A 57-year-old Sikh man, who was allegedly kidnapped from the Tracy area in California's San Joaquin County, was found dead on Tuesday. According to local media reports, the deceased man was identified as Avtar Singh, who had become a father to triplets six months ago, and was killed in a horrific case of mistaken identity.

Earlier last week, police said Singh was picked up by three unidentified individuals dressed in dark clothing in a white SUV at approximately 2:30 pm (local time) on Tuesday. The victim appears to have entered the car against his will, police had said.

Sheriff Patrick Withrow said Singh attempted to fight off the attackers but was ultimately overpowered. His wife reported him missing around 9 pm after returning home from work and finding their three children alone. Concerned for his safety, she alerted authorities.

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On Friday, police discovered a body near Lake Berryessa, roughly a two-hour drive from where Singh was last seen. Authorities later confirmed that the body was his.

Motive behind killing unclear

Investigators said the motive behind the killing remains unclear. However, officials indicated that Singh was not the intended target.

“This was not a random act. They were targeting another individual for a specific reason, and we’re hoping that reason comes to light,” Withrow told KCRA 3.

“Our detectives are working tirelessly to investigate this case and identify those responsible for this terrible act,” he added.

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A colleague, Deep Singh, described the victim as sincere and hardworking. “For 23 years, his main role was head cook at our gurdwara, at the temple. But he was not only a cook — he was a multitasking person,” he said.

Father of triplets

The temple community had rejoiced when Avtar and his wife, married for nearly 17 years, learned they were expecting triplets, Deep told a local news outlet. The babies were born prematurely and had to remain in the hospital for an extended period before finally coming home.

On the day he was abducted, Avtar had reportedly been at the temple with the children. They were later found alone but unharmed.

A GoFundMe page set up to support the grieving family described the loss as devastating. “What began as a deeply concerning disappearance has ended in an unimaginable loss for his family and the entire Sangat,” the fundraiser read, adding that Avtar “made everyone feel like family.”

Investigators, meanwhile, continue to probe the motive behind the attack and are working to identify those responsible.