A baby girl and three other family members who were kidnapped under duress, according to the sheriff of Merced County in California, have been discovered dead.
The bodies were discovered in an orchard in Merced County on Thursday, according to sheriff Vern Warnke, who told reporters that “our worst fears have been confirmed.”
Authorities revealed security video showing a man abducting 8-month-old Aroohi Dheri, her parents, and her uncle from their place of business on Monday in Merced, in the San Joaquin Valley, southeast of San Francisco, which prompted the announcement.
The suspect was shown on camera first passing by the property before approaching one of the men. It then depicts him guiding the men, whose wrists were tied with zip ties behind their backs, into the pickup truck’s back seat.
The suspect then drove away after leading Jasdeep Singh, who was holding her infant in her arms, out of the trailer that served as the business office and into the vehicle.
Authorities had previously claimed that the four had been abducted by a convicted robber who had attempted suicide the day before the kidnappings. Although the kidnapper did not seek a ransom, the sheriff has stated that he thinks the crime was motivated by money.
Jesus Salgado, 48, confirmed to his relatives that he was engaged in the kidnapping, according to Warnke, who spoke to KFSN-TV on Tuesday. Salgado attempted suicide before police arrived at a home in Atwater, and he was later admitted to the hospital, the source claimed.
On Wednesday, attempts to contact Salgado’s relatives were futile.
Salgado has been in the hospital under medical sedation, so investigators have not been able to speak with him, according to Warnke, but they want to on Wednesday with the aid of medical professionals.
I can assure you that he has been violent every time he has even been close to consciousness, Warnke stated.
Warnke expressed his hope that Salgado would choose to assist the authorities and direct them to the family.
First and foremost, he declared, “We want the family back.”
“We’ll deal with the court afterwards. I’m not bothered about court right now.”
Salgado had previously been found guilty in Merced County of attempted false imprisonment, first-degree robbery with the use of a pistol, and an attempt to deter or discourage a victim or witness. According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, he was given a term of 11 years in state prison in that case.
In 2015, he was let out of prison, and three years later, he was released from parole.
He was also found guilty of possessing a controlled substance, according to the prisons department.
Investigators have not discovered a connection between Salgado and the family to demonstrate that they were acquainted prior to the kidnapping.
California family abducted, including a baby, found dead
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