Update on Merced kidnapping: Four family members including baby found dead, sheriff says

Merced County, California — Four family members kidnapped from a business in central California’s Merced County have been found dead Wednesday night, sheriffs said.

Merced County Sheriff Verne Wohnke says the bodies were found by farm workers in an orchard near the road in Indiana and Hutchinson.

“Our worst concerns have been confirmed,” the sheriff said. “We found four kidnapped people, but they are actually dead.”

“There are no words right now to describe the anger I feel and the senselessness of this incident,” he added. ”

Suspect Jesus Salgado is in custody but remains sedated in hospital after attempting suicide.

The sheriff said there is no evidence of another person’s involvement at this time, but “we believe we can link at least one other person by the time we’re done here.” rice field.

Earlier Wednesday, authorities released a surveillance video of a man kidnapping baby Alohi Delhi. Child’s mother, Jasleen Kaur, 27. Her father Jasdeep Singh, 36 years old. and his uncle Amandeep Singh, 39, stepped away from their work.

The family was kidnapped at gunpoint from a Merced business on Monday, officials said.

This video shows two members of the family, Jasdeep and Amandeep Singh, walking out the back door of their business with their hands zipped together.

Moments later, a video shows the kidnappers leading Kaur and her 8-month-old baby, Alohi Delhi, out of the building and into a truck.

California Family Kidnapping: Chilling New Video Shows Suspect Takes Two Family Members, Mother and Baby, in Zipties

Agents later learned that one of the victim’s ATM cards was used at a bank in Atwater, about nine miles north of Merced. Authorities added that the farmer answered the phone after the victim’s phone was found in the middle of the street.

A motive for the kidnapping has not been determined, but it is believed to be financial.

Relatives of the kidnapped family spoke to the community early Wednesday.

“It’s something no one is prepared to deal with. We just hope and pray,” said one family member, who identified himself as Balwinder.

“We are devastated. We are in shock. We are dying every second.”

The sheriff’s office said the suspect’s own family contacted authorities and reported that Salgado admitted to his involvement in the abduction.

Salgado was previously convicted of first-degree robbery with a firearm in Merced County, attempted false imprisonment, and attempting to deter or dissuade a victim or witness. He was sentenced to 11 years in state prison in the case, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

He was released from prison in 2015 and paroled three years later. He also has a controlled substance possession conviction, according to the Department of Corrections.

At this time, there is no evidence that Salgado knew his family prior to his abduction.

Copyright © 2022 KFSN-TV. All rights reserved.



https://abc7ny.com/merced-county-orchard-law-enforcement-response-hutchins-and-indiana/12298846/ Update on Merced kidnapping: Four family members including baby found dead, sheriff says

Exit mobile version