Kidnapped CA Family Still Missing; Suspect In Critical Condition

MERCED COUNTY, CA — A man suspected of kidnapping a family, including an 8-month-old baby, in central California tried to kill himself Tuesday and is hospitalized in critical condition, authorities said. The family is still missing.

The Merced County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday that the person in custody is not the man at an ATM shown in a photo the department released earlier in the day.

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.”

According to the update, a subject in a surveillance photo taken at the ATM looked similar to the person in a surveillance photo taken at the kidnapping scene.

That afternoon, the sheriff’s office “received information that identified Jesus Manuel Salgado, 48, as a person of interest in the investigation,” the update says. Before law enforcement became involved, Salgado “attempted to take his own life,” and is currently in custody in critical condition and receiving medical attention.

Officers are still asking for the public’s help in locating the four missing people: eight-month-old Aroohi Sheri, her mother, Jasleen Kaur, 27; her father, Jasdeep Singh, 36; and her uncle, Amandeep Singh, 39.

Authorities believe that all four were “taken against their will from a business in the 800 Block of South Highway 59.”

Police ask that anyone with information regarding the incident or the whereabouts of the victims call their tip line at 209-385-7547. The tip can be confidential.