Suspected Killers Of Tushar Atre Caught On Video: Santa Cruz Co.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — Video of people suspected in the Oct. 1 killing of Santa Cruz County resident and businessman Tushar Atre was released by the sheriff's office Wednesday with hope that the public can help identify them.

Additionally, it was announced that the reward has been increased to $150,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the people responsible for Atre's killing.

The video shows the suspects walking out of an alley on East Cliff Drive onto Pleasure Point Drive. One of the suspects is carrying a duffle bag, the third suspect is carrying a rifle.

Atre, 50, went missing Oct. 1 around 3 a.m. after he was abducted from his oceanfront home in the 3000 block of Pleasure Point Drive. His body was found around 10 a.m. that same day after deputies went to the 24000 block of Soquel San Jose Road near the Summit and discovered his BMW SUV. He died from a gunshot wound, according to the San Cruz County Sheriff-Coroner's Office.

Investigators believe the motive behind Atre's abduction and killing was robbery, the sheriff's office said.

Atre was the owner of Atrenet, a corporate website development company that has "been serving the web design and development needs of many of the most innovative and successful high tech companies in Silicon Valley since 1996," according to his LinkedIn account.

The long-time Santa Cruz resident also ran a cannabis manufacturing company called Interstitial Systems on Fern Street in Santa Cruz.

The $150,000 reward is being offered by private community members and will last until December 30, 2019, according to the sheriff's department.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to call Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Sgt. Ainsworth at (831) 454-7635.