Did push-ups and disrespect lead to murder?

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When Tushar Atre was abducted successful the predawn hours of October 1, 2019, from his location perched connected the oceanside cliffs successful Santa Cruz, California, his friends and neighbors successful the usually quiescent surf assemblage were successful disbelief. Confusion implicit who would kidnap the palmy tech enforcement and cannabis entrepreneur turned to fearfulness aft helium was recovered dormant hours aboriginal connected 1 of his cannabis properties — having sustained stab wounds and a fatal gunshot coiled to the backmost of the head.

"Everyone was spooked. You could truly spot the fearfulness successful people's eyes," says CBS San Francisco, KPIX newsman Maria Cid Medina.

Investigators with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office formed a wide nett for suspects, but according to Cid Medina, they initially did not person overmuch to spell on. "48 Hours" contributor Tracy Smith explores the ensuing seven-month agelong investigation successful "Who Shot the Tech Exec?"

"There were not contiguous suspects," says Cid Medina. "You got a consciousness that investigators did not person immoderate leads successful this case.

That each changed erstwhile detectives began to excavation deeper into Atre's cannabis business. As they interviewed his employees and associates, determination were 2 names they heard much than once.

"Two of the names that kept popping up were Stephen Lindsay and Kaleb Charters," says erstwhile constabulary main and "48 Hours" advisor Steve Cercone.

Both men had worked for Atre successful August of 2019 connected 1 of his cannabis properties — doing mostly manual labour putting up obstruction posts and planting. Investigators interviewed some men successful December 2019, 2 months aft Atre's execution and learned they'd lone worked for him for little than 2 weeks. But successful that abbreviated play of clip determination was a batch of animosity. Lindsay and Charters seemingly mislaid a acceptable of Atre's car keys, and past they learned helium had stopped outgo connected their paychecks. Lindsay admitted to investigators helium was truthful upset helium wanted to combat Tushar. There was besides a communicative that detectives aboriginal learned surrounding a unsocial signifier of punishment Atre allegedly inflicted connected the men.

"Apparently, he'd made them bash push-ups … successful beforehand of different people," says Cercone. "If that were the case, they were astir apt humiliated."

The keys were recovered and Atre yet did wage Lindsay and Charters for their work, though lone partially. They told investigators their quality with him was resolved, and that they ne'er returned to Santa Cruz aft they stopped moving for him. But 5 months aft their interviews, they — on with Kaleb's brother, Kurtis Charters, and a friend, Joshua Camps, were arrested for Atre's kidnapping and murder. Investigators said it was a robbery gone wrong, but Mary Fulginiti, a erstwhile national authoritative and "48 Hours" consultant, says there's much to the motive and suggests they request to look nary further than however Atre allegedly treated Lindsay and Charters.

"Does this communicative of Tushar humiliating Stephen Lindsay and Kaleb Charters constituent to motive?" Tracy Smith asked her.

"Yes," replied Fulginiti. "Definitely."

She says the information that some men were successful the U.S. Army Reserve mightiness besides play into lingering resentment.

"When you look astatine the Army Reserve, right, and you look astatine the Army oregon immoderate of the subject operations, I mean, they're taught respect," says Fulginiti. "And present helium is feeding into that disrespect … and mistreatment."

The 4 men charged with the execution of Tushar Atre were each recovered blameworthy successful abstracted trials. They were sentenced to beingness successful situation without the anticipation of parole.

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