The bodies of four family members - including an eight-month-old child - have been discovered in farmland in central California’s Merced County.
On Wednesday evening, the bodies of parents Jasleen Kaur and Jasdeep Singh, their eight-month-old daughter Aroohi Dheri, and the girl's uncle Amandeep Singh were discovered by a farmworker in an orchard, who quickly alerted authorities.
Per CNN, the tragic discovery was announced by the clearly emotional Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke on Wednesday evening, who said at the time: "A whole family [was] wiped out, and we still don’t know why."
Warnke described the killings as "completely and totally senseless".
The day prior, a 48-year-old man by the name of Jesus Manuel Salgado was placed in custody for suspected kidnapping of the family. His family alerted authorities after Salgado allegedly confessed to being involved in the kidnapping.
Surveillance footage showed the family being kidnapped at gunpoint from their trucking business Monday morning in Merced. Investigators were first alerted to the family's disappearance after finding one of their vehicles abandoned and on fire later that day.
The footage showed a man leading both Jasdeep, 36, and Amandeep, 39, at gunpoint out of the back of Gateway Parking on South Highway 59. The brothers were zip-tied and led into a pickup truck.
The gunman then leads young mother Jasleen, 27, to the same pickup truck as she held her daughter in her arms.
Authorities believe all four family members were killed on the Monday.
Salgado has since been arrested on four counts of murder and four counts of kidnapping, Merced County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Alexandra Britton has announced.
Warnke added that Salgado had also attempted to take his own life prior to being taken into custody. He has received medical attention since.
"There’s a special place in hell for this guy," Warnke said Wednesday night.
ABC30 reports that a family spokesperson has revealed that Salgado is a former employee who used to drive for the family's small trucking company.
Following a disagreement, they parted ways.
PEOPLE has since reported that Salgado's brother, Alberto Salgado, has also been arrested in connection to the family's kidnapping and deaths.
"Alberto Salgado is the brother of Jesus Manuel Salgado who is suspected of kidnapping and murdering Aroohi Dheri, Jasleen Kaur, Jasdeep Singh, and Amandeep Singh. Alberto Salgado was arrested for criminal conspiracy, accessory, and destroying evidence," a post from the Merced County Sheriff's Office read.
A candlelight vigil is being held for the family every night in Merced until Sunday evening.
Amandeep Singh is survived by his wife and two teenage children.
Our thoughts go out to the family and loved ones of the victims.
.jpg_D0PQYG?tr=h-184)
.jpg_9z1GqW?tr=h-184)
.jpg_wXEJDz?tr=h-184)