A chilling case out of Santa Cruz, California, reached a verdict this week as 25-year-old Kaleb Charters, a former employee of tech tycoon-turned-cannabis entrepreneur Tushar Atre, was convicted of first-degree murder, robbery, carjacking, and kidnapping.
The trial revealed a violent plot that left Atre dead and shocked the local community.
The Night of the Murder
On October 1, 2019, Atre, 50, was violently dragged from his $5.4 million beach house at around 3 a.m. by a group of men.
Surveillance footage and witness testimony later revealed that he was stabbed, kidnapped, and shot in the head before being left for dead in a remote mountain area 14 miles from his home.
Kaleb Charters’ older brother, Kurtis Charters, and brother-in-law Stephen Nicholas “Nic” Lindsay were also convicted in connection with the murder and sentenced to life without parole.
A fourth alleged accomplice, Joshua Camps, awaits trial after reportedly confessing to the crime.
Humiliation and Tension at the Marijuana Farm
Witnesses testified that the killers had been humiliated by Atre during their employment at his cannabis farm.
According to Atre’s business manager, Sam Borghese, the tech entrepreneur was notoriously strict, frequently yelling at staff, withholding pay, and demanding physical exertion.
Lindsay and Kaleb, both Army National Guard members, were required to perform between 300 and 500 push-ups to receive their $1,400 paychecks.
Borghese described how the pair drove hundreds of miles to Humboldt County to purchase hundreds of marijuana plants and carried tens of thousands of dollars in cash at Atre’s direction.
After minor disputes over missing keys and bounced checks, tensions escalated, and the duo reportedly plotted to rob their boss.
The Fatal Robbery
Kaleb Charters allegedly recruited his brother, Kurtis, and Joshua Camps, while Lindsay joined in, to carry out the robbery.
On the night of October 1, Kaleb drove the group to Atre’s beach house and left them to execute the attack.
Surveillance footage captured Atre running down the street with his hands apparently tied, screaming for help before he was stabbed and subdued.
The assailants forced Atre into a stolen BMW and drove him to the farm in the mountains.
There, Camps shot him in the back of the head, and his body was discovered hours later just yards from the vehicle.
Investigators found his hands bound with flex-ties and the BMW stained with blood.
Aftermath and Financial Motives
In the days following the murder, Lindsay and Kaleb reportedly deposited cash into personal accounts and attempted to use Atre’s banking information to pay bills and make online transfers.
Despite pleading not guilty, claiming that the burglary spiraled into chaos and that he did not physically harm Atre, Kaleb was found guilty on all counts.
Prosecutors argued that he was a key participant, acting with reckless disregard for human life.
“They could have left Tushar bleeding in the street or abandoned him anywhere, but they didn’t,” the prosecutor said, highlighting the coordinated violence of the group.
Sentencing Set for December
Kaleb Charters’ sentencing is scheduled for December 17, bringing a grim conclusion to a case marked by betrayal, violence, and premeditated planning.
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