A man who tried to fake his own kidnap and murder was found out when he failed to attach enough helium balloons to the gun he used to shoot himself with.

Copying an episode of hit TV show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Thomas Hickman tied helium balloons to the gun so it would float away and look like someone else had done it.

The Red Lobster sea food restaurant chain executive drove from Texas into New Mexico and put gaffer tape over his mouth before shooting himself in the head.

But the give away to his suicide was the bundle of white helium balloons, with the gun still attached, found snagged on bushes and cactus near Mr Hickman’s body.

The grip of the Smith & Wesson Airweight had been removed and the trigger guard ground down.

Lieutenant Rick Anglada of New Mexico State Police said: ‘He took as much weight off as he could to make it light as possible.’

The gun and balloons led police from that field back to Mr Hickman’s house in Dallas.

“This was apparently an elaborate attempt to make it look like he was murdered,” Lt Anglada said. “Investigators were able to show that he purchased the balloons and purchased the gun. We also found shavings from the gun in his garage.”

The investigator obtained a copy of an October 2003 episode of the television drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and noticed that there were several similarities between that show and Mr Hickman’s case.

Mr Hickman had recently lost money on the stock exchange. He leaves a wife and son.