Days after a 57-year-old Sikh man, who had allegedly been kidnapped from aGurudwara complexin the Tracy area inCalifornia's San Joaquin County, was found dead, authorities have reported that the incident was a case of mistaken identity. Avtar Singh served as a cook at the Taksal-controlled gurdwara Guru Nanak Parkash for few years and went missing on February 17. His body had been discovered days later.
According to surveillance footage, Avtar Singh was picked up by three unidentified individuals in a white SUV at approximately 2:30 p.m. (local time) on Tuesday (February 17, 2026), police said. The victim appeared to have entered the car against his will, according to the authorities. The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office in a Facebook post identified him as 5’7” and around 200 lbs, wearing "light-colored traditional Sikh clothing," at the time of the kidnapping.
"During the investigation, surveillance footage showed a white SUV and 3 unidentified individuals dressed in dark clothing with the victim at approximately 2:30 PM. The victim appears to have entered the vehicle against his will," the Sheriff's Office posted. Detectives are actively investigating, it added.
After his wife returned home from work later that day to find their infant triplets alone, she reported him missing. Three days later, his body was discovered near Lake Berryessa, nearly two hours from where he was kidnapped.
Now authorities have confirmed that Avtar was not the intended target. Investigators believe the attackers were pursuing someone else, pointing to what they suspect was a deadly case of mistaken identity.
"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", Withrow said, per a report by KCRA. "Our detectives are working tirelessly to investigate this case and identify those responsible for this terrible act", he added.
The motive remains unclear, and no suspects have been publicly named.
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