smorgas_of_borg: blog 
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agatha christie would be impressed
Published Jul. 16, 2008
Strangest.
Suicide.
EVER
Thomas Hickman drove through New Mexico, police say, until his Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo ran out of gas. Then the 55-year-old North Richland Hills man 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, according to New Mexico State Police.
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.
The grip of the Smith & Wesson Airweight had been removed and the trigger guard ground down, said Lt. Rick Anglada of New Mexico State Police.
"He took as much weight off as he could to make it light as possible," Lt. Anglada said. The plan apparently was to have the gun float far away after being fired, but that didn't happen.
The gun and balloons led police from that field back to Mr. Hickman's house in North Richland Hills.
"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."
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GOLO member since May 2, 2008
July 17, 2008 7:56 a.m.
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July 17, 2008 6:59 a.m.
July 17, 2008 6:05 a.m.
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July 17, 2008 2:28 a.m.
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July 16, 2008 10:51 p.m.
GOLO member since February 28, 2008
July 16, 2008 9:38 p.m.
For safety, he was given a hand-held GPS unit so they could find him when he came down. The only message they received from him (text) was "How do I work this thing?"
DUH
GOLO member since July 15, 2007
July 16, 2008 9:37 p.m.
Dang now my gun is gone!
Guess I'll tie enough ballons to myself and lift myself high over the desert and shoot the balloons with my pelet rifle until I fall to the ground and make myself a "sand" wich.
GOLO member since June 1, 2008
July 16, 2008 9:35 p.m.
GOLO member since February 28, 2008
July 16, 2008 9:32 p.m.
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