Prosecutors in California have filed upgraded murder charges against the suspect in the abduction and murders of an 8-month-old infant, her parents, and her uncle.
On Monday, the Merced County District Attorney’s Office charged Jesus Manuel Salgado with four charges of first-degree murder with aggravating circumstances. The declaration was made days after he was detained and initially charged with the alleged kidnapping and deaths of 8-month-old Aroohi Dheri, her parents Jasleen Kaur, 27, and Jasdeep Singh, 36, and her uncle Amandeep Singh, 59.
According to prosecutors, the extraordinary circumstances were introduced since multiple killings were allegedly committed during the commission of an abduction.
Salgado was additionally charged with arson and illegal possession of a handgun. On Monday afternoon, he was scheduled to be arraigned and faces life in jail without the chance of release.
A farm worker discovered the four deceased family members on Wednesday in the San Joaquin Valley.
Baby Aroohi Dheri, her mother Jasleen Kaur, her father Jasdeep Singh, and her uncle (R) Amandeep Singh were abducted from a company in Merced County, California, on October 3, 2022. The Merced County Sheriff’s Department
Salgado was booked into the county jail on Thursday, following his release from the hospital following a suicide attempt.
Jesus Salgado was convicted of first-degree armed robbery in Merced County, attempted false detention, and attempting to impede or dissuade a victim or witness. According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, he was freed in 2015 and dismissed from parole three years later after being sentenced to 11 years in state prison in that case. According to the department, he also has a conviction for possession of a controlled narcotic.
The Merced County Sheriff’s Office reported that Jesus’ brother Alberto Salgado was arrested for criminal conspiracy, accessory, and deleting evidence last week.
According to the police, Salgado’s quarrel with the family extended back a year and “became quite vicious.” Monday, Jesus Salgado abducted the family from their trucking company. Two days later, their remains were discovered.
“There are certain things you will carry to your grave. This was sheer wickedness in my eyes “Sheriff Vern Warnke of Merced County stated in an interview on Thursday.