Kamloops RCMP have now confirmed a man first reported missing earlier this month is the person who was found dead inside a vehicle in Dufferin on March 17.
Mohd Abdullah was first reported missing on March 14 after failing to show up at work at Thompson Rivers University. He had last been heard from on March 11.
Kamloops RCMP put out a missing person’s report two days later.
“We are sorry to confirm that Mr. Abdullah is the deceased person discovered last week,” said Sergeant Nestor Baird with the Kamloops RCMP Serious Crime Unit in a release. “Police have been working with Mr. Abdullah’s next of kin and are confident he is the deceased, while they continue to work with the BC Coroner’s Service.”
Abdullah was a long-time educator at Thompson Rivers University.
“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” said Thompson Rivers University in a statement to Radio NL.
“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.”
A Kamloops lawyer, 54 year old Rogelio Butch Bagabuyo, is already facing one charge of interfering with a dead body.
The RCMP have not revealed any additional information about Bagabuyo’s alleged ties to the victim.
The Mounties have not revealed a cause of death, but are asking for the public’s help in tracking Abdullah’s movements in the time he was last seen to the time he was discovered dead inside a plastic container, which was located inside a van in the 1600-block of Monterey Place on March 17th.
“Mohd usually travelled by foot, or took public transit,” said Sgt. Baird. “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.”
Mohd Abdullah (front) (Photo via Kamloops RCMP)
Mohd Abdullah (back) (Photo via Kamloops RCMP)
“To help further the investigation and capture all available evidence as soon as possible, police felt it was essential to request the public’s assistance in gathering information and video surveillance related to Mr. Abdullah’s movements as soon as possible,” said Sgt. Baird.
“Investigators also continue to seek information on the movements of the white rental van in Kamloops and surrounding rural areas and communities, including Barriere, Clearwater, Valemount, Savana, Cache Creek, and other spots along those corridors,” said Kamloops RCMP. The van is described as a white, 2020 GMC rental, with a ‘Budget’ rental decal on the driver side door as well as ‘Devon Transport Ltd. It also has a graphic that says “we sell boxes” on the side.
RCMP are looking for information about this van which is linked to a suspicious death in Dufferin. (Photo via Kamloops RCMP)
“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” said Kamloops RCMP in a release. “The BC Coroner’s Service is conducting a concurrent investigation.
