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In a harrowing case of mistaken identity, a cherished father of three was tragically kidnapped and murdered.
Avtar Singh, 57, was forcibly taken in broad daylight last Tuesday, as captured by surveillance video, in the town of Tracy, roughly an hour away from San Jose.
The unsettling footage reveals three suspects ambushing Singh outside a gurdwara around 2:30 p.m., forcefully placing him in the back of an SUV before speeding away.
Singh’s distraught wife reported him missing later that evening, around 9 p.m., after she returned home from work to find their three children left alone.
Tragically, Singh’s body was discovered near Lake Berryessa, approximately a two-hour drive from Tracy, on Friday. Authorities confirmed the grim news soon after.
While the motive behind the abduction remains unclear, police have stated that Singh was not the intended victim in this tragic incident.
Police said they did not know the motive for the abduction, but added that Singh was not the intended target.
A colleague at the Sikh temple where he worked Deep Singh told KCRA: “The kids were alone. God’s blessing. They were safe, but they were alone.
“He was very sincere and hard working. For 23 years, his main role was the head cook at our gurudwara, at the temple, but he was not only a cook, he was a multi-tasking person.”
Singh had recently become the father to triplets, which had been born prematurely and saw them have an extended stay in hospital.
Deep added: “When they got here, it was a big gathering. It was a big celebration. He was happy, mom was happy, and the community was happy. We’re not gonna be able to repair her loss.”
A GoFundMe set up for his family paid tribute to a man with a “loving nature that made everyone feel like family.”
It continued: “We are heartbroken to share that Avtar Singh Bullt, a beloved sevadaar of Tracy Gurdwara Sahib, tragically lost his life after being kidnapped.
“What began as a deeply concerning disappearance has ended in an unimaginable loss for his family and the entire Sangat. He was known for his humility, quiet dedication, and loving nature that made everyone feel like family.”
It added: “He is survived by his wife and their six-month-old triplets, who now face a future without a devoted husband and father.”
Sheriff Patrick Withrow said the brutal killing is being investigated as a homicide but that he had no details on motive or suspects.
He said: “This was not a random act. They were targeted after another individual for a specific reason and we’re hoping that reason comes to the light. This is a this is a tragedy, but an ongoing investigation.”
He added: “Our detectives are working tirelessly to investigate this case and identify those responsible for this terrible act.”
