Indian-origin man arrested for wife’s murder in US after claiming ICE agents kidnapped her

By Sumesh Rajan | October 23, 2026

New Delhi, INDIA: A 28-year-old Indian-origin man has been arrested in California, United States, on charges of murdering his wife after allegedly attempting to mislead investigators by claiming that officers from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had kidnapped her. The case took a disturbing turn when investigators discovered that the couple was involved in an ongoing divorce and child custody dispute, while the woman's burned remains were recovered from a neighbouring county.

The accused, identified as Gurinder Gill, was arrested on October 14, 2026, in connection with the death of his 30-year-old wife, Jasmine Gill, an Indian-origin nurse and mother of an eight-month-old boy.

According to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, Jasmine was last seen at her residence in Sacramento on September 30. When she could not be located, her cousin filed a missing person report on October 4, prompting authorities to launch an investigation into her disappearance.

During the initial inquiry, Gurinder allegedly told detectives that ICE agents had taken his wife into custody while she was collecting mail outside their residence. However, investigators became suspicious of his account and contacted the federal immigration agency to verify the claim.

ICE officials confirmed that no immigration enforcement operation had taken place at the couple's residence, contradicting Gurinder's version of events.

As detectives continued questioning him and examining the circumstances surrounding Jasmine's disappearance, they identified several inconsistencies in his statements.

Investigators subsequently discovered that Jasmine and Gurinder were involved in ongoing divorce proceedings and a dispute over the custody of their child.

In a statement issued on October 16, the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office said the inconsistencies in Gurinder's account, along with evidence gathered during the investigation, led detectives to focus on him as a suspect.

Burned Human Remains Identified as Missing Woman

The investigation took a significant turn when authorities connected Jasmine's disappearance to burned human remains discovered in El Dorado County on October 1, just a day after she was last seen.

The remains were subsequently identified as those of Jasmine Gill, confirming that the missing person investigation involved a homicide.

Following further investigation, homicide detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Gurinder on a murder charge.

He was taken into custody on October 14. Investigators also executed court-authorised search warrants at two properties associated with the accused as part of their efforts to gather additional evidence.

Gurinder was subsequently lodged in the Sacramento County Main Jail, where he remains in custody without eligibility for bail.

Authorities have not publicly disclosed the precise circumstances of Jasmine's death or how her remains came to be found in El Dorado County.

ICE Rejects Kidnapping Allegation

The case also drew a sharp response from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement after investigators revealed that Gurinder had allegedly attempted to blame the agency for his wife's disappearance.

Reacting to the allegations, ICE described the accused as a "deranged man" and criticised attempts to falsely implicate immigration enforcement officers in criminal activities.

"These maniacs will attempt to scapegoat the brave men and women of ICE, who work around the clock to remove dangerous criminals, meanwhile they themselves commit criminal acts," the agency stated in a post on X.

Investigators maintained that ICE had conducted no enforcement activity at Jasmine's residence during the period in question.

Jasmine Was Seeking Divorce and a Better Future for Her Baby

As details of the killing emerged, Jasmine's family revealed that she had been seeking a divorce and hoping to build a safer and more secure future for herself and her eight-month-old son.

Her relatives described her as a devoted daughter, loving sister, caring nurse and affectionate mother whose life was cut short at the age of 30.

According to a fundraising appeal launched on GoFundMe to help repatriate her remains to India, Jasmine had been trying to rebuild her life while navigating difficulties in her marriage.

"Perhaps the most heartbreaking part of her story is that she was fighting for a better future for herself and her baby. She was seeking a divorce. She was trying to find the freedom, safety, and fresh start they both deserved," the family stated.

The appeal further described the tragedy of Jasmine's death, which left her infant son without his mother.

"There are no words to describe the heartbreak of losing Jasmine in such a devastating and unimaginable way. At just 30 years old, she had so much life left to live," her relatives said.

Mother Appeals for Daughter's Remains to Be Brought to India

Jasmine's death has devastated her family in India, particularly her mother, Sukhwinder Kaur, who raised Jasmine and her brother single-handedly after losing her husband when the children were young.

Kaur, who worked as a nurse in India, had struggled to provide for her children and support their education and future.

In an emotional video appeal, the grieving mother alleged that her daughter had endured cruelty during her marriage.

"My daughter was subjected to a lot of cruelty," Kaur said.

She also appealed to the authorities to help bring Jasmine's remains back to India so that the family could perform her final rites.

"I request that her body be sent here," she said.

The family has launched an online fundraising campaign to cover the expenses involved in repatriating Jasmine's remains and supporting arrangements following her death.

Meanwhile, Gurinder remains in custody on a murder charge as investigators continue examining the circumstances surrounding Jasmine's death.