A suspected murder victim has been found to have committed suicide in an elaborate attempt to make his death look unintentional.

Now, police who initially thought Texas man Thomas Hickman, 55, was killed in New Mexico, his mouth duct taped before he was shot in the back of head, are saying the Red Lobster executive re-enacted an episode of CSI in which a man tied helium balloons to the gun he used to kill himself with so that the gun would float away, leading crime scene investigators to believe a murder was committed.

Authorities can not confirm whether Hickman ever saw the episode of CSI, but all of the circumstances are acutely similar.

Hickman's body was discovered by motorists in a New Mexico field in March. Initially, signs pointed to the man's murder, but upon a closer look, investigators found evidence of suicide.

The first clue was when they found his gun, only about 30 feet from where his body lay. It was tied to a bundle of deflated balloons, snagged on a cactus. The Smith & Wesson Airweight was missing its grip, and the trigger guard had been ground down. The serial number was also missing, but police were able to trace it in the crime lab.

The gun's serial number matched up to Hickman's name. He had bought it in January. To further confirm the finding, gun shavings were found in Hickman's garage.

While no reason has been confirmed for the man wanting to take his own life, The Dallas News reported that at the time of his death, Hickman had lost money in the stock market, and his wife of 29 years had been very ill. Hickman had been caring for her.

According to CBS 11tv.com, Hickman's life insurance policy would have paid his wife twice as much if his death was ruled accidental.