Case of dismembered man still unsolved

CARLSBAD, N.M. (KRQE) - The case of an 88-year-old man found dismembered and buried in his back yard remains unsolved after nearly two months.

The case has raised a lot of questions, and detectives say the complex case relies on crucial evidence that police are still waiting on. 

Nearly two months have passed since Carlsbad police made a gruesome discovery and dug up the dismembered remains of Thomas Allumbaugh . He was found buried and stuffed in trash bags in different places in his backyard on the 2000 block of North Canal Street.

"The circumstances of it, the complexity of what led up to Mr. Allumbaugh being where he was is going to be something that's going to be crucial for us to work out and make sure that we take the steps that we need to resolve it in the best way," said Detective Lt. Bryan Burns of the Carlsbad Police Department.

The case began with a missing person report late last year when Allumbaugh's out-of-state grandson wanted police to check in on him after he couldn't be reached. A tip led detectives to finding the body.
    
Months later, detectives have run into a delay. Burns said they are still conducting interviews regarding Allumbaugh's case and added that the Office of the Medical Investigator's results are a crucial part of the investigation.

"It's a very critical piece of the puzzle that we have to know," said Burns. "Obviously if they find signs of trauma, I mean that's something that we would have to look at.

"If they don't, same thing.  That's something we would have to look at and see why not."

What police know now is that Allumbaugh lived with his wife and son and that neither of them reported him missing. As the case continues, detectives hope OMI can help answer questions such as how Allumbaugh died and how long he'd been buried.
    
Burns told KRQE News 13 the unique case will take time.

"They (OMI) want to make sure they do it right, in the same process I think they're using it as a means for them for future study," explained Burns. "I would much more prefer them to take their time and dot their Is and cross their Ts so everything is right."
   
Detectives said they have persons of interest in the case but said they cannot release names yet. They're not saying if they expect to file any charges.