MIAMI – Three Broward County men were indicted by a federal grand jury Monday in the kidnapping and murder of a 36-year-old South Florida airplane mechanic who had been reported missing in early November.
Authorities are describing the case as a murder-for-hire plot.
Suren Seetal, of Miami-Dade, had been last seen on Nov. 2, leaving the Banyan airplane hangar at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. His car also vanished that same day after working on planes at the Fort Lauderdale Executive and Miami-Opa Locka Executive airports.
Prosecutors said Monday that Gavin Hunter, 18; Avin “Smalls” Seetaram, 24; and Somjeet Christopher “Lil Chris” Singh, 29; kidnapped and murdered Seetal and dumped his body in the Big Cypress Indian Reservation.
Authorities said they recovered Seetal’s body at the Seminole reservation on Nov. 21 and notified his family, who had offered a $25,000 reward for his safe return.
Prosecutors allege that Seetal’s cellphone pinged within the vicinity of Dr. HVAC, Singh’s air conditioning business, on the night he vanished.
According to state business records, Dr. HVAC is based at 5441 NW 15th St. in Margate.
The three men are facing charges of murder-for-hire conspiracy, murder-for-hire, kidnapping conspiracy, kidnapping and obstruction of justice. Prosecutors said they could face life in prison or the death penalty.
A detailed criminal complaint wasn’t immediately available in federal court records.