Kamloops man reported missing believed to be victim of homicide in Dufferin body discovery

KAMLOOPS — A 60-year-old man last heard from on March 11 is believed to be the victim of a homicide after his body was discovered in Dufferin Thursday (March 17) evening.

After an autopsy on Tuesday (March 22), Kamloops RCMP say Mohd Abdullah’s death is now being treated as a homicide following the suspicious death investigation at the 1600-block of Monterey Place.

Investigators are seeking witnesses who may have seen Abdullah on March 11, and anytime afterwards, prior to the discovery of his body on March 17. RCMP say he failed to attend work on March 14.

“Mohd usually travelled by foot, or took public transit,” Sgt. Nestor Baird says. “We are releasing two images of Mohd getting off a bus in the downtown area on Friday March 11, in hopes that it will spark the memory of any witnesses who may have seen him on that day or afterwards and assist police in tracking his movements.”

Abdullah was described as 5’8” tall and weighing 126 lbs with black hair and brown eyes. RCMP say they have been working with Abdullah’s next of kin and are confident he is the deceased, while they continue to work with the BC Coroner’s Service.

Investigators also continue to seek information on the movements of a white rental van in Kamloops and surrounding rural areas and communities, including Barriere, Clearwater, Valemount, Savona, Cache Creek and other spots along those corridors.

The white rental van is described as a 2020 GMC, with B.C. license plate PJ 9131 and company markings and logos on it.

RCMP say the Serious Crime Unit, General Investigation Service Team, Forensic Identification Service, Police Dog Service and frontline officers are all actively engaged in the ongoing investigation. The BC Coroner’s Service is also conducting a concurrent investigation.

Rogelio Butch Bagabuyo, a 54-year-old lawyer from Kamloops, was arrested and charged with interference with a dead body in relation to the investigation, though the offence date is listed as March 16, a day before RCMP were alerted to the body. In a news release, Cst. Crystal Evelyn says the remains had been placed in a plastic bin. Bagabuyo’s had a bail hearing scheduled for Friday (March 25) in Vernon.

Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to please contact the Kamloops RCMP at 250-828-3000 and reference file 2022-8565.

Meantime, Thompson Rivers University Faculty Association (TRUFA) President Tara Lyster has confirmed Abdullah was a member of TRUFA. Abdullah’s LinkedIn profile says he has been a senior lecturer since 2001 and he is identified on Rate My Professor under the Computer Science department.

UPDATE: Thompson Rivers University has issued a statement to CFJC Today confirming Abdullah as a long-term employee:

We are deeply saddened by the death of Mohd Abdullah. Mohd worked at TRU for 21 years and played an important role in the Faculty of Science and Open Learning.

Our thoughts at this time are with those affected and we are organizing counselling services to support those in need. We are cooperating with RCMP and given the ongoing investigation, we will not be providing further comment.