A 72-year-old Indian-origin woman, Ajit Kaur, was identified by the Stanislaus County Coroner's Office on Tuesday after her body was found in a local canal. The remains were discovered by a Turlock Irrigation District employee on Saturday, October 24, during a routine patrol of the Lower Lateral 3 Canal near Central Avenue and Keyes Road in Ceres. The employee spotted the body while conducting one of the district’s multiple daily inspections of the water system. Ceres Police Department (CPD) officers responded to the scene, confirmed the remains were human, and sent them to the coroner for identification.
Kaur was reported missing from the Casa Grande Apartment complex in Ceres on August 23. She was last seen at approximately 1:45 a.m. near Whitmore Ave and Mitchell Road. Her daughter-in-law, Raman Atwal, told investigators that Kaur went out on her daily walk and never returned. "No phone, no IDs, nothing whatsoever," Atwal said. "That’s very unusual for her." The family noted that Kaur was visually impaired in one eye and did not have access to a vehicle, leading them to fear she may have fallen into the canal.
Detectives launched an extensive search immediately after the report. They canvassed the surrounding area, including canal areas throughout Ceres, and worked with a K9 unit from the Merced County Sheriff’s Office trained to track missing persons. The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department Dive Unit also assisted, deploying an underwater remote sonar drone to scan the canals. Detectives worked with TID to map potential water routes Kaur might have taken and investigate whether she could have reached the TID regulating reservoir. Despite these efforts, the body was not located until October 24.
CPD stated that their investigation led them to believe Kaur "may have entered" the TID canal located east of the apartment complex. "We are grateful to the agencies and personnel who assisted throughout this investigation," CPD said in a statement. The department extended its condolences to Kaur’s family and loved ones, saying their thoughts were with them as they navigate this loss.
The case remains under investigation. The Stanislaus County Coroner's Office has identified the body, and the investigation is now focused on determining the exact cause of death. The family is expected to cooperate with investigators as they gather more information about the circumstances surrounding Kaur's disappearance and death.