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Man accused of killing family of four, including 8 month old, pleads not guilty

MERCED COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV)- UPDATE Oct. 13, 2022, at 11:51 a.m.-  The Merced man accused of kidnapping and killing an 8-month-old baby, her parents and uncle earlier this month pleaded not guilty Thursday.

Salgado faces four counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances, which allege that the slayings took place during the commission of a kidnapping and were part of multiple killings in the same case. He is also charged with arson and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole. Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke has called for Salgado to face the death penalty. But District Attorney Kimberly Lewis on Monday said she would defer that decision to next year.

Salgado's younger brother Alberto Salgado, 41, is in custody on suspicion of criminal conspiracy, accessory, and destroying evidence. Prosecutors have not yet filed charges in his case.

KPIX helped contribute to this article.

Merced County family murder suspect's brother arrested for accessory, victims' family asks for donations

UPDATE Oct. 7, 2022, at 9:56 a.m.- An additional suspect has been arrested and charged with the kidnapping and murder of a Merced County family.

Alberto Salgado is the brother of Jesus Manuel Salgado, who is suspected of kidnapping and murdering Aroohi Dheri, Jasleen Kaur, Jasdeep Singh, and Amandeep Singh. Alberto was arrested and charged with criminal conspiracy, accessory and destroying evidence.

A gofundme has been started for the family, and you can donate here.

This is the story of our shared American dream gone wrong; our loving family was violently taken away from us on October 3rd. A criminal kidnapped and murdered our beautiful 8-month-old baby Aroohi, her mother Jasleen, her father Jasdeep (JB), and her uncle Amandeep (Aman). As immigrants to America, they worked tirelessly for 18 years to achieve safety, security, and community for themselves and their families. Aman and Jasdeep were the primary bread earners for the family, supported their elderly parents, and lived under one roof.

Family GoFundMe statement

Kidnapped Merced County family of four found dead, suspect worked for family

UPDATE Oct. 6, 2022, at 3:50 p.m.-The suspect in the killing of a Merced family had worked for the victims at one point, according to a relative.

A loved one told KTVU that Jesus Salgado, 48, once drove a truck for the family's company.

A source close to the investigation told KTVU that the two brothers were killed with a machete. The source said Kaur was then shot as she held her baby girl in her arms. The baby was then left to die.

Salgado was booked into Merced County Jail on four counts of murder and four counts of kidnapping, said the Merced County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators belive there could be additional people involved with the tragic slayngs.

Kidnapped Merced County family of four found dead, motive believed to be money

UPDATE Oct. 6, 2022, at 9:15 a.m.-The missing kidnapped Merced County family of four has been found dead, according to Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke.

All he said was they were found dead, and their bodies were found close together in an orchard near Indiana Road and Hutchinson Road. A farm worker called the police and said he found the bodies in the orchard while working.

Officers responded at 5:30 p.m. to the Dos Palos area and, when they arrived, found the bodies of four individuals, including a toddler, amongst the rows of an almond orchard.

"There's a special place in hell for this guy," Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke said Wednesday night, referring to the suspect.

On Monday, Eight-month-old Aroohi Dheri, along with her parent Jasleen Kaur, 27, and Jasdeep Singh, 36, were taken against their will from a business in the 800 Block of South Highway 59. The baby's uncle Amandeep Singh, 39, was also kidnapped, said deputies.

The Merced County Sheriff's Office said it will not release the cause of death or motive for the crime as the investigation now leads to prosecution for these crimes. Suspect Jesus Salgado is still being medically treated and investigators are still interviewing him.

"The circumstances around this, when we are able to release everything, should anger the hell out of you," Warnke said.

Warnke did not say how the family was murdered. He said it appears they were killed where they were found, and killed before the sheriff's department was notified Monday that the family was missing.

According to Warnke, the person in custody is the main suspect in the killings, though investigators believe others may have been involved.

"I fully believe that we will uncover and find out that there was more than just him involved," Warnke said.

The suspect has been providing information to investigators, and officials are working with him to identify a motive, Warnke said. He believes the motive was money due to the suspect's prior conviction, and the victim's ATM cards being taken before they were killed.

"To me, almost all crimes are committed based upon the financial aspect, until we find something different," Warnke said. "Everything is on the table, but that's the only thing we can figure out because of this guy's history. If that was his motivation back then, I'm figuring it's probably the same now."

Salgado was identified as a person of interest in the case after he used a victim's ATM card at a bank in Atwater, a city north of Merced.

Warnke on Wednesday didn't give the exact amount that was withdrawn from the account, only saying, "it wasn't a lot, but it was enough using the family's financial information. The transaction itself leads me to believe there's a money issue."

AP contributed to this article.

Person of interest in custody for kidnapping of three adults and infant in Merced County, family not found

UPDATE Oct. 4, 2022, at 4:21 p.m.- The Merced County Sheriff's Office says a person of interest is in custody following the kidnapping of an 8-month-old and three adults Monday.

On Tuesday morning, deputies were tipped off that an ATM card was used at an ATM in the City of Atwater. Investigators saw surveillance and determined the person at the ATM was the same man they were looking for as a potential suspect in the family's disappearance.

At noon, suspect Jesus Manuel Salgado, 48, was identified as the person of interest and had attempted to take his own life, said deputies. Salgado is in our custody, currently receiving medical attention, and is in critical condition.

The family was not located during the apprehension of Salgado, said deputies.

Three adults and infant kidnapped in Merced County, suspect considered armed and dangerous

UPDATE Oct. 4, 2022, at 11:21 a.m.- The Merced County Sheriff's Office has released images of the alleged suspect in a kidnapping of an 8-month-old and three adults Monday.

The man shown above is described as a light-complected male with a shaved head. He was last seen wearing a hoodie, according to deputies.

He is considered armed and dangerous.

Merced County Sheriff said it is unknown if the suspect and victims knew each other. There is evidence that suggests that the "individuals involved" destroyed evidence to cover their tracks.

ORIGINAL STORY

Three adults and an eight-month-old have been kidnapped by a man believed to be armed and dangerous, according to the Merced County Sheriff's Office.

Eight-month-old Aroohi Dheri, along with her parent Jasleen Kaur, 27, and Jasdeep Singh, 36, were taken against their will from a business in the 800 Block of South Highway 59. The baby's uncle Amandeep Singh, 39, was also kidnapped, said deputies.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Merced County Sheriff’s Office (209)385-7445.

The suspect is considered armed and dangerous, and the public is asked not to approach the suspect or victims.

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