Sheriff’s Office releases new video, details related to kidnapping, murder of Tushar Atre
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION) https://livestream.com/accounts/25723746/events/8522569/videos/201333316
UPDATE 1/29/2020 The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office released new information and video related to the kidnapping and murder of Tushar Atre, Wednesday.
The new video shows a person of interest in the case. About two and a half hours before Atre was kidnapped, the person rode up on a bicycle, stopped in front of Atre's home and looked at it for several seconds. The Sheriff's Office does not know if the person on the bike is one of three suspects seen in a video released in November, but would like to speak to that person.
“We have this person who stops on a bike and stares, almost listening, looking at the property. It's just not normal,” Lt. Brian Cleveland said.
The Sheriff's Office also released the route that the suspects took while driving Atre's white BMW after the kidnapping. They reportedly took East Cliff Drive to 41st Street and then southbound on Soquel Drive. After that, they took porter to Soquel San Jose Road. Atre's body was found on a property he owned off Soquel San Jose Road. Investigators are asking anyone who may have seen the vehicle the morning of Oct. 1 contact them.
“As you can imagine, Tushar’s friends and family are devastated by his death, and we feel a responsibility to them, to Tushar and our community to solve this case,” Sheriff Jim Hart said.
The reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those involved has been increased to $200,000. Members of the community contributed to the reward that is now the largest in county history.
“It breaks my heart. You know what I mean? They should have some way to get a hold of these people who did it,” Pleasure Point resident Andrew Waters said.
Atre was a Santa Cruz tech executive who owned several businesses. Investigators said that he was a legitimate business owner, but they are looking at all of his businesses.
Anyone with information is asked to call Sgt. Ainsworth at 831-454-7635.
PREVIOUS STORY: The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office is preparing to release new video Wednesday of a person of interest and the travel path of a stolen car connected to the kidnapping and murder of Tushar Atre.
Atre was a 50-year-old Santa Cruz tech executive who investigators said was kidnapped from his Pleasure Point home during a crime in early October. Atre was later found dead on a property he owned. A pathologist said he died of a gunshot wound and confirmed that it was murder.
Surveillance video showing three male suspects was released in November, but the suspects have not been identified and no arrests have been made.
In December, the deadline for the $150,000 reward came and went without an arrest, but the Sheriff's Office said it will announce a reward increase and new deadline. The Sheriff's Office said it is the largest in county history.
KION will share the new video and information when it is released Wednesday.
See a clip of the previously released video below.
