California family found dead in mysterious kidnapping

Merced, California - The bodies of a missing family were discovered late Wednesday night following a mysterious kidnapping that took place earlier this week.

A California family of four were found dead Wednesday night after being mysteriously kidnapped at gunpoint by a masked man two days earlier.
A California family of four were found dead Wednesday night after being mysteriously kidnapped at gunpoint by a masked man two days earlier.  © Collage: Merced County Sheriff's Office

On Monday, the Merced County Sheriff's office shared images of the family on social media. Eight-month-old Aroohi Dheri had disappeared along with her mother Jasleen Kaur (27), father Jasdeep Singh (36), and uncle Amandeep Singh (39).

In a video shared by the office, Sheriff Vern Warnke said that the family were "taken against their will" by a masked suspect outside a business.

On Tuesday, authorities discovered that one of the victim's ATM card was used at a bank in a small town eight miles from their residence.

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Surveillance footage of the bank show a masked man believed to have used the card, which led detectives to arrest Jesus Manuel Salgado (48).

Salgado is currently in the hospital in critical condition after attempting to take his own life before his arrest.

By Wednesday evening, the bodies of the four family members were discovered in an orchard

"Tonight, our worst fears have been confirmed," Warnke said during a press conference. "We found the four people from the kidnapping, and they are in fact deceased."

Warnke also shared that the family was believed to be dead since Monday, and authorities believe others may have been involved.

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities attempt to find a motive for the heinous crime.

Cover photo: Collage: Merced County Sheriff's Office

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