The brother of a man suspected of kidnapping and murdering four members of the same family in central California, was arrested in connection with the heinous crime, authorities said Friday.
Merced County Sheriff’s agents booked a 41-year-old late Thursday night Alberto Salgado in custody on suspicion of criminal conspiracy, complicity and destruction of evidence, according to a department statement.
Jesus Manuel Salgado, 48, was arrested Tuesday after attempting suicide, officials said. Authorities said he was unable to speak to investigators due to his medical condition.
He is suspected of taking baby Aroohi Dheri; her parents, Jasleen Kaur, 27, and Jasdeep Singh, 36; and her uncle Amandeep Singh, 39, on Monday morning.
Their bodies were found Wednesday night at a nearby farm.
From the beginning of the investigation, Merced Sheriff Vern Warnke speculated that Jesus Manuel Salgado had help in the kidnapping, which was caught on surveillance cameras.
It was not immediately clear Friday whether the younger Salgado had hired or assigned a lawyer.
Amarinder Singh, a cousin of the murdered brothers, said in a statement Friday that their family “mourns this unscrupulous act of cowardice”.
In the family’s first comment since bodies were found Wednesday night, Singh said they are grateful for the work of law enforcement, tips from Good Samaritans and support from the community.
Sing said the family hopes to work “with lawmakers and lawyers alike to ensure our criminal justice system doesn’t let evil roam our streets and target the innocent.”