Tushar Atre was a successful entrepreneur and technology executive who was kidnapped and murdered in 2019. He was the founder and CEO of AtreNet, a digital marketing agency that served high-tech companies. He also had a cannabis business that produced medicinal products. This article will provide a brief overview of his life, career, and the circumstances of his death.
Early Life and Education
Tushar Atre was born on August 1, 1969, in New York, USA. He belonged to the South Asian ethnicity. He attended high school in New York and then enrolled at New York University, where he studied English and literature. He was interested in technology, design, and entrepreneurship from a young age.
Career and Achievements
Tushar Atre started his career as the CEO of AtreNet, a company that he founded in 1996. AtreNet specialized in web design, development, and strategy for high-tech clients. Some of the notable companies that AtreNet worked with include Cisco, Hewlett-Packard, Netflix, and Adobe. AtreNet was praised for its innovative and creative solutions that helped its clients achieve their business goals.
Tushar Atre was also involved in the cannabis industry, which he saw as a promising and lucrative venture. He owned a company called Interstitial Systems, which produced cannabis extracts and oils for medical purposes. He had a cannabis farm in the Santa Cruz mountains, where he grew and processed the plants.
Tushar Atre was known for his adventurous and spiritual personality. He loved surfing, traveling, and meditating. He was also a generous and kind person who supported various charitable causes. He had many friends and admirers in the tech and cannabis communities.
Kidnapping and Murder
On October 1, 2019, Tushar Atre was abducted from his home in Santa Cruz, California, by three masked intruders. They broke into his house around 3 a.m. and demanded money from him. They also took his girlfriend’s white BMW SUV and drove away with him. One of his employees, who was staying at his house, heard the commotion and called 911.
The police responded to the scene and found no signs of forced entry or ransacking. They also found blood in the street and a safe full of cash in Atre’s bedroom. They launched a search for Atre and the suspects, using helicopters, drones, and dogs.
About six hours later, they found the abandoned BMW in the Santa Cruz mountains, near Atre’s cannabis farm. They also found Atre’s body about 20 to 30 yards away from the vehicle. He had been fatally shot and stabbed. His hands were bound with flex-ties.
The police suspected that the motive for the kidnapping and murder was robbery, but they did not rule out other possibilities. They collected evidence from the crime scenes and reviewed surveillance footage that showed the three suspects walking towards Atre’s house. They also interviewed witnesses and potential persons of interest.
Investigation and Arrests
The investigation into the case was complex and challenging, as the police had to deal with multiple jurisdictions, conflicting evidence, and uncooperative suspects. They also faced public pressure and media scrutiny, as the case attracted national and international attention.
The police offered a reward of $200,000 for any information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators. They also released sketches and photos of the suspects, hoping to generate tips from the public.
After months of intensive investigation, the police announced that they had arrested four suspects in connection with the case on May 19, 2020. They were identified as Kurtis Charters, 22, Joshua Camps, 23, Stephen Lindsay, 22, and Kaleb Charters, 19. They were all charged with murder, kidnapping, robbery, and burglary. They pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.
According to the police, the suspects knew Atre through his cannabis business and had planned to rob him of his money and marijuana. They also said that one of the suspects, Kaleb Charters, was a former employee of Atre’s cannabis company and had a dispute with him over wages.
The police said that they had gathered enough evidence to link the suspects to the crime, including DNA, fingerprints, cell phone records, and witness statements. They also said that they had recovered the murder weapon, a .40 caliber Glock handgun, from one of the suspect’s homes.
The police thanked the public and the media for their assistance and cooperation in the case. They also expressed their condolences to Atre’s family and friends, who had been waiting for justice and closure.
Conclusion
Tushar Atre was a remarkable and influential figure in the tech and cannabis industries. He had a passion for innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship. He also had a zest for life and a compassion for others. His kidnapping and murder shocked and saddened many people who knew him or admired him. His case also raised awareness and questions about the security and regulation of the cannabis industry. His legacy and memory will live on through his work and his impact on the world.