A man has been arrested for allegedly kidnapping and killing four members of a California family, including their baby girl.
Jesus Manuel Salgado, 48, was arrested Thursday night and charged with four counts of murder and four counts of kidnapping in the deaths of 8-month-old Aroohi Dheri and her parents Jasleen Kaur and Jasdeep Singh, as well as her uncle Amandeep Singh.
Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke said “there’s a special place in hell for this guy” on Wednesday night when he announced the bodies of the missing family had been found, CNN reported. “The circumstances around this, when we are able to release everything, should anger the hell out of you,” Warnke added at the time.
Salgado had been detained two days before he was formally arrested, CNN reported, and police said he used to work for the family he is accused of killing. Police have not revealed what position he held in the family business.
Surveillance footage showed the four members of the family being forcibly taken from their workplace Monday morning. Jasdeep Singh arrived at the business’ parking lot at 8:30 a.m., with his brother Amandeep arriving nine minutes later. Just before 9 a.m., a man carrying a white trash bag confronts Jasdeep outside the business and appears to pull out a firearm. By 9:11 a.m., Jasdeep and Amandeep are seen with their hands tied behind their backs and getting into a truck before it pulls away.
The truck returns to the business soon after and the kidnapper enters the business. Shortly after, he exits the business holding a gun and directing Jasleen Kaur to get into the vehicle as she holds her baby.
The family vehicle was found abandoned and on fire later that morning.
That same day, a local farmer found two cell phones belonging to the victims along a stretch of road. He ended up answering one and speaking to a relative of one of the victims.
While Salgado is the main suspect in the case, police believe others could be involved.
“I fully believe that we will uncover and find out that there was more than just him involved,” Warnke said earlier this week.
Prior to his detention, Salgado attempted to commit suicide and was treated with a sedative due to him acting violently when he was conscious.
It is still unknown why Salgado allegedly murdered the family members, Warnke said, and police have not revealed how the family was killed.
In 2007, Salgado was sentenced to 11 years in prison for first-degree robbery with use of a firearm and attempted false imprisonment, among other charges.