The man suspected of kidnapping and murdering the Indian-origin family in California had a long-standing dispute with the family that "got pretty nasty," Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke has said.
The accused, Jesus Manuel Salgado, used to drive for the victims' company, Sheriff Warnke was quoted by ANI.
According to the slain family's relatives, Salgado had sent angry text messages to the family about an year ago. "I believe that he had someone else with him and atleast helping him do some of the things. As far as the homicide itself, we are going to let the evidence take us where it needs to take us," Warnke added.
Jasdeep Singh, wife Jasleen Kaur and their 8-month-old child Aroohi Dheri and Amandeep Singh were kidnapped from a business at the intersection at Merced County in California on Monday.
The family was taken at gunpoint, and the abduction was caught on camera. The footage, released by the Sheriff's office, shows two of the family members - 36-year-old Jasdeep Singh and 39-year-old Amandeep Singh - coming out of the business with their hands zip-tied together. Some time later, Salgado is seen leading Jasleen Kaur and her 8-month-old baby Aroohi Dheri out of the building into a truck.
Their bodies were spotted in an orchard on Wednesday by a farm worker who immediately contacted the police. All the bodies were found close together.
Sheriff Warnke said Jesus Manuel Salgado was booked into the Merced County Jail. "He was arrested for four counts of murder and four counts of kidnapping. Our detectives, alongside investigators from assisting agencies, will continue to follow up on any leads of additional people who may have been involved in this horrific incident," said Merced County Sheriff's Office.
The sheriff has also called it one of the worst crimes he has seen over his 43 years in law enforcement and pleaded for Salgado's accomplice to turn himself in. "There's some things you'll take to the grave. This to me was pure evil," he said in an interview Thursday.
The accused Salgado was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon and remains in the hospital in critical condition following a suicide bid.
