MERCED COUNTY, CA — All four bodies of family members who were stolen from a business in Merced County in central California earlier this week have been recovered.
Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke says the bodies of Jasdeep Singh, 36, Jasleen Kaur, 27, their eight-month-old baby Aruhi Deri and the child’s uncle, Amandeep Singh, 39, were found late Wednesday. at the orchard near Indiana and Hutchins Road.
A family representative told Action News that the main suspect in the kidnapping and murder, Jesus Manuel Salgado, is a former employee who drove for the victims’ trucking company.
They had a disagreement and parted ways.
The spokesperson also said that Aruhi Deri’s baby was left for dead and died of exposure.
Action News has also learned that Amandeep Singh is survived by his wife and two teenage children.
The city of Merced has announced that family candlelight vigils will be held nightly at 7:00 p.m., beginning October 6th and continuing through October 9th.
Family members were kidnapped from a business in Merced County on Monday.
Warnke said a farm worker near the orchard found the bodies and immediately contacted authorities.
All the bodies were found nearby.
“There are no words to describe the anger I feel,” Warnke said during a press conference Wednesday night. “There’s a special place in hell for that guy.”
Earlier Wednesday, the Merced County Sheriff’s Office released horrifying new video showing the moment the family was kidnapped.
Jasdeep and Amandeep Singh walked out of the business with their hands tied together. Moments later, the video shows the kidnapper leading Jasleen Kaur and her 8-month-old baby Aruhi Deri out of the building and into a truck.
RELATED: Four family members kidnapped from Merced business, photo of suspect released
Salgado was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon and taken to the hospital in critical condition after he tried to kill himself.
He was booked into the Merced County Jail Thursday night and charged with four counts of murder and four counts of kidnapping.
The sheriff’s office said Salgado’s family contacted authorities, saying he had confessed to them that he was involved in the family’s abduction.
Warnke said that while no evidence leads to it, he believes another suspect may be involved.
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