New Arrest Made In Kidnapping Of California Family

MERCED COUNTY, CA — The brother of the accused kidnapper and killer of four family members in California has been arrested and booked into the Merced County Jail, according to a Facebook post by the Merced County Sheriff’s Office.

Alberto Salgado is the brother of Jesus Manuel Salgado, 48, who is accused of kidnapping and killing eight-month-old Aroohi Dheri; her mother Jasleen Kaur, 27; father Jasdeep Singh, 36; and uncle Amandeep Singh, 39, the post said. The four were found by a farm worker late Wednesday in an almond orchard in a remote area in the San Joaquin Valley, California's agricultural heartland, according to police.

Alberto Salgado was arrested and taken into custody on suspicion of criminal conspiracy, accessory and destroying evidence, the Merced County Sheriff’s Office said in the post.

Thursday evening, Jesus Manuel Salgado was arrested and booked into the Merced County Jailon four counts of murder and four counts of kidnapping, the sheriff’s office said in an earlier Facebook update.

Authorities announced in a press conference Wednesday night that the victims were discovered in the remote farm area in Merced County.

"Our worst fears have been confirmed," Sheriff Vern Warnke told reporters during the conference.

Warnke added during the conference that all four bodies were discovered “relatively close together” about 5:30 p.m. by a farm worker. He did not reveal whether their causes of death have been determined.

Earlier Wednesday, authorities released disturbing footage of the moment the family was abducted at gunpoint from a business in the 800 block of South Highway 59.

The video, shared by the Merced County Sheriff’s Office, shows two of the family members, Jasdeep Singh and Amandeep Singh, coming out of the back door of the business with their hands zip-tied together.

Moments later, the kidnapper is seen leading Jasleen Kaur and her eight-month-old baby, Aroohi, out of the building into a truck.

In a Facebook update, the sheriff’s office said that early Tuesday morning, 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.”

That afternoon, police identified Jesus Manuel Salgado as a person of interest in the investigation, the update said. Officers added that before law enforcement became involved, Salgado “attempted to take his own life,” and he was in custody in critical condition and receiving medical attention.

Police ask that anyone with information regarding the case call their tip line at 209-385-7547. The tip can be confidential.