Human remains discovered by a hiker in a northern New Mexico national forest last week have been identified as Melissa Casias, a Los Alamos National Laboratory employee who disappeared nearly a year ago, authorities said.

The body of Melissa Casias, an administrative assistant at Los Alamos National Laboratory, was found in the McGaffey Ridge area of the Carson National Forest.

Casias, 53, had been missing for nearly a year after she didn’t show up for work at Los Alamos National Laboratory. A gun was found near the remains, authorities said.