The search for a family of four from Merced County, California has ended in tragedy after they were found dead, according to reports.
Merced County Sheriff’s Office said that mom Jasleen Kaur, 27, dad Jasdeep Singh, 36, their baby boy, Aroohi Dheri, 8-months, and the child’s uncle, Amandeep Singh, 39, were taken against their will from the family trucking business.
Their disappearance made headlines and prompted a search that began earlier this week.
Now, however, the Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that the bodies of the four family members have been recovered. One of the victim’s ATM cards was used after they were kidnapped in the city of Atwater, and one Jesus Manuel Salgado was named as a person of interest.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Salgado had tried to take his own life but was apprehended and is now in custody.
Sheriff Vern Warnke told on Wednesday how authorities had responded to a call from a farmworker at around 5:30 p.m. Sadly, the bodies of the four missing people were found thereafter relatively close together in an orchard.
Sheriff Warnke told reporters: “Tonight our worst fears have been confirmed. We found the four people from the kidnapping and they are, in fact, deceased.
“There are no words right now to describe the anger I feel and the senselessness of this incident.”
He added: “I said it earlier, there’s a special place in hell for this guy, and I mean it.”
Earlier on Wednesday, authorities had released surveillance video from the family’s business that showed the four of them being kidnapped at gunpoint.
The suspect was seen leading the two men – Jasdeep and Amandeep – both of whom had their hands zip-tied behind their backs, out of the business trailer and into the back of a pickup truck.
The suspect then led Jasleen, who was carrying her 8-month-old baby, into the truck as well.
Sheriff Warnke said that no ransom demands were made but it’s believed that the crime was financially motivated.
The Merced County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement: “On October 4, 2022, in the morning hours, Merced County Sheriff Detectives received information that one of the victim’s ATM cards was used at an ATM located at a bank in the City of Atwater. Investigators obtained the surveillance photo of a subject making a bank transaction where the person is similar in appearance to the surveillance photo from the original kidnapping scene.”
Salgado, meanwhile, who was taken into custody in severe condition after he attempted to take his own life, is said to have admitted to family members that he was responsible for the crime.
My heart goes out to this poor family. I can only imagine the torment their loved ones are now facing.
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