The brother of a man suspected of kidnapping and killing four members of the same central California family has been arrested in connection with the horrific crime, authorities said Friday.
The 41-year-old was booked by the Merced County Sheriff’s deputy Thursday night. According to a department statement, Alberto Salgado was detained on suspicion of criminal conspiracy, accomplice and destruction of evidence.
Jesus Manuel Salgado, 48, was arrested Tuesday after attempting suicide, officials said. Authorities said he has been unable to speak to investigators because of his medical condition.
He allegedly took baby Aroohi Dheri; her parents, Jasleen Kaur, 27, and Jasdeep Singh, 36; and her uncle Amandep Singh, 39, on Monday morning.
Their bodies were found at a nearby farm on Wednesday night.
From the beginning of the investigation, Merced Sheriff Fern Warnke speculated that Jesus Manuel Salgado was aided in the kidnapping, which was caught on surveillance cameras.
It was unclear Friday whether young Salgado had hired or assigned a defense attorney.
Amarinder Singh, a cousin of the slain brother, said in a statement on Friday that their family was “grieved by this unconscionably cowardly act”.
In his first comments after the body was found on Wednesday night, Singh said they were grateful for the work of law enforcement, tips from well-wishers and the support of the community.
Sheen said the family wanted to “work with lawmakers and advocates to ensure our criminal justice system doesn’t allow evil to rage on our streets and target innocents.”