A farmworker's call led deputies to a remote orchard. What they found there ended a search that had gripped an entire community.
The Kidnapping
Aroohi Dheri, 8 months old; her mother, Jasleen Kaur, 27; her father, Jasdeep Singh, 36; and her uncle, Amandeep Singh, 39, were taken at gunpoint from a family trucking business near South Highway 59 in Merced County, California. Their disappearance was first reported after Amandeep Singh's truck was found on fire, and family members were unable to reach him or the couple.
The Search
Investigators traced use of one of the victims' ATM cards to the city of Atwater and identified Jesus Manuel Salgado as a person of interest. Salgado was taken into custody after an apparent suicide attempt, though the family remained missing at that point.
A Tragic Discovery
Following a tip from a farmworker, deputies located the bodies of all four family members in a remote orchard near Indiana Road and Hutchinson Road. Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke, visibly affected by the case, publicly condemned those responsible.
Piecing It Together
A farmer in the nearby town of Dos Palos had earlier found a phone belonging to one of the victims and answered a call from a family member trying to reach them, helping investigators establish a timeline in the hours after the family went missing.
FAQ
Who was arrested in connection with this case?
Jesus Manuel Salgado was identified as a person of interest and taken into custody.
How many family members were killed?
Four: 8-month-old Aroohi Dheri, her parents, and her uncle.
How were the bodies found?
A farmworker's call led deputies to a remote orchard where all four were located.