NRI Pulse Staff Report

UPDATE:

The body of missing man Vijay Kumar was found in the American River near the Sunrise Bridge on Monday night, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday. The cause of his death is still unknown.

“With deep sadness we share that Vijay has passed away. We request some time to be allowed for the family to cope with this loss, and will share other updates. We sincerely thank everyone for supporting this search,” a post on the Facebook page set up by Vijay Kumar’s family to aid in his search says.

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Atlanta, GA, June 17, 2019: The Sacramento community is rallying around the family of an Indian-American scientist who went missing on June 10. Vijay Kumar, 57, was last known to be at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center, wearing a blue plaid collar shirt and blue jeans.

The Sacramento Sheriff’s office is also investigating the case.

About 200 people gathered Sunday evening at a park in Folsom, CA to pray for Vijay Kumar’s safe return and to give emotional support to his wife and two sons.

“He has always been a responsible and loving husband,” his wife, Madhur Kumar told KCRA. “He just adored his kids. His kids were his life. So, this is all very strange to us that he would go away without even informing us. It’s just so, so unbelievable.”

Vijay Kumar, a scientist, had lost his job six months ago, and was in the process of changing careers.

Madhur Kumar told KCRA the family went to their youngest son’s summer school orientation Monday morning. Later that day, Kumar told his family he was going to the aquatic center to enjoy the outdoors for some quiet thinking time.

Kumar’s older son, Jay Kumar, was the last person to speak with him over the phone around 2 p.m., on the day of the disappearance.

He said his father called him while he and his brother were at the gym playing basketball. “He just asked me if I was home. And I was like, ‘Oh no, not yet. I’ll be home within the next 30 minutes.’ He’s like, ‘OK, good.’ And that was the end of the phone call.”

Vijay Kumar never returned home. Jay went to the aquatic center that night to look for his dad. He found his maroon Honda Odyssey in the parking lot.

The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office is helping with the search.