Introduction
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The body of Avtar Singh, 57, was found in Lake Berryessa in Napa County.
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Video from his Sikh temple in Tracy shows he was abducted on February 17.
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The San Joaquin County Sheriff said Singer was not the intended target of the kidnapping or homicide.
Sheriff’s officials confirmed Monday that a body found near Lake Berryessa over the weekend was that of the father of triplets who was abducted last week in Tracy, 100 miles away. He was a prominent volunteer at a Sikh temple, but he was not the target.
“It is with great sadness that we confirm that kidnapping victim Avtar Singh has died,” the San Joaquin Sheriff’s Office said on social media Monday. “Our detectives are working tirelessly to investigate this case and identify those responsible for this horrific act.”
Avtar Singh reported missing
what we know
San Joaquin County Sheriff releases photos of white SUV used to kidnap Avtar Singh on February 17, 2026
The 57-year-old man was reported missing on Feb. 17 from the Gurdwara Guru Nanak Parkash complex in the 16000 block of West Grant Road in Tracy. The gurdwara is a Sikh temple.
His wife reported him missing around 9pm that night after he failed to return home and their three 6-month-old babies were found alone at home. The family lived on the temple grounds.
Surveillance video shows a white SUV and three people wearing dark clothing apparently forcing Singer into the vehicle against his will around 2:30 p.m., according to the San Joaquin Sheriff’s Office.
Singh’s body was found two hours later
Crews found the body in Lake Berryessa in Napa County. February 20, 2026
The Napa County Sheriff’s Office found Singer’s body three days later near Lake Berryessa in Napa County, about two hours north of Tracy.
San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow told KCRA3 that Singer was not the intended target of the kidnapping and homicide.
what we don’t know
How Singh got there and why he was killed have not yet been explained. Withrow told KCRA3 he could not reveal any information about the kidnappers’ possible motives.
“This was not a random act,” Willow told the station. “They were targeted by another person for a specific reason and we want that reason to come to light.”
what can you do
A GoFundMe campaign to help Singer’s family said he was a long-time volunteer at the ashram and is survived by his wife and triplets. He was the temple’s cook, but could also be relied upon to step in and fix anything around the temple, his friends said.
According to an article written by Rasleen Kaur, he was known for his “humility, quiet devotion and loving nature that made everyone feel like family.” “His service, sincerity and unwavering faith touched countless lives, and his absence leaves a profound void in our community.”
Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office.
