GOFUNDME for the victims:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/justice-for-the-dheri-family
CALIFORNIA’S Merced County Sheriff Office said on Friday on its Facebook Page:
“Yesterday evening, the Merced County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of the California Department of Justice, arrested and booked Alberto Salgado into the Merced County Jail. 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 Salgado was arrested for criminal conspiracy, accessory, and destroying evidence.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT PRESS CONFERENCE:
CALIFORNIA’S Merced County Sheriff Vernon H. Warnke announced on Wednesday night that the four members of a South Asian family who had been kidnapped from a business in the 800-block of South Highway 59 in the South Merced Area of the county on Monday had been found deceased.
The victims are eight-month-old Aroohi Dheri, her mother Jasleen Kaur (27) and father Jasdeep Singh (36), and her uncle, Amandeep Singh (39).
Warnke said: “Tonight, our worst fears have been confirmed. … There are no words right now for the anger I feel and the senselessness of this incident.”
The Sheriff’s Office got a call at 5:30 p.m. from a farmer near the city of Dos Palos, roughly 27 miles south of Merced, about the deceased. The bodies were found relatively close to each other in the area that was described as extremely rural and remote farmland.
The police would be processing the scene where the bodies were found all night. The sheriff said he wouldn’t divulge more information because “our focus is on conviction.”
ON Monday, the Merced County Sheriff’s Office issued an appeal asking the public’s help in locating the four missing persons and released images of the suspected kidnapper, saying: “We believe this to be the suspect in today’s kidnapping. He is described as a light-complected [complexioned] male with a shaved head. He was last seen wearing a hoodie. We consider the suspect to be armed and dangerous. If you see this person, please call 9.1.1. and do not approach him or the victims.”
ON Tuesday, the sheriff’s office released an update on its Facebook page, stating that on October 3 at approximately 11:39 a.m., the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Madera-Mariposa-Merced was dispatched to Buhach Road and Oakdale Road in Winton for a report of a vehicle on fire. The vehicle was later identified to be a black 2020 Dodge Ram truck.
It said: “The California Highway Patrol – Merced arrived on scene to start the investigation. At approximately 12:35 p.m., California Highway Patrol requested the assistance of Merced Police Department in an attempt to contact the registered owner of the vehicle, Amandeep Singh. When the Merced Police Department arrived at the residence, they were not able to make contact with Amandeep, however, they were able to reach another family member.
“The family members attempted to contact Jasleen Kaur, Jasdeep Singh, and Amandeep Singh. When they were not able to reach their family members, they called the Merced County Sheriff’s Office to report Jasleen, Jasdeep, Amandeep, and 8-month-old Aroohi missing.
“At approximately 1:04 p.m., our Office was notified and responded to a business on South Highway 59. During the primary investigation, detectives determined that the individuals were kidnapped. We are working with the California Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigations and other local law enforcement agencies to bring this family home safely.”
WEDNESDAY MORNING PRESS CONFERENCE:
READ ALSO:
‘Person of interest’ in kidnapping of South Asian family of four in California in custody (updates)
