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Case Update: Homicide Detectives Investigating Triple Homicide

Published on April 05, 2024

Charlotte, N.C. – (Friday, April 5, 2024) – During the afternoon hours of Friday, April 5, 2024, the suspect in this case, Benjamin Taylor, 34, was extradited back to North Carolina. He is currently in the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office.

The CMPD’s Homicide Unit would like to thank the FBI Charlotte field office, FBI Imperial County field office, the Imperial County Sherriff’s Office and CMPD’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) for their assistance.

The investigation into this case is active and ongoing. As additional information develops, it will be released by the CMPD’s Public Affairs Office. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 704-432-TIPS and speak directly to a Homicide Unit detective. Detective Planty is the lead detective assigned to this case. The public can also leave information anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600 or http://charlottecrimestoppers.com/. For additional information about this case, please refer to the report: 20240315-1439-02.

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Case Update: Homicide Investigation in the North Tryon Division

Charlotte, N.C. – (Sunday, March 17, 2024) – As a result of this continued investigation, detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Homicide Unit have charged Benjamin Joseph Taylor, 35, with 3 counts Murder and 1 count Concealment of Death. The victim’s next of kin has been notified of the arrest.

On Saturday, March 16, 2024, through a collaborative effort from multiple law enforcement agencies, Mr. Taylor was located and arrested in Imperial County, California. Mr. Taylor will be held in the Imperial County jail awaiting extradition to North Carolina.

The CMPD’s Homicide Unit would like to thank the FBI Charlotte field office, FBI Imperial County field office, the Imperial County Sherriff’s Office and CMPD’s VCAT for their assistance in making this arrest.

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Case Update: Homicide Detectives Investigating Triple Homicide of Mother & Two Young Children

Charlotte, N.C. – (Saturday, March 16, 2024) – Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Homicide Unit have confirmed that the human remains of three victims were discovered at an apartment in the 400 block of Orchard Trace Lane in the North Tryon Division.

On Friday, March 15, 2024, shortly before 1:45 p.m., officers were conducting a search warrant in the 400 block of Orchard Trace Lane when officers discovered human remains. Homicide Unit detectives responded to the scene to conduct an investigation and Crime Scene Search responded to process the scene and collect physical evidence.

Once it was determined that a crime had occurred, detectives with CMPD’s Homicide Unit were able to secure additional search warrants that allowed for a more thorough search of the residence.

Upon further investigation and based on the totality of evidence discovered, detectives have presumptively identified the human remains as 22-year-old Markayla Johnson, 4-year-old Miracle Johnson and 7-month-old Messiah Johnson. CMPD’s Homicide Unit is working in conjunction with the Medical Examiner’s Office to make final confirmation on victim identification based on their findings.

The victims were previously reported missing to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department on March 3, 2024. After exhausting search leads, CMPD’s Missing Persons Unit issued a public advisory requesting the public’s assistance on March 8, 2024. That public advisory resulted in additional leads that were thoroughly investigated. Once those leads were exhausted, detectives with CMPD’s Missing Persons Unit had probable cause for a search warrant to search the victim’s last known location.

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Homicide Investigation in the North Tryon Division

Charlotte, N.C. – (Friday, March 15, 2024) – Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Homicide Unit are conducting a homicide investigation in the 400 block of Orchard Trace Lane in the North Tryon Division.

On Friday, March 15, 2024, shortly before 1:45 p.m., Officers were conducting an investigation in the 400 block of Orchard Trace Lane when officers discovered human remains. Additional search warrants are being requested so that they can continue the investigation. At this point in the investigation, there has not been any identification of the victim.

Homicide Unit detectives responded to the scene to conduct an investigation and Crime Scene Search responded to process the scene and collect physical evidence. Representatives of CMPD’s Operations Command, Victim Services, MEDIC and the Charlotte Fire Department also assisted.

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