Three men from Vallejo have been indicted over the alleged kidnapping and killing of Sikh temple volunteer Avtar Singh, who investigators say was abducted in a fatal case of mistaken identity.
Alberto Alonso Alencastro, 25, Alfonso Cresencio Segura Arellano, 20, and Barnabe Antonio Segura Arellano, 22, remain at large and are believed to have links to Mexico, according to the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office.
Singh, 57, was taken from the Gurdwara Gur Nanak Parkash in Tracy, California, at about 2.30pm on February 17. Surveillance footage showed three people in dark clothing forcing him into a white crossover vehicle.
His disappearance was not reported until later that evening. His body was found on February 20 in a remote area near Lake Berryessa, more than 100 miles away, after the Napa County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a body in the area.
Singh was not the intended target
Investigators believe the suspects had been looking for another man in connection with a stolen cargo trailer. That man was in Canada when Singh was abducted, and detectives later travelled there to interview him and establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged dispute.
Authorities have not said what was inside the trailer. Sheriff Patrick Withrow said the dispute had no connection to Singh, who lived at the temple with his wife and their young triplets.
“This man was taken from a place of worship in broad daylight because of a theft that had nothing to do with him,” Mr Withrow said.
The sheriff’s office said the case was developed through surveillance footage and Flock automated number-plate recognition cameras. The technology identified a white crossover registered in Vallejo, which investigators believe was used in the abduction.
Deputies seized the vehicle in Vallejo on February 19. Investigators subsequently reviewed data and video from the temple and the Vallejo area over several months before identifying the three alleged suspects.
The men face charges including murder with special circumstances and kidnapping. If convicted, they could be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The authorities have warned that the suspects should not be approached. The Sikh community is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to their arrests.
Singh had served for years as a sevadaar, or volunteer, at the gurdwara, where he worked as a cook and helped maintain the temple grounds.
Those who knew him described him as a humble and devoted member of the community whose kindness and practical help had touched many people.
