Wife’s 911 Call About Missing Husband Reveals Chilling Details

A retired Air Force general disappears without a trace, but a newly released 911 call and an analyst's warning raise new questions. Despite no signs of foul play, missing items, a Silver Alert, and key details continue to deepen the mystery.

A missing persons case involving a retired Air Force general has taken a troubling turn after a 911 call revealed details that raise new questions.

William "Neil" McCasland was last seen on February 27, 2026, at his home on Quail Run Court in Albuquerque, New Mexico, according to investigators. His wife told dispatchers his behavior that day seemed unusual, and with few clues available, one expert has now identified a detail that could shape the direction of the case.

The Detail That Raised Questions

According to the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office (BCSO), McCasland is 5'11" with white hair and blue eyes and is known as an avid outdoorsman. He frequently hiked, ran, and cycled in the Sandia foothills and nearby areas.

Investigators believe he may have left his home on foot. Despite coordinated efforts with federal and local agencies, officials say they have found no evidence of foul play and continue to follow all leads.

Attention has turned to a 911 call made by his wife hours after he disappeared.

In an audio highlighted by the "Law & Crime Network" on April 3, McCasland's wife, Susan Wilkerson, told dispatchers she had "some indication that he must have planned not to be found."

She said, "He's left his phone. He changed his clothes into I don't know what. I think he's on foot. All of our cars and bicycles are in the garage."

Wilkerson added, "He turned it off and left it behind which seems kind of deliberate because he's always got his phone. He has a smartwatch. I don't know if that's with him or not."

But what she revealed next only deepened the mystery.

A Conversation That Raises More Questions

In the same 911 call, Wilkerson described her husband's condition and behavior in the hours before he vanished.

When the operator asked if her husband had ever done this before, Wilkerson said, "Never. Nothing even remotely like it." She described him as "a retired Air Force major general" who is "very responsible," but said he was also "facing some medical issues."

When asked, "Do you have any video at your home?" Wilkerson responded, "No."

When asked if he had been diagnosed with any mental disorders, Wilkerson said, "Well, we've been seeing a doc for both physical and mental in terms of anxiety, short-term memory loss, lack of sleep. The same doc I went to see today."

When asked if he carried any weapons, Wilkerson said, "Well, not generally." She added, "I — He does have a gun safe, and I went to look in the gun safe to see if anything was missing, but I couldn't tell if anything was..." noting he had "quite a number of pistols and rifles."

She also said he had previously expressed concerns about his condition, "Other than saying if his brain body keeps deteriorating, he didn't want to live like that. But it seemed to me that was just a 'Man, I hate how this is going' kind of thing."

Still, one expert believes something in that call stands out.

The Detail That Caught One Expert's Attention

During an analysis on the same "Law & Crime Network" show hosted by Jesse Weber, Cold Case Foundation consultant Chris McDonough pointed to a specific detail in the call.

"Well, right away, I mean, the first red flag with inside that phone call is just that comment, you know, he must have a plan or something to that effect," he told Webber.

McDonough described the remark as an anomaly, saying it "doesn't look right or doesn't sound right," and noted it would likely be an early point of focus for the first officer responding to the scene.

And as investigators continued their search, new details began to emerge.

Items Missing and One Found Miles Away

According to BCSO, several items are believed to be unaccounted for from McCasland's home, including his hiking boots, wallet, and a .38 caliber revolver with a leather holster.

They also said he may have been wearing a light green, long-sleeve button-up outdoor shirt when he left.

During search efforts, authorities located a gray U.S. Air Force sweatshirt about 1.25 miles east of his residence. No blood was detected during initial processing, and further analysis is pending. The item has not been confirmed to belong to McCasland, but prompted additional search efforts in the area.

Officials expanded a neighborhood canvass to more than 700 homes and requested security video. Search efforts have included drones, helicopters, ground teams, and K-9 units.

A Silver Alert was issued earlier in the investigation to help locate McCasland, who authorities said may be at some level of risk.

Authorities said they have not identified any confirmed sightings or video showing McCasland leaving the area or indicating a direction of travel. The investigation remains ongoing.

"We believe there are people who have information valuable to locating Neil who have not yet spoken to law enforcement. This could include people who have been in the Sandia mountains and may have seen Neil or captured him on a GoPro or other recording device, specifically on Friday, February 27 or Saturday, February 28," the BCSO said.

Officials in Albuquerque, New Mexico, said anyone with information can text BCSO at 847411 or call the Missing Persons Unit at (505) 468-7070. They also reminded the public to take basic hiking precautions, such as choosing suitable trails, informing others of their plans, bringing enough water, and carrying reliable communication gear.

And with no confirmed trail, the circumstances surrounding his disappearance remain unclear.