The search for s family of four kidnapped in California ended Wednesday with authorities recovering their bodies from a rural farm area days after being abducted at gunpoint.
Kidnapping: Evans bags 21 years imprisonment
“Tonight, our worst fears have been confirmed,” Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke said during a news conference Wednesday night. “Horribly, horribly senseless what happened here.”
The body of 8-month-old Aroohi Dheri was found in the same general area as her parents Jasleen Kaur and Jasdeep Singh, along with the body of the child’s uncle Amandeep Singh, Warnke said. Authorities received a call to the area Wednesday afternoon, he said.
The family had been missing since Monday, when authorities said they were kidnapped by a man armed with a gun and forced into a truck.
Police have taken into custody a man they consider a person of interest in the case. The man is speaking with authorities and a motive remains unclear at this time, the sheriff said.
Before the bodies were found, family members were imploring the public for any information related to the case.
“Every store, gas stations, everybody who has cameras please check the cameras,” Sukhdeep Singh, a brother of one of the victims, told reporters Wednesday. “We need the public’s help right now. Please help us … so my family comes home safe.”
Another relative, identified only as Balvinder, described the family as “peace loving” and said they own a small business and are longtime residents of the area.
“We are devastated. We are shocked. We are dying every moment not finding any clues,” Balvinder said.
The Merced County Sheriff’s Office asking the public’s help in locating four missing persons who were kidnapped from the South Merced Area of Merced County. Currently Detectives are looking for 8-month-old Aroohi Dheri. Detectives believe that Aroohi and her mother Jasleen Kaur (27) & father Jasdeep Singh (36) were taken against their will from a business in the 800 Block of South Highway 59. The Baby’s Uncle Amandeep Singh (39) was also taken against his will with the other family members. Investigators are currently in the early stages of their investigation and are asking anyone with information to call the Merced County Sheriff’s Office (209)385-7445. We believe the suspect is armed and considered dangerous and were asking the public does not approach the suspect or victims and calls 9-1-1. Information can also be submitted via email at
A family of 4 is missing after being ‘taken against their will’ in central California, officials say
Warnke said the man in custody was convicted in 2005 in a case involving armed robbery and false imprisonment. The man was paroled in 2015. Warnke said the man acted alone in the previous case and knew the victims.
Warnke said he believes at least one other person was involved in the kidnapping but “we don’t have any evidence to support that.”
