Ceres Police Department confirmed the body of missing 72‑year‑old Ajit Kaur was found in the Lower Lateral 3 Canal on October 24, 2026. The canal worker, part of the Turlock Irrigation District patrol, spotted the body near Central Avenue and Keyes Road during a routine sweep.
She vanished from the Casa Grande Apartment complex on August 23, 2026, after last being seen at 1:45 a.m. near Whitmore Avenue and Mitchell Road. Police canvassed the surrounding area, deploying K‑9 units from Merced County to track her scent, and the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Dive Unit used an underwater drone to scan the water.
Detectives say they believe Kaur may have slipped into the canal east of the apartment complex. The TID mapped water routes she could have taken, and investigators are cross‑checking those paths with her known movements.
The body was taken to the Stanislaus County Coroner’s Office, where it was identified on October 27, 2026. CPD officials thanked the agencies that assisted and offered condolences to her family.
Ceres Police are continuing the investigation, focusing on the canal entry point and any potential witnesses. The case is now moving toward a formal inquiry into the circumstances of her disappearance.