Authorities said surveillance footage showed Avtar Singh entering an SUV "against his will" outside his Sikh temple in Tracy, San Joaquin County, on Feb. 17
Credit: GoFundMe
NEED TO KNOW
- Avtar Singh, a dad of 6-month-old triplets, was found dead near a lake in California on Friday, Feb. 20, after being kidnapped three days prior
- The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office said surveillance footage showed the 57-year-old being forced into a white SUV outside his Sikh temple, the Gurdwara Gur Nanak Parkash in Tracy, on Feb. 17
- The sheriff’s office believes Singh was not the intended target of the abduction, per the Los Angeles Times
A father of three has been found dead three days after he was kidnapped from outside his Sikh temple in California.
Avtar Singh, a 57-year-old dad of 6-month-old triplets, was found dead on Friday, Feb. 20, having been reported missing on Feb. 17.
“It is with profound sadness that we confirm the kidnapping victim, Avtar Singh, has been located deceased,” the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office said in an update on Facebook on Monday, Feb. 23.
Singh’s body was found shortly before 3:30 p.m. local time near Lake Berryessa by the Napa County Sheriff’s Office, per police.
Credit: GoFundMe
Citing authorities, the Los Angeles Times reported that Singh’s body was found by a fisherman who called the police.
Lake Berryessa is around 97 miles from the Gurdwara Gur Nanak Parkash in Tracy ,where Singh was last seen on surveillance footage. Authorities responded to the 16000 block of W. Grant Line Road for a reported missing person.
“During the investigation, surveillance footage showed a white SUV and three unidentified individuals dressed in dark clothing with the victim at approximately 2:30 PM. The victim appeared to enter the vehicle against his will,” police said in their Facebook post.
“Our detectives are working tirelessly to investigate this case and identify those responsible for this terrible act,” police continued. “Based on the information known at this time, this appears to be an isolated incident, and there is no known ongoing threat to the community.”
The white SUV was found nearby, officials said, per the Los Angeles Times. Police are investigating Singh’s death as a homicide, but they declined to comment on his cause of death.
Heather Brent, a public information officer with the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, told the outlet that a preliminary investigation suggests Singh was not the intended target of the abduction.
Credit: Getty
“We believe a different individual was a target and that Mr. Singh was mistakenly taken,” Brent said, per the outlet.
Temple spokesperson Deep Singh, who is not related to the victim, told the outlet that Avtar worked and lived at the temple with his wife and their children. His wife became concerned when she returned home from work on Feb. 17 and found the triplets alone.
Deep told the outlet that surveillance footage showed a man exiting a white SUV in the parking lot and knocking on the door to the temple’s laundry, before trying Avtar’s door when no one answered.
According to Deep, Avtar had difficulty understanding the man and called another man who lives at the temple by phone to translate. Deep said the man on the phone shared the same first name as the man the kidnapper was looking for, which created confusion.
Deep said Avtar then handed the phone over to the kidnapper, who wanted to know if the man translating was who he was looking for, and if he had his “stuff.” When the translator said no and questioned what “stuff” the man was referring to, the kidnapper did not respond.
According to the surveillance footage reviewed by Deep, he told the outlet that Avtar then walked to the SUV with the man, and the man tried to force Avtar inside, but Avtar managed to escape. However, two other men then got out of the car, hit Avtar, threw him to the ground and then put him into the vehicle, per Deep.
The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office has asked anyone with information regarding the investigation to immediately contact them.
Avtar’s gurdwara shared a post on Facebook confirming his death and said he was the father of young triplets.
Bhai Avtar Singh Bullet, a highly respected member of our community, who dedicated 23 years of service to the sangat in Tracy, has passed away, leaving behind his wife and three adorable six-month-old triplets,” the post read.
The temple also shared a link to a GoFundMe page to support Avtar’s family following his death.
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“What began as a deeply concerning disappearance has ended in an unimaginable loss for his family and the entire Sangat,” the page’s description reads, adding that Avtar was a “devoted husband and father.”
“He was known for his humility, quiet dedication, and loving nature that made everyone feel like family,” the description adds. “His seva, sincerity, and unwavering faith touched countless lives, and his absence leaves a profound void in our community.”
“During this incredibly difficult time, we ask the community to come together in support of the family as they navigate this heartbreaking loss,” the page continues. “Funds will be used to cover funeral expenses and to help provide stability for his wife and children in the months and years ahead. Raising even one child as a single mother is challenging — and with three infants, the responsibility is immense. Your generosity, prayers, and support will make a meaningful difference for this young family.”
The fundraiser has so far raised over $455,000 of a $1 million target.
Avtar’s funeral will be held on Sunday, March 1, at Fry Memorial Chapel, followed by a service at Gurdwara Gur Nanak Parkash in Tracy, per a post on the gurdwara’s Facebook.
PEOPLE has reached out to the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office and Gurdwara Gur Nanak Parkash for further comment.
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