Florida airplane mechanic, 36, who vanished more than two months ago after trying to collect $315,000 debt was kidnapped and killed in murder-for-hire plot, cops say: Three men are arrested
A Florida man who tried to collect on a $315,000 debt has been found dead following a murder-for-hire plot.
Three men have now been arrested in the murder of Miami-Dade County aircraft mechanic Suren Seetal, 36, who was last seen alive on November 2.
One of the arrested suspects is the man who owed him money.
Somjeet Christopher “Lil Chris” Singh, 29, Avin “Smalls” Seetaram, 24, and Gavin Hunter, 18, of Broward County have all been charged with conspiracy to commit murder for hire, murder for hire, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, kidnapping and obstruction of justice.
Seetal was last seen on November 2 when he left work.
Suren Seetal, 26, from Florida, wanted to collect on a $315,000 debt, but was found dead days later in connection with a murder-for-hire scheme
Seetal was supposed to be working at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport the day he disappeared
A federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida indicted the men after Seetal's body was found three weeks later on Nov. 21 on the Big Cypress Reservation.
Singh allegedly owed Seetal the money, while his girlfriend told authorities he had tried to collect the outstanding money.
The indictment alleges that Seetaram, Singh and Hunter wanted to get rid of the debt by killing Seetal.
It was only when Seetal failed to return calls and did not return home that his family reported him missing on November 4.
Seetal had been working at the Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport on November 2. He was also scheduled to work at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport that day, the Sun Sentinel.
Somjeet Singh, 29, left; Avin Seetaram, 24, center; and Gavin Hunter, right, are charged with the kidnapping and murder of 36-year-old Suren Seetal
Gavin Hunter, 18, also faces the same charges
“Suren last worked at the aircraft hangar at Banyan, FXE Airport in Fort Lauderdale, leaving around 6:41 p.m. Thursday, November 2, 2023 to do some shopping before he leaves for Trinidad on Saturday, ' Karen Seetal, a GoFundMe page listed
'Suren did not go home on Thursday evening and did not show up for work on Friday. His cell phone goes to voicemail. Any donations will go directly to the family to assist with the search. Thank you for any help you can provide,” the fundraiser explained.
A statement seen by People claims how Seetal knew Singh and Seetaram because they worked together in the fireworks business.
All four had been in contact with each other until Seetal's mobile phone signal stopped working on November 2.
A day later, an unmarked black tow truck was seen taking Seetal's vehicle away.
The car was allegedly removed by a Singh employee and tracked by Florida's SunPass toll system.
In addition, images of a Home Depot branch were reportedly seen Seetaram and Singh buy a 96 liter waste cart.
Seetaram's mobile phone was also pinged in the direction where Seetal's body was later found. He had been shot in the head.
The affidavit claims Hunter is the suspect who fatally shot Seetal.
Seetal, an aircraft mechanic from Miami-Dade County, was last seen alive on Nov. 2, and his body was found three weeks later.
Seetal knew his alleged killers, Singh and Seetaram, because they worked together in the fireworks business
'We express our sincere condolences to the Seetal family. It is still very early, but I have communicated regularly with the government since my client's arrest and I have worked diligently with the government to understand the allegations and achieve a just and expeditious resolution to this serious matter,” said the lawyer for Seetaram in a statement. NBC6.
Singh told authorities he had not seen Seetal since October when they were at a party in Orlando.
He also admitted to authorities that he called his cousin on November 3 to tow Seetal's car.
On Monday, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced charges against the three men who authorities said were “involved in a violent kidnapping and murder of Miami-Dade resident Suren Seetal.”
Seetaram will be arraigned on December 28, while Hunter and Singh will have their hearings in January.
If convicted, Seetaram, Singh and Hunter face a mandatory sentence of life in prison or the death penalty, the news release said.