A guy suspected of kidnapping and murdering a California family of four 17 years ago threatened another family.
Kathy and Katrina, whose last names were omitted, informed the Los Angeles Times that on December 19, 2005, Jesus Manuel Salgado robbed them at gunpoint in their garage.
According to the Merced County Sheriff’s Office, on Monday morning, 8-month-old Aroohi Dheri, her parents Jasleen Kaur, 27, and Jasdeep Singh, 36, and the child’s uncle Amandeep Singh, 39, were taken at gunpoint from their family business in Merced, California.
A farmer discovered their dead in an almond orchard near the city of Dos Palos, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Regarding the murders, Katrina expressed, “My heart is broken for this family.”
KCRA reported that investigators believe money could be a motive, although the 48-year-connection old’s to Kathy and Katrina was similar to that of the Dheri family: Salgado was employed by both of their family-owned trucking companies.
Kathy and Katrina informed the news source that on the evening of December 19, 2005, Salgado ambushed Kathy’s husband as he arrived at their home in the Central Valley and drew a gun on him. He then held the family at gunpoint, demanding their cash and valuables, and forced them to jump into their backyard pool while he fled.
Salgado was eventually apprehended and convicted of armed home invasion robbery, attempted false detention, and witness intimidation. According to LAT, he served approximately 10 years in prison.
The Merced abduction
Monday at approximately 11:30 a.m., officers responded to a complaint about an arson attack on a black 2020 Dodge Ram pickup, according to a statement. The Merced County Sheriff’s Office learned that the truck belonged to Amandeep Singh, whom they were unable to contact.
According to local source KCRA, the sheriff’s department visited the family’s trucking firm after noticing something was off and examining the company’s surveillance system. According to the station, they were able to view the abduction on video as a result. According to KCRA, Salgado was a former employee of the family’s business and had a conflict with them in the past.
Tuesday, officials identified Salgado as a person of interest following the usage of an ATM card belonging to an abducted family member at a bank in Atwater, California. Investigators claimed to have received a CCTV image of a person at the bank who resembled the image taken at the kidnapping location.
The following day, Salgado was hauled into jail by police after they acquired identification information. The sheriff’s department did not explain where they discovered Salgado, but they did say he attempted suicide and required hospitalization. Police identified him as a suspect in the kidnapping on Thursday.
During a press conference on Wednesday night, Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke stated, “There are no words right now to explain the rage I feel and the senselessness of this incident.” “This individual has a particular spot in hell, as stated previously. And I am serious.”
According to authorities, Alberto Salgado, Salgado’s brother, has also been arrested on suspicion of being an accessory to the murder.
The family’s GoFundMe page was formed. The page states that the family “fought relentlessly for 18 years to attain safety, security, and community for themselves and their families.”
The Merced County Sheriff’s Office declined to comment when contacted by Insider.
