rick gave and the. conclusion that those led police to. It's still daylight when Agent Mata. pulls up to Rick's home and calls out to. him. Valerio, state police. Mata won't ever enter Rick's home and. Rick never fully comes outside. As far. as we know, the whole interaction takes. place with Rick fully or partially. behind his metal gate door.

>> Richard home? Yeah, I'm Richard. Hey. Richard, how you doing bro? I'm Agent. Mata, we're state police, bro. Uh You're. not in any trouble, bro. I'm here just. doing some follow-up with you. No. Yeah, we we heard, bro, that uh you. were talking about finding a decapitated. body out in the Monte, bro. Or what? That you found a uh decapitated body. without its head there in the Monte. No, no, I didn't. Are you sure? >> I'm sure. Cuz I tracked it down to you, bro. The. people that heard it took a picture of. you on a horse there in the plaza.

You're cruising around on your on your. caballo on rojo. Yeah, but I'm going to. plaza. Yeah, here right here in the church, bro. Yeah. No, I don't think I know. I was I was helping with our search here. over here. Yeah. When uh. you were there, I guess, you know. Uh one of one of the days over here in. the search and rescue. Yeah. A couple of. weeks ago. Yeah. I was helping with them. there. Yeah, but you didn't find anybody. without their head, bro, cuz that's what. I'm hear- hearing and that's why I'm. here No. to see what's going on with.

that, bro. No, no, I don't. Are you. sure? >> I'm sure, bro. Yeah, cuz I wouldn't be. bugging, bro, if the information didn't. sound pretty serious. That's why I'm. here wanting to hear it from you. Mata, but I'm Agent Mata, Mr. Richard. Nothing. Uh what what would I hear that. then? I don't know, bro. And and and this is what I heard, bro, that you're you're cousin to Melissa and. that she's been missing for a few days. And and that you were up in the Monte. and that you were all sad because you. you found her you found a a dead body.

without its head and that the head was. just tossed there to the side, bro. >> I don't even know her. You don't know. her? You were just helping with the. search. Well, yeah, I work I work for. the state guys over here. >> Yeah. No, I don't even know her. I'm not even related to her, nothing. Okay. Uh do you remember what you were. doing on the 26th of last month, bro? That's a Thursday. I think I was in Albuquerque, actually. You're in Albuquerque and that blue. Dodge is is yours? Yeah. Okay. So, you. didn't go picking up no girls or. anything down there on 518, bro? Nada.

Nada. Okay. No, I swear. No, no, you're good. I'm. just trying to sort it out, bro, porque. ya sabes, man, people freaking talk and. your name came up, bro. Your name came. up that you had information about a dead. body and stuff. So, I'm like, okay, well, let's talk, man. Let's see a ver. que. Cuz at the end of the day I got a. job to do, you know, and I just got to. try to follow up with everything that I. get. No, I don't even know nothing about. that. No. Nada, bro. Okay. Richard, what's a good phone number for. you, bro, in case I have questions?

>> [snorts]. >> What have you heard, bro? Nothing. You haven't heard anything? >> know her, actually. Or he or the house. Oh, you said you were helping out, bro. I'm sure you heard something. I heard. about it. Yeah? But, uh I work for the. state guys, you know. Mhm. And we had. some problems with the beaver pond over. there. Yeah. And uh I There was an officer over there. and the search and rescue. Mhm. His name uh. What was the guy's name? No, you guys had just showed up there. I.

remember talking to you. Yeah. Yeah, but. you don't know anything about no dead. body, nada, bro? >> Nada, bro. Are you sure? Okay, >> I just heard just checking bro like I. said this information was passed on to. me today and I was like well let's go. let's go knock on some doors and see. what's up. You can [snorts] give me a. call bro my number Okay, well I know Mr. Richard I'll let you get back to it man. Gracias. That's it? That's. it. It's tell me there was a follow up. Agent Mata says that he did speak with. Rick again at some point but I don't.

know what came of it and we don't really. know much about Rick even. Old court. records from the 90s mention multiple. DWI charges. I don't see anything. violent on his record but there is some. weirdness here right? But like I don't. know how you can ignore and pieces that. deserve I believe more investigating. I. mean this bizarre statement allegedly. about a decapitated body, the odd. behavior the blue truck I mean did they. look at the truck? Like what if he hit.

Melissa? Yeah there's no looking into. the truck as far as I know. But I mean. like the idea of like him knowing he has. like DWIs hit her I think it's an. interesting theory like Rick related or. not. People said that Melissa used to. walk on highway 518 before. Is it. possible that she was just out there for. a walk and some kind of accident. happened? Yes maybe that's possible but. then even in that theory I come back to. the phones. You don't wipe your phone. and your iCloud if you're just going to. go on a walk. This Rick thing it might. be nothing but this whole interaction.

that Mata had with Rick I think this is. what cast a shadow over everything now. to me because when they say that a lead. went nowhere or that they cleared. someone. I question what that means. >> Yeah. How deep did they really go? Like. another example remember Diego? The very. first person that Melissa's family was. suspicious of before they ever were. questioning Mark. This is Sierra's. ex-boyfriend who after the car accident. had like some brain damage and.

apparently had been making threats, sending Melissa like sexually explicit. text messages. Well, another agent who. worked the case said that Diego wouldn't. speak to them at all. But then agent. Mata says that Diego did give an initial. statement by phone. And I guess he. explained away the explicit text that he. sent Melissa. He told police that he. meant to send it to someone else. But. then when investigators tried to get him. to give a formal statement, Diego said. that he couldn't [music] make it. Then. he told them that he wanted his attorney. to be with him. But he never said who. his attorney even was. And it doesn't.

seem like police are pushing. Now, we. couldn't get in touch with Diego, and. I'm not saying that he's involved. I. just want to be able to close the loop. on some [music] of these things. But I. keep finding that really hard to do. Though for what it's worth, Sierra. doesn't think that Diego had anything to. do with her mom going missing. She. doesn't see how he could pull something. like that off. Now, for all the things that I think may. not have been done, I do want to. highlight the things that were. [music].

Police poured a lot of resources into. the physical search for Melissa. They. used helicopters, drones, tracking and. sent canines all through the dense. mountainous terrain around Highway 518. Although official searches didn't start. until days after she disappeared. But. they ran facial recognition alerts. across the nation. But to date, nothing. has ever come of that. And there's been. no bank activity, no passport. applications in Melissa's name, no.

driver's license changes, no. prescription refills for her thyroid. medication, which she needs as a thyroid. cancer survivor. So, there is just no. trace of her. anywhere. But the Casillas side, they do. still think that she's out there living. a new life. Mark's most developed theory. to date is that Melissa connected with. someone through a job that she had. applied for shortly before she. disappeared. A position with a Los. Alamos subcontractor. He thinks that. whoever she met through that process.

offered to help her escape her financial. situation, like gave her a job, helped. her disappear. And to Mark, that idea. gets some fuel from someone commenting. on social media claiming that Melissa is. safe in Seattle where that company has. ties. [music] Now, investigators confirm. that she did apply for this job. She was. even selected for the position, but the. company told police that they never. managed to reach Melissa to even extend. the offer. She had already vanished by.

then. And according to Melissa's sister. Trudy and her daughter Jasmine, they say. the position was actually based at the. same Los Alamos site that she had. already worked at. So, she wouldn't have. needed to go anywhere for it. And. there's one more thing that makes Mark. certain that Melissa is fine. It was a. weird interaction that Sierra had with a. woman not too long after her mom. vanished. According to Mark and Sierra,

not too long after Melissa went missing, this woman and her fiance, or maybe it. was her husband, showed up at Sierra's. work out of nowhere. Apparently, the. woman was a long-time friend of. Melissa's and she and the guy had driven. all the way from Colorado where they. live to see [music] Sierra, who, by the. way, didn't even recognize this woman. because if the two of them ever met at. all, it was when Sierra was really. little. [music] And that's the part of. why this whole encounter is so bizarre.

So, supposedly, the woman made this 300. or so mile trip to Taos, New Mexico to. give [music] Sierra a $50 high school. graduation gift, which I feel like you could have mailed. Yeah. But while she's there, she makes. sure to get a photo of her and Sierra. together. And she makes these cryptic comments. like I have psychic abilities and I feel. like Melissa is fine. And if your mom really left on her own,

she always knows where to find me. She. also told Sierra to keep her visit a. secret from Mark, which obviously she. did not. >> Mhm. So Mark starts thinking, maybe Melissa. sent [music] this woman as a proxy of. sorts to check on Sierra. They were. super close. She really loved Sierra. So. like hence the photo. Maybe Melissa. wanted to know that Sierra was okay. after her mom vanished into thin air. Now, the kind of strange part to me is.

that Mark didn't bring this to police. [music] right away. He said that he. wanted to wait and see if Melissa would. contact them. But after like a week goes. by and there is no contact, he finally. lets them know. I mean, was she in. contact with that friend before she went. missing? Well, Sierra says that Melissa. had reached out to this woman with an. invite to [music] Sierra's graduation. party, but I don't know if that's. something that the woman told her or if. Melissa had relayed that to Sierra at. some point. Okay, and like I know.

Melissa's. phone, both of them, were wiped, but. they can still get like call and text. records from like the cell service. provider. So we should be able to see. like who she was in contact with before. she was vanished, regardless if the. phones were factory reset or not, right? >> Yes, theoretically, yes, but last I. heard, her records, and mind you, she. went missing June 2025, >> Uh-huh. those records are still under. review. >> [snorts]. >> So, I don't know. Ok- okay, and did they.

get anything from Mark's phone? Agent. Mata told us that there is nothing on. Mark's phone that suggests he was. plotting against Melissa. I don't know. >> not an answer. [laughter]. >> Well, and I also don't know, like, wait, so you know, you've been through Mark's. phone completely, but not the person who. actually went missing. And I know, like. right Mark had his physical phone. I. don't know, priorities? Yeah, I don't. know I don't know what's going on there. Obviously they would have to get a. warrant from the cell provider, but like. all this time later I I feel like we. should be able to like have some answers.

about what was on her phone. Now, all in. all, Agent Matta's interpretation of all. that he has so far is that Melissa. probably left on her own. Police have. not officially ruled out foul play, but. Matta's gut says that she's alive. Legally, she's classified as missing and. endangered because of the risk of her. being without her thyroid medication, but as far as law enforcement is. concerned, there's no suspect, there's no crime. scene, and no evidence that anything.

[music]. happened to her after that camera caught. her on Highway 518. But the Mondragons. think that is dead wrong. And the dominant [music] theory among. them still is that Mark is somehow. connected to whatever happened to. Melissa in some way. [music] Though they. haven't ruled out other possibilities. including a random abduction while. Melissa was out walking. The only thing. that they feel certain of is that. Melissa would not willingly abandon the.

daughter that she loved so much without. a word. Now Mark denies any involvement. and he got pissed when our reporter Nina. asked him point blank if he killed. Melissa. He said that no one has ever asked him. that before. No one, not even the. police? I guess not. But considering the interview that we. saw and heard with Rick, like I. honestly, that wouldn't surprise me. Okay. I I don't know. I don't usually ask this.

cuz normally I can tell. Uh. but I'm kind of dying to know like what. what do you think? This one genuinely. has me in knots. Like there are very few. cases that have me flip-flopping back. and forth by the day the way that this. one does. You cannot argue with that. video. Like she. left her house on her own. She. had a backpack. She lied to everyone. about what she was doing that day. I do believe that she wiped her phones.

It is so easy to look at this and say. that she left. Especially the more. stories we hear about other women who. have done the same. I feel like mothers. have this different societal expectation. than [music] father or like men do and. it's hard for us to wrap our minds. around a mom leaving. But it does. happen. The story that like everyone is. recently passing around about that woman. in North Carolina, that mom who went. missing in like 2001. >> Yeah, um Michelle Michelle Hunley Smith. >> Mhm. So like her husband reported her.

missing, suspicion fell on him. Everyone. assumed the worst. And then Michelle. turned up alive in February of 2026. having quietly built a whole new life. somewhere else for more than two. decades. So it's not beyond the realm of. possibility. If everything was closing. in on her the way people are describing, is it possible she took her own life? That's the like the one theory that no. one seems to really buy into. Like. Sierra is willing to believe that her. mom left, but she doesn't think that she.

would ever do that to her. She thinks. that like kind of what I said earlier, like at least she would have left a. note. She's not going to leave them. wondering. And I mean if you're still. like asking what I think, I agree with. that, right? Like. I keep going back to the phones. Like I. don't think you need to wipe your phone. and your iCloud if your plan is just to. take your own life. Yeah, but you also. don't really need to do that if you're. just walking away. Like just leave them. behind. Well, un unless like I said, like there's something on the phone.

There's like communications with someone. or. something that has to do with a plan. Now, I'm about to go way out there for a. second, so stay with me. Have you seen. the connections that people are making. recently around the missing scientists, researchers, [music]. military officials? Yeah. So, for those who are not in the know, this is something to pay attention to. The short version of this is that a. handful of US people connected to places.

like Los Alamos and NASA have either. died or disappeared over the last few. years. At the time that we're recording. this, the running list is at 11, and. there's this theory that these are. somehow connected to. maybe foreign espionage, that like. countries like China or Russia are. targeting people with access to. sensitive US technology. To me, that's. the least scary scenario. The scarier. one is that the call is coming from.

inside the house, or even that private. corporations who make a lot of money and. energy don't want us figuring out an. unlock for free energy. And I I'm not. just pulling this out of a hat on my. own. So, a former FBI assistant director. named Chris Swecker has been vocal about. the links that these people have. All. mostly connected, not directly, but like. in the type of work that they do. Now, he's not claiming specific knowledge of. any of these individual cases, but he.

believes that the patterns are. suspicious enough that the FBI needs to. stop treating them as isolated incidents. and start pulling resources to look for. links. And the feds are apparently. involved now. Newsweek reported that the. FBI is investigating the series of cases. as of late April. And I bring this all. back because Melissa's name has appeared. on this list circulating in news. coverage of this pattern. So, we reached. out to Swecker directly to see if he.

knew anything beyond what was making. kind of like the rounds in the tabloids. and stuff. He didn't, but he did clarify that he's. not suggesting that all of the cases are. connected, which I feel like is like. what they were saying. >> to say which [laughter] is yeah, feels. confusing. According to various news. coverage, on paper a few of these cases. have already been explained away. A drowning, a murder by a former. classmate, cardiovascular disease, a. suicide. But Swecker's bigger point was. more like they might not all be.

connected, but like everyone counted in. this potential group worked near or with. sensitive stuff. And he says that. foreign intelligence services will go. after people in those positions, even. admins, because they like know who's in. what meetings. They know who works. where. They know what schedules look. like. Melissa Cacias, that was her role. She was an assistant admin. So, what. information would she have had access. to? As you can imagine, I don't have the.

clearance to know that. I don't even. know, truthfully, if police could get. clearance to know that. >> Right. And listen, the timing. is weird around when she goes missing. Like we don't have time to go down the. whole list, but I'll give you like a few. examples so you kind of get a sense of. what people are talking about online. So, on May 4th, 2025, this is a month. and a half before Melissa goes missing, a retired Los Alamos employee named. Anthony Chavez walks out of his home. leaving behind his wallet, his keys, his.

cigarettes, car in the driveway, no cell. phone, disappears. Then, on June 22nd, 2025, this is just a few days before. Melissa goes missing, 60-year-old Monica. Reza went hiking with two companions. At. some point, one of her companions was. like 30 ft ahead of her. He turns. around, gestures to show her like which. direction to go in. She acknowledges. him. Moments later, when he looked back. again, she's gone. Has not been seen. since. What? Now, that was in. California, not New Mexico. And Monica.

worked for NASA, not Los Alamos. But. then you have Melissa going missing June. 26th, and then closer to Melissa's home, William Neil McCasland, a retired Air. Force Major General who once oversaw the. lab that funds work in the same. aerospace field that Monica worked in, he goes missing February 27th, 2026. Walks out of his Albuquerque, New Mexico. home with a gun and his wallet while.

leaving behind his phone and other. belongings. And then poof, gone. Now, I. mean, you can see this is very tenuous. >> Mhm. But the coincidences have people. asking questions. Melissa especially. could have been an easy target if she. had the right information or. connections, right? Like she was in a. bad financial spot. Someone promises her. a new life or a new start. Okay, but. she's identified as a good target by.

someone. They see all the trouble she's. in, they offer her a way out, she takes. it. What, leaving her family behind to clean. up the mess? Yes. But like I mean, she Her family's. going to have to clean up the mess if. she just walked away on her own. Like so. I mean, to me that's not like any less. of a reason why she wouldn't have have. done it. And remember, her and her. husband, they just got their clearance. taken away. I'm telling you like, I. don't know. And this could like. begin to explain how she could start. over without her ID ever popping up. Like how she'd get more meds. Like she. would have this whole new identity. Like.

in a way easier way if someone's helping. you, right? Like I, no matter what, if. she walked away, I think she needed. someone's help to do that. But then, come back to the phones. It's always. like the phones for me. If she walked away, connected to this thing or not, why. wouldn't she just take her phones and. get rid of them? Like I know. I like. I know you don't want to keep them. >> Well, like right, like keeping them. keeping them active, tracking, right? So. like factory reset them, but toss them.

in your bag and get rid of them. somewhere else. >> Dump them in in some water, like put. them in like in the mountains, like put. them in a dumpster. Like there's. something. about that part that like or even like. leaving her phones is like is that like. a plant? Is this like a a a weird red. herring? Why do you leave them? I mean I. guess unless you want your like them to. have like phones are expensive. You. leave them behind cuz they're free. phones. So you can get like. conspiratorial. But then, you know, you remember that we. see her on camera walking alone after.

the phones are wiped. And then I don't know, you just keep. going around and like where was she. going? Like I just. I don't know. I mean I mean maybe. whatever instructions she got for wiping. the phone like from we were saying. Googling it, but maybe from someone, whatever. Maybe they said it was better. if she left them behind so there was. like no way to track. the actual like hardware device itself. Maybe. Listen, it doesn't have to be. connected to all these other cases. In. fact, one thing that everyone we spoke.

to seems to actually agree on, and there. are like few of those things, they do. not believe that Melissa is connected to. these other scientists or or whatever. else is going on. Mark told us that he. thought the theory was BS. Jasmine does. not think it holds up either. Mata said. specifically didn't even know anything. about Anthony Chavez, who was like the. one person I mentioned who was connected. to Los Alamos directly, right? But it. would be a completely different.

jurisdiction cuz he lived in Los Alamos. And when Mata talked about it, he said, you know, I'll look into it, but he's. like, you know, those places are. compartmentalized by design. They're set. up so people only know what they need to. know for their job. So I am I think he. was saying that implying that it's like. unlikely that Anthony and Melissa were. on the same thing or. >> ever crossed paths, yeah. But I I don't. I again, I don't know anything about the. work that she did. And I highly doubt I. will ever know about the work that she. did because until her clearance just. recently got revoked, like she I think.

was working on like high clearance. stuff. So, I don't know. Like this. missing or deceased scientist thing. it has me down like a genuine rabbit. hole. Like I mean, I hope to come back. out of it someday with like a more. complete episode on it. But like one, it's a hard nut to crack when. practically everyone was working on top. secret. and two, I actually think I've already. like tripped some wires and. you laugh, but like genuinely have. people monitoring what I'm like getting.

my nose in. So, this is always my reminder to you, to everyone that like I know how to. swim, I love my life, I'm as safe as. safe can be. So, like if I so much as. get in a fender bender right now, it. should be considered suspicious. Like. there was this one scientist who's on. this list, Amy Eckridge, and her case is. wild. People should go look it up, but. she was on a Zoom call with somebody. that got recorded. And she's like, "The. reason I stick my neck out is because at. least if my head gets chopped off, people will take notice. If you don't do.

that, they bury you and nobody talks. about it." So, in the spirit of sticking my neck out, any Crime Junkies out there who want to. point me in the right direction, tips@audiochuck.com. And listen, while I absolutely believe. that something scary is happening to. people who work in aerospace sciences, it's probably not the solution that. we're looking for in Melissa's case. Right? Like if we go Occam's razor, that would suggest that the simplest. answer is likely the right one. Melissa.

was in a bad financial spot. She was planning to move away when her. daughter went off to beauty school, but. the loan application for that had just. gotten rejected. What was she going to do now? She very. clearly told everyone different stories. about the day that she went missing. Her. phones were wiped. Her iCloud was wiped. And after that, she is seen walking. alone down Highway 518. The simplest. explanation is that she chose to walk. away and did it on her own. And some.

days, I really believe that. But then other days, I'll get a new. tidbit of info that makes no freaking. sense. Like we've been talking to family. and reporting on this for months and. months and months, but right as I was. finalizing this episode, Nina pinged me. with another curveball. You know that. friend from Colorado that checked in on. Sierra? Super randomly with like $50 for. high school graduation gift. We just.

found out that police did find and talk. to that woman. She denied the entire. thing. What? She says she hasn't been to Taos. since 2014. She didn't visit Sierra, denied even knowing Melissa or Sierra, and said that she was confused as to how. or why her name was even being brought. up in the investigation. >> Wait. [laughter]. Dude, this is But there's like But a-. What? This is the weirdest thing to me.

Now, we tried reaching out to this. woman, but as of this recording, we've. been unsuccessful. If she hears this, I. would love to talk to you. Again, my. email tips@audiochuck.com. >> Wait, so so this visit didn't happen? I. don't know. This is like Mark and Sierra. both still say that this thing happened. I just can't get to the bottom of who. this woman is. Like did she have ties to. Melissa? And now she's distancing. herself. Did she like.

make up ties to Melissa? And she's. connected to something or someone. If. you don't believe that this woman, whoever she is, if you don't believe. she's lying and you want to say that. like Mark made the story up, you have to. remember. >> Sierra is in on it. Sierra is the one. who saw her. Like say whatever you will. about Mark and Melissa's relationship, Sierra and her mom were so close. I. cannot imagine why on earth she would. ever make anything like that up. I don't. think that that happened. So, are we.

like circling back to the conspiracy. theory then? I mean like [laughter]. It crossed my mind. I don't know what to. believe about this woman. I am just. hoping she reaches out so we can sort. all this out. Again, I mean we know that. like interviews are quick, maybe they're. not thorough, maybe something's lost in. translation or missing like a very. simple explanation. I don't know. Do you think that. there's any world where Sierra would. protect her dad if he [music] asked her.

to go along with something? Like she's. she's already lost one parent and if. everyone is trying to come down on your. dad and you believe in your heart of. hearts that he's innocent like if he. asked you to do something. >> where you're going but no, like it. doesn't it doesn't seem like she would. do something like that from talking to. her. But I will say like there is something. about Mark that I still just can't quite. figure out. Like I tried to tell this. story in as streamlined a way as. possible, but there were all these. rabbit holes along the way that often.

came from stuff that he said or did that. was odd but then ultimately led nowhere. Cuz that kind of like unresolved. weirdness is all over this case casting. a shadow. Like for instance and like I didn't even. get into this earlier. Mark had originally told a story about. the morning of the 26th when he and. Melissa drove to work that involved them. stopping at this particular gas station. on their way. And so in part of like.

looking for Melissa and looking into. this, police pulled footage, they were. never there. Which seems fishy as hell, except security footage put them both to. like going through the gate at Los. Alamos after this, like when she's. dropping Mark off at work. >> Yeah, and like we also see her like the. rest of the day until 2:00. >> Yeah, bring She brings her daughter. lunch. She's on camera. She's by. herself. She seems fine. So, it it's why. I didn't bring it up earlier, it means. nothing. But then you're like, well then where. did this even come from? Cuz you're not. talking Mark like a year later. Like.

it's right when it happened. And then. also like what's with him being so. defensive and aggressive? Like I. honestly get him acting like that. towards us. Like we flat out asked the. guy if he killed his wife, like who he. believes walked out on him. But he was like this with her family. long before we came along. I mean, do. you think her bringing Sierra lunch. was like a little way of saying goodbye? Like we haven't really talked about like. if that was something normal for her to. do. Like if she brought Sierra lunch. often, if it was something that they did.

together. I assume no, because like she. would normally be at work, right? Like. we She just doesn't go to work today and. that's why she's doing this. And so I. think it's easy to be like, oh yeah, she. wanted to see her one more time. But. like if this was a goodbye, it was the. shortest goodbye ever. Like she is. literally in and out giving her the. sandwich in like a minute. So, maybe maybe she wanted to see her. one time, maybe not. Like I feel like. this is one of those things you could. read either way. Was this just like a. mom doing something nice for her. daughter real quick because that's just. the kind of mom she was, and it wasn't a.

long interaction because she planned on. seeing her later at home, or was this a. goodbye? One more look at her baby girl. who she knew she might never see again. One quick glance hurried because she had. to get moving before her family started. coming home. >> Mhm. Then even that doesn't make sense. because why would she wait so long to. leave? Like we haven't talked about. that. Like she could have gotten a way. better head start if she had left in the. morning. >> Right, cuz she had told so many stories. to kind of free up the day, explain.

where she was. >> goes to work, she doesn't have to be, as. far as I know, seen by anyone. Right. I. am really obsessed with trying to figure. out where Melissa was for the rest of. the day. I'm convinced that that has to hold some. kind of clue. And interestingly, while. we know geofencing is no longer an. option for police like about phone data. and who was maybe like around her house, I don't think phone data is totally off. the table. Agent Mata says that there. was another company who offered to do.

something similar to geofencing for a. fee of about 5 grand. But the agency. actually decided against it for now. They said it was partly over the cost, partly because they don't know how it. would hold up in court if this case ever. becomes criminal. And I know our. listeners are like, "Show up." I'll even. talk to the family. I'm like, "Listen, do we need to like fundraise? Do you. guys need the funds?" Like, even if my. mom even if you pulled it up in court, like does it give you something when you. have nothing? Either an answer or like a. non-answer, like Right.

>> to rule something out, right? >> But I actually think there's like a. better option. So, it sounds like what. they were looking at, if it's close to. geofencing, is about putting other. phones in proximity to hers or like an. area. I am more interested in where her. phone was before it was wiped. And I. know that that data is still available. You see, I got schooled recently. I was. out in the desert hanging out with some. cadaver dogs and their amazing handlers, as one does.

>> [laughter]. >> And the woman who was organizing this. search, her name is Candice Cooley. She is a badass. She was always a canine. handler, but after her son Dylan was. murdered in 2022, she took her work to. the next level. And she created an. nonprofit called Dylan's Legacy after. that. And while her work is mostly. around dog searches, when you're doing a dog search, you have. to figure out where to start your. search, your cadaver search, right? >> And she learned something that she is.

now on a mission to share with every law. enforcement officer who will listen. because it has the potential to be a. huge unlock for investigating cases in. the digital [music] age. When it comes. to phones, everyone's always thinking. about cell phone providers, towers, pings. And yeah, that usually requires a. warrant. But by the way, all of those apps on your phone, Facebook, Instagram, AccuWeather, you've. been giving all of them permission to.

follow every step you take if like. cookies are accepted. Honestly, sometimes they're doing it anyways. And that data doesn't just live in your. phone. The companies collect it, the. companies store it, and in some cases, they're sharing it or selling portions. of it, which means that it's not private. data, right? That means that. investigators don't have to rely on cell. towers only. They can go to these. companies and even though like there's.

this common belief that you have to have. a warrant to get that data from those. companies, that is not true. There are. actually what they call exigent. circumstances. where you do not have to have a warrant. You contact these companies, tell them. there are exigent circumstances, right? You have a missing person, you're. investigating a homicide, >> Mhm. >> and they can get you. like I don't know how much, but for sure. location data that can map where someone. was, where were they moving. So take.

Melissa's case, right? We know she had. Facebook. Mata could request data from. Meta, which depending on her settings. might include location-related. information from that day, which might. clear up a lot. But, knowing this case, it also might. throw a massive curveball into it. >> Honestly, it probably would throw a. massive curveball, [laughter] but like. at least we'd be one step closer to the. truth. >> Right. Now, the thing is.

another thing I I need to make sure. people are hearing this mention if this. is a new concept to anyone, especially. if you're in law enforcement or have a. family who's missing. Even if you get. there, right? Like even if you do the. exigent circumstances, they give you the. data, what you'll end up with is this. massive pile of data points, likely in. some kind of spreadsheet. Now, traditionally, that means that someone. has to like sit down, analyze it, which. can take time. I mean, we're still. waiting on test results a year later to. know what blood was in Melissa's house. >> Right. I don't have high hopes that. police just have like someone on deck to.

go through data. But good news, it is. easier now than it's ever been. There is. a platform called Badger that lets. investigators map phone data from. carriers, from Google, Snapchat, and. more, track phones in real time, and. manage the whole legal process in one. place. So, I would encourage anyone. whose loved one vanished with their. phone in the social media age to press. their detective to look into this. Maybe. it will lead to answers. Maybe it will just lead to more.

questions, and that's kind of where I am. with this whole case. Every time I think. I have a handle on it, something shifts. A new detail that doesn't quite fit, or. a conspiracy theory sweeping the. internet that of course has some kind of. Maybe tie or cast a shadow over this. case, cuz why wouldn't it? It feels like. the farther we get out from June 26, 2025, the further we are from any real. answers. But I think real answers are. there if we can get more real facts. We.

don't know if Melissa walked away from a. life that had become unbearable. We. don't know if someone made sure she. couldn't come back. We don't even know. why she was on Highway 518 on the. afternoon of June 26th, 2025. We just know that she was there and then. she vanished. We spoke to a lot of. people for this episode. Mark, Sierra, Melissa's parents and siblings, her. stepdaughters, her niece Jasmine, some. friends,

and the two sides disagree on almost. everything. But strip it all away and. everyone says some version of the same. thing. They just want to find Melissa. And if she is out there, all they're asking is that she lets them. know that she's okay. Cuz no matter which side they're on, that is the part that's eating them. alive, the not knowing. So if anyone out there knows anything. about what happened to Melissa Casillas, New Mexico State Police want to hear.

from you. There is a reward available. for information. You can reach them at. 505-425-6771. And that goes for Melissa, too. If she's. out there. Camera Ashley, check your texts. Marilyn, you sent me more. Get the [ __ ] out of here. No, I'm. Jared, I got. >> [laughter]. >> a lot. Jared, and that's how it. basically went after we were done. recording. You what? It's a jumble. I'm confused.

>> [laughter]. >> We have a This has been like basically. me the whole me. I don't really understand all this. I. don't even start to understand it. Oh my god. Is this related to Melissa Casillas? Yes. Yes. Of course it is. Oh, no.