AI Generated Summary
- A community in California’s Central Valley is reeling after authorities confirmed that a man abducted from a Sikh temple in Tracy has been found dead, though officials say formal identification is still underway.
- Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the abduction and death and are asking anyone with information to contact the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office.
- Investigators say the 57-year-old father, identified by friends as Avtar Singh, was taken in broad daylight last week from the Gurdwara Guru Nanak Parkash complex, where he had volunteered for decades.
A community in California’s Central Valley is reeling after authorities confirmed that a man abducted from a Sikh temple in Tracy has been found dead, though officials say formal identification is still underway.
Investigators say the 57-year-old father, identified by friends as Avtar Singh, was taken in broad daylight last week from the Gurdwara Guru Nanak Parkash complex, where he had volunteered for decades. Surveillance footage reviewed by the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office reportedly shows three men in dark clothing forcing Singh into a white SUV at around 2:30 p.m. Deputies later determined he appeared to enter the vehicle against his will.
The disappearance prompted a law-enforcement response that evening to the 16000 block of West Grant Line Road, launching a multi-agency investigation. Days later, on Saturday, authorities in neighboring Napa County discovered a body along State Highway 128 near Lake Berryessa. The discovery led to temporary road closures between Monticello Dam and Wragg Canyon Road while investigators processed the scene.
Napa County officials said the death does not appear to have occurred within their jurisdiction and transferred the case to San Joaquin County investigators. While authorities have not publicly confirmed the identity of the deceased, members of Tracy’s Sikh community say they believe the victim is Singh, whose sudden disappearance had already sparked widespread concern.
Singh, a longtime sevadar and langri at the gurdwara, was known among congregants for his quiet service and dedication. Friends described him as deeply committed to helping others, often volunteering in the temple’s kitchen and assisting visitors. A fundraising page created to support his family states that he is survived by his wife and six-month-old triplets, along with other children.
Tracy, a fast-growing city in San Joaquin County, has seen an outpouring of grief following the news. Community leaders say the killing has left many residents shocked and searching for answers.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the abduction and death and are asking anyone with information to contact the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office.
