CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A search warrant revealed new details in the killings of a Charlotte mother and her two children, including the revelation that family members were convinced the man charged with killing her replied to text messages pretending he was her.
Benjamin Joseph Taylor was arrested in Imperial County, California, on March 16, one day after Markalya Johnson was found dead in her Charlotte apartment. His arrest came nearly two weeks after Johnson's family members reported her missing, saying they hadn't spoken to her since January. That same day, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police found the bodies of Johnson's two children, 4-year-old Miracle Johnson and 7-month-old Messiah Johnson, in the trunk of Taylor's vehicle.
Taylor was charged with three counts of first-degree murder. U.S. Marshals extradited him to North Carolina in April. A judge denied his bond, saying Johnson was a "tremendous danger" to the public.
On June 7, CMPD issued a search warrant for Apple to open information connected to iCloud accounts used by Johnson from Jan. 31, 2024, to March 16, 2024. The data requested included text messages, IP addresses, device locations, internet search history, photos, videos and other user logs linked to Johnson's accounts.
Inside the search warrant, detectives say Johnson's phone shows that she arrived at her apartment on Jan. 31. Family members said they were suspicious that text messages and other communication with her after this time weren't Johnson. Family members also said they had no confirmed contact with Johnson or her kids after that time.
Detectives believe these Apple iCloud accounts could have critical evidence in the case, saying from experience it's common for murder suspects to use laptops or cellphones to research methods of disposing of victims, cleaning crime scenes and concealing odors.
An affidavit obtained by WCNC Charlotte earlier this year revealed that Johnson's body was found in a plastic storage container. Detectives also found multiple used air fresheners and candles in the home. The air conditioning was set to 62 degrees and multiple fans were left running, according to police.
The investigation remains active. Anyone with information is asked to call 704-432-TIPS to speak directly with homicide detectives. Witnesses may also call Charlotte Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600. All calls to Crime Stoppers are anonymous.
If your loved one was impacted by this incident, WCNC Charlotte hopes to make this process less painful with our More Than A Number initiative. With your help, we want to share who your loved one was with our viewers in North Carolina and South Carolina. When you're ready, fill out the form below or send us photos, memories and other details about them to desk@wcnc.com.
WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeart
All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.