Four family members kidnapped from California business found dead, including baby

Four family members kidnapped from a California business earlier this week, among them an infant, have all been found dead, authorities announced.

A worker discovered the victims around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday “during the course of his job duties” on a remote farm in Merced County. The body of 8-month-old Aroohi Dheri was “relatively close” to her parents, Jasleen Kaur and Jasdeep Singh, as well as the body of her uncle Amandeep Singh, according to Merced County Sheriff Vernon Warnke.

Authorities did not provide further details, nor their causes of death.

“Tonight, our worst fears have been confirmed,” Warnke told reporters during a Wednesday night news conference. “Horribly, horribly senseless what happened here.”

Aroohi Dheri (left) and Amandeep Singh

A search for the family members kicked off on Monday, shortly after they were abducted from the family trucking business by a man with a gun. Surveillance video previously released by authorities shows Jasdeep and Amandeep Singh arriving at the family trucking business some nine minutes apart.

Just before 9 a.m., Jasdeep is approached by a man, who pulls a firearm out of a trash bag and then ties up the pair. He escorts them to his vehicle and then goes into the business, emerging minutes later with Jasleen, who is carrying baby Aroohi.

A person of interest in the case has since been taken into custody, but he has not yet been charged.

Jesus Manuel Salgado was apprehended after he used a credit card belonging to one of the victims Tuesday morning at an ATM in the Merced County city of Atwater, the sheriff’s office said.

From left: Jasleen Kaur, Jasdeep Singh and Aroohi Dheri

“Prior to law enforcement involvement, Salgado attempted to take his own life,” the Merced County sheriff’s office said at the time. “Salgado is in our custody, currently receiving medical attention and in critical condition.”

The 48-year-old suspect was previously convicted of robbery in 2005. He was paroled a decade later and has not had any interaction with law enforcement since then, Warnke added

A motive in the deadly kidnapping remained unknown on Thursday. It’s also unclear whether Salgado knew the victims.