Three Vallejo-area men are wanted in connection with the kidnapping and killing of 57-year-old Avtar Singh, a Tracy father whose death investigators say resulted from a case of mistaken identity.
Singh was taken from the Gurdwara Gur Nanak Parkash in Tracy on Feb. 17. Investigators say he was forced into a white SUV in the afternoon, setting off a case that would eventually lead detectives from Tracy to Vallejo and Lake Berryessa.
His body was found three days later near Lake Berryessa in Napa County.
More than six months after the killing, investigators have now identified three men who were indicted in connection with the case: Alberto Alencastro, 25; Alfonso Segura Arellano, 20; and Barnabe Segura Arellano, 22.
The three men remain at large. Authorities describe them as armed and dangerous and say they have ties to Mexico. Their last confirmed location was Vallejo.
Investigators say Singh was not the intended target
According to investigators, Singh was caught in a crime that was apparently aimed at someone else.
The sheriff’s office says the kidnapping was connected to the theft of a trailer. The person the suspects were allegedly looking for was in Canada when Singh was taken from the Tracy gurdwara.
Investigators believe the suspects mistakenly identified Singh as the person they wanted.
San Joaquin County Sheriff Pat Withrow said Singh was taken from a place of worship in broad daylight even though he was not the intended target.
The investigation later led detectives to Vallejo. Authorities said Flock camera data helped investigators trace the vehicle believed to have been involved in the kidnapping. A white SUV believed to have been used in the crime was subsequently seized.
Singh was taken from the gurdwara in February
Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators showed Singh being forced into the SUV by several people dressed in dark clothing.
At the time of his disappearance, Singh was a longtime member and volunteer at the Sikh temple. He was also a father of young triplets.
His disappearance became especially urgent when his family realized he had not returned home. The case took a devastating turn when authorities found his body near Lake Berryessa on Feb. 20.
Investigators treated the death as a homicide and continued working to determine who was responsible.
Earlier in the investigation, authorities said there was no known ongoing threat to the wider community and described the incident as isolated.
Three suspects remain at large
The investigation has now resulted in indictments against Alencastro, Alfonso Segura Arellano and Barnabe Segura Arellano.
Authorities are asking residents to look at the suspects’ photographs and contact investigators if they recognize any of the men or have information about where they may be.
Because investigators consider the suspects potentially dangerous, the public is being urged not to approach them.
The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to seek information that could help locate the three men.
Sikh community offers $50,000 reward
The search has also drawn support from the Sikh community, which is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the suspects’ arrests.
For Singh’s family and those who knew him, the case has remained a painful reminder of how a mistaken identity can have devastating consequences.
Investigators say the effort now is focused on locating the three indicted men and bringing the case forward through the legal process.
