The father of six-month-old triplets from a northern California town is dead after a botched kidnapping, according to authorities.
Avtar Singh, 57, was abducted from outside of a Sikh temple in the community of Tracy, just northeast of San Jose, on February 17.
On Monday, the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office said it believes Singh was taken by mistake. Spokesperson Heather Brent did not elaborate on why investigators believe that to be the case.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help Singh’s family following his death. “What began as a deeply concerning disappearance has ended in an unimaginable loss for his family,” one section of the crowdfunding page reads.
Singh is also referred to as “a beloved sevadaar” of Tracy Gurdwara Sahib, the temple where he was last seen.
Authorities have said that surveillance video showed Singh being bundled into a white SUV around 2:30 pm.
“There was a struggle, but it was three against one,” Brent said. The assailants were all dressed in black.
Brent went on to say that it wasn’t until six hours later that Singh was reported missing. Due to rain in the area at the time, nobody saw him being taken away.
Sheriff Patrick Withrow told the media the abduction was “not a random act.”
“They were targeted after another individual for a specific reason, and we’re hoping that reason comes to light,” the sheriff added.
Friends told KCRA that Singh’s wife raised the alarm when she came home from work and found their young children unattended.
“The kids were alone. God’s blessing. They were safe, but they were alone,” Temple Secretary Deep Singh told the station.
On Friday, February 20, authorities were called to a report of a dead body in Napa County, around 90 miles north of where Singh was last seen. On Monday, it was confirmed that the body recovered was Singh’s. The white SUV had also been found at the scene.
His cause of death has not been made public.
Singh had been a volunteer at his temple for over 20 years, according to the GoFundMe page. He was known for making “everyone feel like family,” the page reads. So far, it has raised around $400,000.
“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,” a relative wrote.
Deep Singh paid a similar tribute to the slain father when speaking to KCRA.
“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.
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.”
Another friend, Rasleen Kaur, told ABC10 that she could not bring herself to go into the kitchen where Singh volunteered.
“They took an innocent man. He was so near and dear to us, so this was shocking, and it was just so unfortunate because he was innocent in all of this,” she said.
“I didn’t even go into the kitchen today, I couldn’t, and I think everyone is just hoping that he would just walk by because he’s always here, and so, it’s truly a void.”
The Independent has contacted the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office and the Napa County Sheriff’s Office for comment.
