Merced family kidnapping update: 4 family members including baby found dead, sheriff says

MERCED COUNTY, California — The four family members who were abducted from a Merced County store were found dead, the sheriff said Wednesday night.

Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke said the bodies were found in an orchard near Indiana and Hutchinson roads.

“Our worst fears have been confirmed,” the sheriff said. “We found the four people involved in the kidnapping and they are indeed deceased.”

“There are no words right now to describe the anger I feel and the senselessness of this incident,” he added. “I said it before, there’s a special place in hell for this guy.”

Authorities showed surveillance video of a man kidnapping baby Aroohi Dheri at a news conference on Wednesday; the child’s mother, Jasleen Kaur, 27; father Jasdeep Singh, 36; and Uncle Amandeep Singh, 39, from her shop.

The suspect, Jesus Salgado, is in custody but remains sedated in a hospital after attempting suicide.

DEVELOPMENT: We will add more details to this report as they become available.

California family kidnapping: Shocking new video shows suspect kidnapping two family members, mother and baby