CA family kidnapping: Chilling new video shows suspect take 2 zip-tied family members, mom and baby
MERCED, Calif. (KABC) -- Authorities in Central California's Merced County released chilling new video Wednesday showing the moment four family members, including an 8-month-old, were kidnapped.
None of the family members have been found.
The family was kidnapped Monday at gunpoint from a business in Merced, authorities said. During a press conference on Wednesday, the Merced County Sheriff's Office released surveillance video showing the moments leading up to the abduction.
The video shows two of the family members - 36-year-old Jasdeep Singh and 39-year-old Amandeep Singh - coming out of the backdoor of the business with their hands zip-tied together.
Moments later, the video shows the kidnapper leading Jasleen Kaur and her 8-month-old baby, Aroohi Dheri, out of the building into a truck.
"We continue to ask for the public's help with any information that may assist us in locating the family's whereabouts," the Merced County Sheriff's Office said.
Jesus Manuel Salgado, the suspect, was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon and remains sedated in the hospital after he tried to kill himself.
Authorities say deputies were informed that one of the victim's ATM cards was used at a bank in Atwater, a city about 9 miles north of Merced. Authorities added a farmer answered the victim's phone after it was found in the middle of the street.
RELATED: 4 family members kidnapped from Merced business, picture released of suspect
A motive for the kidnapping has not been determined, but authorities believe it to be financial in nature.
During Wednesday's press conference, Warnke said he believes there was at least one other person involved in the kidnapping, but additional details were not provided.
Detectives received information that initially identified Salgado as a person of interest and that he attempted to take his own life before police arrived, a statement from authorities said, without specifying where he was taken into custody.
The sheriff's office said his own family contacted authorities reporting that Salgado had admitted to them he was involved with the kidnapping of the family.
The kidnapper took the baby, the child's mother, father and uncle, said Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke.
"If you guys have any helpful tips or video, please provide it to the sheriff's department ... they're trying the best with what they can do but, we need the public's help right now," said one of the missing family member's relatives during Wednesday's press conference. "Please help us so my family can home safe."
WATCH: Relatives plead for tips on CA kidnapped family
The sheriff's department on Monday released two still images from the surveillance footage of the suspect and asked for the public's help in identifying the man. He's seen wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, dark shorts and a light blue disposable face mask.
The sheriff said detectives believe the kidnapper destroyed unspecified evidence in an attempt to cover his tracks.
The sheriff's office said in a statement Tuesday that Amandeep Singh's vehicle was found on fire Monday around 11:40 a.m. Merced police and family members were unable to contact him or the couple. Shortly after, the Merced County Sheriff's Office responded to the business and determined they had been kidnapped.
The sheriff's office said the FBI, the California Department of Justice, and other local law enforcement agencies are helping with the investigation.
Warnke says this isn't the first time that Salgado has held victims against their will.
Salgado was previously convicted of first-degree robbery with the use of a firearm in Merced County, as well as attempted false imprisonment and an attempt to prevent or dissuade a victim or witness. He was sentenced to 11 years in state prison in that case, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
He was released from prison in 2015 and discharged from parole three years later. He also has a conviction for possession of a controlled substance, the corrections agency said.
Investigators have not found a link between Salgado and the family to show they knew each other before the kidnapping.
KFSN-TV and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
