Rogelio 'Butch' Bagabuyo (Inset). Image Credit: CFJC Today (Main), Kamloops Collaborative Family Law (Inset)

By James Peters

First-Degree Murder

Former Kamloops lawyer charged with first-degree murder in 2022 killing of TRU employee

May 12, 2023 | 4:07 PM

KAMLOOPS — The former Kamloops lawyer charged in connection with the death of TRU employee Mohd Abdullah has now been charged with his murder.

In a news release issued late Friday afternoon (May 12), Kamloops RCMP say Rogelio ‘Butch’ Bagabuyo, 55, was arrested earlier in the day and charged with first-degree murder.

Abdullah was reported missing after last being seen on March 11, 2022. His body was discovered in a Dufferin cul-de-sac six days later.

Mohd Abdullah (Image Credit: Contributed / Kamloops RCMP)

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On March 21, 2022, Bagabuyo was arrested and charged with committing an indignity to a dead body. At the time, RCMP said Abdullah’s remains had been placed in a plastic bin.

Local officers say the investigation into Bagabuyo’s involvement was long and complicated.

“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,” said Supt. Jeff Pelley. “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.”

“Earlier today, Mr. Bagabuyo was located in Kamloops where he was arrested and taken into custody without incident,” said Sgt. Nestor Baird of the detachment’s Serious Crime Unit. “The investigation will now continue to progress through the court process, and no further information will be available for release.”