Arrested brother of man suspected in murder of kidnapped California family

MERCED COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) — The brother of the suspect in the kidnapping and murder of four family members in California’s Central Valley has been arrested, according to the Merced County Sheriff’s Office.

Officials said Thursday night Alberto Salgado, brother of Jesus Manuel Salgado, had been arrested on suspicion of criminal conspiracy, aiding and abetting and destruction of evidence.

“Last night, with the assistance of the California Department of Justice,[the Merced County Sheriff’s Office]arrested Alberto Salgado, brother of Jesus Manuel Salgado. Alberto Salgado was arrested on charges of criminal conspiracy, aiding and abetting and destruction of evidence,” the MCSO said wrote on Twitter on Friday.

The authorities did not release any further details about Alberto’s arrest.

Investigators said Jesus has been identified as a suspect in the kidnapping and deaths of Aroohi Dheri, Jasleen Kaur, Jasdeep Singh and Amandeep Singh.

All four victims were taken against their will Monday morning from the family’s truck shop near Highway 59.

On Wednesday night MPs said they found the bodies of all four victims in an orchard near Dos Palos. Officials described the location as “very, very remote”.

Jesus was booked into the Merced County jail Thursday night. He had spent two days in hospital after officials said he attempted suicide on Tuesday.

Jesus Manuel Salgado’s criminal past includes a 2005 robbery that resulted in an eight-year prison sentence.

According to court documents from 2007, Salgado pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 11 years in prison on charges of first-degree robbery, attempted false imprisonment and concealing a witness.