Kidnapped Family of Four from California Found Dead

The four family members who were kidnapped Monday morning at gunpoint from a business in Merced County, California, were found dead in an orchard late Wednesday evening. One suspect has been taken into police custody but has not yet been charged.

The bodies of the victims, Jasleen Kaur, 27, Jasdeep Singh, 36, their 8-month-old Aroohi Dheri and the baby’s uncle, Amandeep Singh, 39, were found by a farm hand in close proximity of each other on a remote almond orchard in Dos Palos. Dos Palos is about 20 miles north of Merced according to the Associated Press.

The family were kidnapped Monday morning from their trucking business in Merced, California. Shortly before 9 a.m. Jasdeep interacted with a man outside the business and produced what is believed to have been a firearm.

Minutes later, Jasdeep and Amandeep were seen on surveillance video with their hands tied behind their backs. The suspect took the pair to a different location, then repeated the same process with Jasleen and Aroohi, according to CNN.

Sheriff Vern Warnke believes the family was killed before their families reported them missing. The kidnapper made no ransom demands. Sheriff Warnke said Wednesday evening that “there was a special place in hell for this guy,” after the bodies were identified.

The only identified suspect had been identified as 48-year-old Jesus Manuel Salgado. He has been arrested but has not yet been charged. Salgado has previously spent nearly a decade in prison on charges of attempted false imprisonment, first-degree robbery with the use of a firearm, and an attempt to prevent or dissuade a victim or witness.

As police took Salgado into custody, he confessed to his involvement with the kidnapping. He also attempted suicide before he was taken into custody and has received medical attention. Investigators believe that Salgado was not alone in his actions.