California: A Sikh community in Northern California is grieving after a 57-year-old temple volunteer who was abducted outside a gurdwara in Tracy was later found dead, authorities confirmed. Formal identification is still pending, but family members and close associates have identified the deceased as Avtar Singh.
Singh, a father of three, had been serving for over two decades at the Gurdwara Guru Nanak Parkash complex in Tracy, a fast-growing city in San Joaquin County. Known for his quiet dedication and years of service in the langar kitchen, he was widely respected among devotees.
According to the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, surveillance cameras captured three men dressed in dark clothing escorting Singh into a white SUV around 2:30 p.m. last week. Investigators believe he was taken against his will. Deputies began searching for him later that evening after receiving a missing person report from the 16000 block of West Grant Line Road.
Days later, a body was discovered near State Highway 128 close to Lake Berryessa in Napa County. The Napa County Sheriff’s Office temporarily shut down a stretch of the highway between Monticello Dam and Wragg Canyon Road as authorities examined the scene. Officials indicated the death likely did not occur in Napa County and handed over the case to investigators in San Joaquin County.
While law enforcement has not yet issued formal confirmation of the identity, members of the Tracy Sikh community and a fundraising page created for Singh’s family have stated that he has passed away. The page notes he is survived by his wife and six-month-old triplets.
Community leaders described the incident as deeply unsettling, particularly given that the abduction occurred in daylight outside a place of worship. Many recalled Singh’s decades of voluntary service and his commitment to supporting visitors and families at the gurdwara.
Investigators continue to review surveillance footage and are seeking information about the white SUV seen in the video. Authorities have urged anyone with details related to the kidnapping or the discovery of the body to come forward as the probe remains ongoing.
