Merced fatal kidnapping: Suspect Jesus Salgado worked for slain Sikh family, robbed another employer in 2005
MERCED COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: Jesus Salgado, 48, arrested for kidnapping and killing a Sikh family of four, including an eight-month-old baby, was a former employee of the family. Sheriff Verne Warnke said the suspect Salgado worked for the victims' trucking business a couple of years ago and is quite similar to the robbery he committed in 2005, according to a tweet posted by a reporter of CBS47.
On the other hand, narrating the chilling details, the former victim, who chose not be identified and owned a trucking business in Merced town — as did the dead victims, an Indian-origin family who migrated from Punjab. Salgado worked for the former victim as well for two years before he fired him. After getting fired, Salgado came to his home wearing a ski mask in December 2005. “I went to shut the front door when he pulled out a gun and held it to the back of my head,” he recollected. As reported by KTLA, the former victim described that Salgado duct-taped his hands and the hands of his wife, his 16-year-old daughter and his daughter’s friend before stealing all the money, rings, among others. He said Salgado also took off the ring from his wife’s finger before he “made the girls jump in the pool and tried to push me in the pool.” After that, Salgado armed with gun told them, “If you call the police, I will kill you.” And later walked out from the front door. Following which, the victim called the police, leading to Salgado’s arrest the next morning.
RELATED ARTICLES
New details tonight into the tragic death of a Merced family of 4: Sheriff Verne Warnke says the suspect, Jesus Salgado, worked for the victims' trucking business a couple of years ago. He also says this isn't the first time Salgado lashes out against a former employer. WATCH: pic.twitter.com/cW7j20EgZ3
— Nathalie Vera (@NathalieVeraTV) October 7, 2022
According to court papers in 2007, Salgado pleaded no contest. However, he was convicted of first-degree robbery with the use of a firearm in Merced County, as well as attempted false imprisonment and an attempt to prevent or dissuade a victim or witness. He was given a 11-year imprisonment in state prison. He spent eight years in prison and three years on probation, reports KTLA.
The recent surveillance video of the suspect kidnapping the family of four, the eight-month-old baby, Aroohi Dheri; the mother, Jasleen Kaur, 27; father Jasdeep Singh, 36; and uncle Amandeep Singh, 39, at gunpoint on October 3, shows him going towards the property, located in the 800 block of South Highway 59 in Merced. Later, the video spots the suspect leading the two men, who had their hands zip-tied behind their backs, into Amandeep's truck. After that, the suspect can be seen going back and getting Jasleen, who was carrying her baby, into the truck before driving away, reports Yahoo!
On October 5, as reported earlier, Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke confirmed the four victims were found dead in a rural farm area, saying his "worst fears have been confirmed." Following which, Salgado got officially booked into the Merced County Jail on four counts of kidnapping and four counts of murder on Thursday evening, October 6.