Techotic

Here is a man, even in his death is still trying to have a little adventure with the local coppers. According to New Mexico State Police the Red Lobster executive Thomas Hickman, 55, from North Richland Hills drove through New Mexico, until his Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo ran out of gas, then he walked into a field, tied helium balloons to a gun, covered his mouth with duct tape, and shot himself in the back of the head.

That determination is a far leap from what authorities first suspected when Mr. Hickman’s body was discovered March 15 near Santa Rosa, N.M., about 100 miles east of Albuquerque. Authorities initially thought the Red Lobster executive had been kidnapped and slain.

But investigators came to the conclusion that Mr. Hickman committed suicide. The first clue was the bundle of white helium balloons, with the gun still attached, found snagged on bushes and cactus near Mr. Hickman’s body.

“This was apparently an elaborate attempt to make it look like he was murdered,” Lt. Anglada said. “Investigators were able to show that he purchased the balloons and purchased the gun. We also found shavings from the gun in his garage.”

The investigator obtained a copy of an October 2003 episode of the television drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and noticed that there were several similarities between that show and Mr. Hickman’s case. But Lt. Anglada said New Mexico authorities are not sure if Mr. Hickman ever saw the program.

[via dallas news]