Kamloops lawyer Rogelio “Butch” Bagabuyo has been charged with first-degree murder in the 2022 death of Thompson Rivers University lecturer Mohd Abdullah.

Mounties say Bagabuyo was arrested today, May 12, following “a lengthy and in-depth investigation” that began in March last year.

Mohd Abdullah was first reported missing on March 14 after he did not show up at work at TRU that Monday. He was last seen on Friday, March 11, and his remains were found inside a vehicle in Dufferin on March 17.

“After a lengthy and in-depth investigation into the death of Mr. Abdullah, a charge of first-degree murder against Rogelio “Butch” Bagabuyo was approved by the BC Prosecution Service,” Kamloops RCMP Superintendent Jeff Pelley, said Friday.

“This charge was the result of the tremendous work of everyone involved in this investigation, notably the Kamloops RCMP Serious Crime Unit, the General Investigation Support Team, Forensic Investigation Services Unit, and frontline officers.”

Bagabuyo – who was out on bail since March last year – is also facing one charge of interfering with a dead body. He’s accused of putting Abdullah’s body into a plastic bin, though other details about those allegations are protected by a court-ordered publication ban.

“Earlier today, Mr. Bagabuyo was located in Kamloops where he was arrested and taken into custody without incident,” Sergeant Nestor Baird of the Kamloops RCMP Serious Crime Unit added.

“The investigation will now continue to progress through the court process, and no further information will be available for release.”