CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Benjamin Taylor, the man charged with killing a Charlotte mother and her two children earlier this year won't face the death penalty in the case, prosecutors said Thursday.
Taylor is charged with 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 faces three counts of first-degree murder.
Taylor was arrested in Imperial County, California, one day after investigators found Markayla Johnson's body. His arrest came nearly two weeks after Johnson's family reported her missing, saying they hadn't spoken to her since January. A judge denied bond for Taylor, saying he was a "tremendous danger" to the public.
An autopsy revealed that Messiah Johnson died of fentanyl. He also had cocaine in his system, which was ruled as a contributing factor in his death. Additionally, the child had melatonin in his system, as well as diphenhydramine, commonly known as Benadryl.
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