LOS ANGELES — The brother of a man suspected of kidnapping and killing four members of a Merced family, including an 8-month-old girl, has been arrested and charged as an accessory, authorities announced Friday.
Alberto Salgado was arrested on suspicion of criminal conspiracy, accessory and destroying evidence, according to a statement from the Merced County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook. His brother Jesus Manuel Salgado, 48, was arrested Tuesday and has been booked on murder and kidnapping charges.
Jasdeep Singh, 36, his wife, Jasleen Kaur, 27, the couple’s infant daughter, Aroohi Dheri, and Singh’s brother Amandeep Singh, 39, were taken at gunpoint Monday from the family business, Unison Trucking, in Merced off South Highway 59.
Sukhdeep Singh, brother of Jasdeep and Amandeep, confirmed that Jesus Salgado had worked for the family’s company.
The discovery of the bodies in a county orchard Wednesday came hours after authorities released surveillance footage that showed the kidnapping of the family of four.
Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke told reporters at the time that “there’s a special place in hell” for the suspect.
No further details were released Friday morning, and the investigation is continuing.
