Calif. Family Murder Suspect Allegedly Left Baby to Die of Exposure, Had Longstanding Feud with Parents

Mar. 15, 2025

Thesuspect accused of kidnapping and killing a California familywas a former employee of the family business who was in a protracted argument with them that turned deadly, authorities said.

Suspect Jesus Salgado, 48, had worked for the slain family’s trucking business as a driver and had a falling out with them that “got pretty nasty” after he left the company more than a year ago, Merced County Sheriff Vernon Warnke confirmed toThe Associated Press.

About a year ago, after Salgado parted ways with the company, he sent emails and text messages to the family expressing anger over an apparent disagreement they’d had, the family’s relatives told investigators, according to Sheriff Warnke.

The sheriff did not provide further details about what transpired between then and Monday, when Salgado allegedly went to the family’s business on South Highway 59 near Merced andkidnapped them at gunpoint.

“Our worst fears have been confirmed,” Sheriff Warnke said.

The family’s bodies were found close together in between rows of almond trees, he said.

“It’s bad enough to do what he did to the adults but what was reported to me with the infant was just unimaginable,” he told ABC 30.

On Tuesday, sheriff’s deputies took Salgado into custody after he tried to kill himself.

Merced County Sheriff’s Office

Investigators also learned that Salgado had allegedly been videotaped using one of the victim’s ATM cards at a local bank, theFresno Beereports.

He was initially unable to talk because he was sedated while undergoing medical treatment at a local hospital, but has since begun answering investigator’s questions, the Associated Press reports.

Salgado has not yet been charged with any crimes, according to Merced County Prosecutors.

The last time the family was seen alive was on Monday, when Salgado was allegedly seen on surveillance footage leading Jasdeep and Amandeep out the back of Gateway Parking on South Highway 59, south of Merced.

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Salgado allegedly held a gun to the brothers, who were both zip-tied, as he led them down a back staircase to a pickup truck.

Previous Conviction for Home Invasion

Since Salgado was taken into custody, information about his background surfaced showing that he had been convicted previously of a home invasion in Merced County, court records show.

In 2006, Salgado was convicted of witness intimidation and a residential robbery with gun enhancements and sentenced to more than 10 years in prison, court documents show,The Fresno Beereports.

He was released on parole on June 21, 2015.

Serving time behind bars did nothing “to deter” Salgado from allegedly committing another serious crime, Warnke told ABC 30.

At Wednesday night’s press conference, the sheriff echoed the sentiments of the community when he said, “There’s no words right now to describe the anger I feel and the senselessness of this incident.

“I said it earlier, there’s a special place in hell for this guy.”

Anyone with information about the kidnapping and murders is asked to call 209-385-7547.

source: people.com