A California murder case is drawing renewed attention after disturbing testimony revealed a workplace culture that employees described as humiliating — including claims they were forced to perform hundreds of pushups just to get paid.
But while those allegations have captured headlines, prosecutors say the motive behind the killing itself was far more calculated.
A Brutal Killing Revisited
The case centers on the 2019 killing of Tushar Atre, a California-based tech entrepreneur and cannabis executive who was found dead after being kidnapped from his home.
Years later, the case resurfaced in court as one of the suspects, Joshua Camps, was convicted of first-degree murder along with additional charges tied to the crime.
According to prosecutors, the attack was not spontaneous.
Instead, authorities say multiple individuals — including people who had worked for Atre — plotted to rob him, believing he had access to large amounts of cash.
What followed was a violent and chaotic sequence of events.
Investigators say Atre was attacked at his home, stabbed while attempting to escape, and kidnapped. He was later taken to another location, where Camps shot and killed him.
Per People magazine:
Camps’ accomplices — Kaleb Charters, Kurtis Charters and Stephen Lindsay — were also convicted of first-degree murder in separate trials last year.
During his trial in November, Kaleb told the jury that he, along with Lindsay, worked a job for Atre in August 2019, where they were allegedly made to work starting from dawn for $200 per day, KRON 4 reported at the time.
But that was only part of the story.
The Workplace Allegations
As the trial unfolded, testimony introduced a new and unsettling layer to the case.
Former employees claimed Atre fostered a harsh and, at times, degrading work environment.
Among the most shocking allegations:
- Workers were allegedly forced to do hundreds of pushups — sometimes up to 500 — in exchange for pay
- Some claimed they were denied wages unless they complied
- Others described being publicly berated or humiliated on the job
These claims were presented in court as part of the broader context surrounding the relationship between Atre and those accused in the killing.
While not the central focus of the prosecution’s case, the testimony painted a picture of a workplace marked by tension and resentment.
Motive: Robbery, Not Revenge
Despite the sensational nature of the “pushups for pay” claims, prosecutors were clear about what they believe drove the crime.
The primary motive, they argued, was robbery.
Authorities say the suspects targeted Atre because they believed he had significant wealth and access to cash — not simply because of workplace grievances.
That distinction matters.
While the allegations of humiliation may help explain strained relationships and possible animosity, they were not presented as the direct cause of the killing.
Instead, prosecutors described a premeditated plan that escalated into deadly violence.
A Case That Raises Bigger Questions
Even so, the testimony has sparked broader questions about workplace conduct — particularly in high-pressure or unconventional industries.
At the same time, the case underscores a more sobering reality: grievances — even serious ones — do not justify criminal violence.
The Bottom Line
The headline-grabbing claim that a CEO forced employees to do pushups for pay has added a shocking twist to an already brutal case.
But the facts presented in court point to something more calculated:
A planned robbery that spiraled into murder.
The disturbing workplace allegations may explain tensions behind the scenes — but they do not change the core conclusion reached by prosecutors and the jury.
A man is dead, and those responsible are now being held accountable.
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