That determination is a far leap from what authorities first suspected when Hickman's body was discovered March 15 near Santa Rosa, N.M., about 100 miles east of Albuquerque.
Authorities initially thought the Red Lobster executive had been kidnapped and slain.
Investigators came to the conclusion Hickman committed suicide. The first clue was the bundle of white helium balloons, with the gun still attached, found snagged on bushes and cactus near Hickman's body.
The grip of the Smith & Wesson Airweight had been removed and the trigger guard ground down, said Lt.
