Alberto Alonso Alencastro has been arrested in Mexico in connection with the kidnapping and murder of 57-year-old Avtar Singh, according to the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office. Singh’s body was discovered near Lake Berryessa on Feb. 20, exactly three days after surveillance footage captured three individuals forcing him into a white crossover-style SUV outside a Sikh temple in Tracy.
Did You Know? Avtar Singh lived on the temple grounds at the Tracy Gurdwara with his wife and children, including a set of triplets born shortly before the kidnapping, and served as a longtime volunteer performing selfless service.
Investigators uncover evidence of mistaken identity
Investigators determined that Singh was a victim of mistaken identity. The actual target of the abduction was believed to be an individual living in Canada at the time. Between Feb. 25 and Feb. 27, investigators traveled to Canada and discovered that the intended target and his family had been receiving threats related to a stolen cargo trailer. The sheriff’s office reported that the intended target allegedly stole a trailer, which prompted the suspects to hunt him down.
Two suspects remain at large after initial arrest
While Alencastro has been apprehended abroad and booked into the San Joaquin County Jail, two other suspects remain at large. The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office identified the outstanding suspects as Alfonso Cresencio Segura Arellano and Barnabe Antonio Segura Arellano. Law enforcement agencies continue to search for both men.
The arrest of Alencastro followed extensive investigative work and continued collaboration between law enforcement agencies, as noted by the Sheriff’s Office.
How to Provide Tips to Law Enforcement
Authorities have urged anyone possessing information relevant to the case to step forward. Community members can contact the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at 209-468-4400 to share tips concerning the whereabouts of the remaining suspects.
Details regarding the victim and discovery of the body
Who was the victim in the Tracy kidnapping case?
The victim was 57-year-old Avtar Singh, a resident and volunteer at the Gurdwara Guru Nanak Parkash complex in Tracy who lived on the temple grounds with his wife and newborn triplets.
When and where was Avtar Singh found?
Singh’s body was located near Lake Berryessa on Feb. 20, three days after he was abducted from the temple in Tracy on Feb. 17.
What led investigators to believe this was a case of mistaken identity?
After traveling to Canada between Feb. 25 and Feb. 27, investigators determined that the intended target and his family had been receiving threats over a stolen cargo trailer.
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