Tracy father of young triplets abducted and found dead. He was not the intended target, sheriff says
By Nijzel Dotson; Jonathan Ayestas; Lee Anne Denyer
Click here for updates on this story
NAPA COUNTY, Calif. (KCRA) — Days after a Tracy father of three was abducted and later found dead, the San Joaquin County sheriff on Monday revealed that the man was not the intended target in the kidnapping and homicide.
Sheriff Patrick Withrow said surveillance video shows Avtar Singh of Tracy being forced into a white SUV near the Gurdwara Gur Nanak Parkash temple along West Grant Line Road at 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 17. Withrow said it appeared that Singh did try to resist but was overpowered by the three abductors.
“This was not a random act,” Withrow said. “They were targeted after another individual for a specific reason and we’re hoping that reason comes to the light.”
Singh was reported missing Tuesday at 8:52 p.m. Temple leaders told KCRA 3 that Singh’s wife realized her husband was gone after finding their three small children alone when she returned from work.
“The kids were alone. God’s blessing. They were safe, but they were alone,” said Deep Singh, temple secretary and spokesperson.
Deputies from the Napa County Sheriff’s Office found a body Friday afternoon near Lake Berryessa, about a two-hour drive from Tracy. Officials later identified the body as Singh’s.
“This is a this is a tragedy, but an ongoing investigation,” Withrow said.
Withrow told KCRA 3’s Melanie Wingo that investigators could not release any information related to the abductors or a possible motive, but shared that Singh was not their intended target.
“Our detectives are working tirelessly to investigate this case and identify those responsible for this terrible act,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release.
Singh worked at the Sikh temple as a volunteer where he also lived on the grounds with his wife and three young triplets.
“He was very sincere and hard working,” said Deep Singh. “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.”
Deep Singh shared the temple had recently celebrated the homecoming of the couple’s triplets after their premature birth and extended hospital stay.
“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,” he said. “We’re not gonna be able to repair her loss.”
A cause of death had not yet been released as of Monday evening, but Withrow said the county’s medical examiner has completed an autopsy.
The case is being investigated as a homicide.
Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.