'Cycle of pain': Relatives of butchered Sikh family share disturbing find in trailer
MERCED COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: The California Sikh family relatives reveal heartbreaking finds from the trailer, where the family of four was kidnapped from and murdered. The family members, Jasdeep Singh, 36, Jasleen Kaur, 27, their 8-month-old baby girl Aroohi Dheri, and 29-year-old Amandeep Singh were kidnapped on October 3 and were found dead by police on a farm late on October 5. Police have arrested suspect Jesus Salgado and his brother Alberto in connection with killing the Merced family.
The relatives of the murdered family visited the trucking company where the four victims had been prior to the kidnapping. There, they found a tiny shoe belonging to infant Aroohi. "It's heartbreaking to see my cousins were building this and so excited about creating this the American dream after immigrating here in the 2000s," Sukh Bhela, the cousin of Jasdeep and Amandeep, told ABC7.
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'I was so scared': Family recounts 2005 home invasion by Jesus Salgado who robbed them at gunpoint
"We just walked in for the first time and saw her little shoe on the floor," Bhela and Amarinder Singh said of 8-month-old Aroohi. The devasted family heartbroken by the death of the infant said, "Baby Aroohi was off-limits and coming here, I have so much anger, so much anger for what I saw inside this trailer." Bhela spoke of the infants father, Jasdeep, and said, "My cousin JB, who was here with his family, will always be remembered as our quirky little cousin. He came from India and he was off to the races. He loved hanging out with us, his family, he loved barbecues, and he loved the rumble of the American V8."
Aroohi's uncle, Amandeep "loved being with family and community," Singh said. Amandeep's favorite holiday was Thanksgiving and a week before the kidnapping the family was planning on their next Thanksgiving, said Singh. Singh spoke of their death and said, "It's really been a constant cycle of disbelief at times, pain, anger, and grief. I fall asleep then wake up in the middle of the night just so you know, seeing what things used to be like and nightmares of what happened."
#Mercedkidnapping | Jasdeep and Amandeep are zip tied and led out to Amandeep's black pickup. The suspect leaves with them at 9:13 and returns at 9:19. The black pickup would later be found burned. pic.twitter.com/OaobK8mUZ6
— Millie (@MillieMoo1212) October 5, 2022
The 48-year-old man, Jesus Salgado, allegedly abducted and murdered the California Sikh family over a feud related to their trucking business. Salgado kidnapped the family of four at gunpoint and was arrested on day after for using the victim's ATM card. After the horrific ordeal, Salgado allegedly tried to kill himself and remains in the hospital. The bodies of the victim were found two days after the kidnapping by a farmworker. Salgado had previously worked for the family, two years ago and murdered the family over a past feud.
Spokespeople for the victims confirmed that trouble started after an out-of-state assignment for Salgado. Edwin Kainth told NBC Bay Area, "When he came back, they had a little argument with the owners and the truck drivers, so I think that’s how he got mad and taken that action after almost two years ago." Jesus Salgado is charged with four counts of murder and four counts of kidnapping. The suspect's younger brother, Alberto Salgado, 41, was also arrested after the police suspect that he helped Salgado destroy evidence. He was arrested on the charges of conspiracy, accessory and destroying evidence.