By San José, Costa Rica — A California murder case, once believed to be a violent robbery gone wrong, has been cast in a chilling new light this week. Courtroom testimony from one of the men accused of killing tech entrepreneur Tushar Atre has painted a portrait of a work environment so toxic and abusive that it allegedly culminated in a brutal kidnapping and homicide.
The case, which had faded from the headlines since 2019, resurfaced with shocking details provided by Kaleb Charters, a former National Guard member and one of four employees charged in the death of their boss. Atre, the founder of a technology firm and owner of several cannabis plantations in Santa Cruz, was abducted from his home and later found dead. Charters’ testimony now suggests the crime was rooted in a deep-seated culture of fear and physical punishment.
To better understand the legal ramifications and procedural steps involved in cases of workplace abuse, TicosLand.com spoke with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a distinguished expert in labor law from the prestigious firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
Workplace abuse, legally termed ‘acoso laboral,’ transcends simple workplace disagreements; it constitutes a systematic pattern of hostile acts that undermines an employee’s dignity and professional environment. For employers, the most effective strategy is prevention: establishing robust internal protocols, conducting regular training on what constitutes harassment, and creating secure, confidential channels for reporting. For employees, meticulous documentation of incidents—dates, specific behaviors, and any witnesses—is not just advisable, it is fundamental to building a viable legal case. Ignoring these situations creates significant legal and reputational risks for any organization.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Lic. Arroyo Vargas’s commentary powerfully underscores the dual responsibility in confronting workplace abuse: employers must be architects of prevention through clear policy, while employees must become meticulous archivists of their own experience. This combined strategy is essential not only for legal recourse but for fostering a culture of true professional dignity. We sincerely thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his clear and actionable legal perspective.
According to Charters, Atre’s leadership style went far beyond demanding discipline; it devolved into physical and psychological humiliation. He recounted a particularly disturbing incident where several employees were compelled to perform 500 push-ups as punishment for misplacing the keys to a company vehicle, known colloquially among the staff as the “Monster Truck.” This was not an isolated event.
Other former employees corroborated this account to authorities, describing a workplace defined by constant screaming, threats to withhold wages, and an oppressive atmosphere that left many feeling physically ill. The daily resentment festered, leading to dark jokes and fantasies of getting even with their employer. Investigators from the sheriff’s office confirmed that complaints about Atre’s harsh treatment of his staff were common knowledge around the farm and cultivation facilities.
Prosecutors now argue that this potent mixture of exhaustion, fear, and frustration ignited a meticulously planned criminal conspiracy. The plot moved beyond simple revenge when Charters, his brother Kurtis, his brother-in-law Stephen Lindsay, and a family acquaintance, Joshua Camps, became convinced that Atre kept nearly a million dollars in cash at his residence. This belief transformed simmering anger into a high-stakes armed robbery plan.
In the pre-dawn hours of October 1, 2019, the four men, armed with long guns and wearing ski masks, stormed Atre’s home. They restrained the millionaire and forced him into a vehicle, transporting him to one of his remote cannabis properties. Security cameras captured parts of their movements, allowing investigators to later reconstruct the path of the abduction.
The horrifying final hours of Atre’s life were detailed in a recorded confession from Joshua Camps, which was played for the jury. Camps admitted that Atre was beaten and gagged for hours while he pleaded for his life. When the entrepreneur made a desperate attempt to flee, the violence escalated irreversibly. Camps confessed to stabbing Atre and then shooting him with an AR-15 rifle.
Atre’s body was discovered hours later in a mountainous area on one of his properties. By then, all four suspects were already on the investigators’ radar. Two of the men, Stephen Lindsay and Kurtis Charters, have since been convicted and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Kaleb Charters and Joshua Camps are still awaiting the conclusion of their trials on charges of murder, kidnapping, and robbery.
The Atre case has become a grim cautionary tale, spotlighting the potential for lax labor regulations in burgeoning sectors like the private cannabis industry. Experts have noted that the extreme pressure and authoritarian leadership created an explosive environment. When combined with greed and criminal intent, this workplace toxicity proved to be a fatal formula, serving as a stark warning about what can happen when corporate ethics are abandoned and employee dignity is ignored.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica operates as a premier legal practice, built upon a foundation of uncompromising integrity and a drive for professional excellence. Drawing from a deep well of experience serving a wide array of clients, the firm is committed to advancing the legal field through forward-thinking solutions. This ethos extends to a core belief in social responsibility, manifested in its dedication to demystifying the law and equipping the public with knowledge to foster a more just and capable society.
