Loved ones of four family members – including an 8-month-old baby – are grieving their deaths as investigators continue to piece together their kidnapping and deaths.
Paramjeet Singh, a friend of the family for the past 15 years, said Thursday that the immediate families were still too shaken by the horrific developments this week to speak to reporters.
“It’s a really big tragedy for the family, for the community, for all of us,” he said.
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The Merced County Sheriff’s Office said the family was kidnapped from the family’s business in Merced on Monday.
A man – identified by authorities as Jesus Manuel Salgado— can be seen on surveillance video leading brothers Jasdeep Singh, 36, and Amandeep Singh, 39, from the business before going back for the 8-month-old child Aroohi Dheri and her 27-year-old mother, Jasleen Kaur.
Video Below: Questions, anger present after deaths of four family members in Merced
Paramjeet Singh said the family members were kind, hardworking people with strong family ties in both India and Merced County.
“It doesn’t make any sense,” he said. “For us, it’s very cruel. It’s an unexpected incident.”
Edwin Kainth, also a friend of the family for the past 17 years, said he was designated to speak on behalf of the family. Kainth said the suspect had previously worked as a truck driver for the Singh brothers, for a short period of time, and that they had parted on bad terms.
“The entire Merced County is kind of shaken,” Kainth said. “(Wednesday), when they recovered the bodies of four innocent family members, that will never be forgotten.”
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Kainth said he wanted to see the suspect thoroughly prosecuted and wanted law enforcement to step up enforcement around businesses in the area, especially those operated by members of the Sikh community.
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