State will not demand death penalty against Benjamin Taylor

CHARLOTTE, NC — Benjamin Taylor, the man accused of killing a mother and her two children in Charlotte earlier this year, will not face the death penalty in that case, prosecutors said Thursday.

Taylor is accused of killing Markayla Johnson and her children, 4-year-old Miracle Johnson and 7-month-old Messiah Johnson. Markayla's body was found in a storage tub in her northeast Charlotte apartment in March. The children were found dead in the trunk of Taylor's vehicle. He is charged with three counts of first-degree murder.

Taylor was arrested in Imperial County, California, a day after investigators found Markayla Johnson's body. His arrest came nearly two weeks after Johnson's family reported her missing and said they had not spoken to her since January. A judge denied bail for Taylor, saying he posed a “tremendous danger” to the public.

RELATED TOPICS: Autopsy report reveals: Fentanyl killed Markayla Johnson's child

An autopsy revealed that Messiah Johnson had died from fentanyl. He also had cocaine in his system, which was considered one of the causes of death. In addition, the child had melatonin in his system, as well as diphenhydramine, commonly known as Benadryl.

RELATED TOPICS: Bodies of Charlotte's mother and young children found in her apartment and suspect's vehicle, affidavit says

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