A North Carolina mom and her two children were found dead at their Charlotte home on Friday, and a man suspected in their deaths was arrested a little more than 24 hours later in California.

Markayla Johnson, 22, and her children, 4-year-old Miracle, and 7-month-old Messiah, were found dead Friday afternoon, Queen City News reported. They had been reported missing on March 3, but it’s not clear why they weren’t found at that time. Charlotte Mecklenburg Police didn’t put out a notice about the family until March 8.

Police found the remains while executing a search warrant at the property, an apartment in northeast Charlotte. Police also did not say why they waited two weeks to search the apartment.

Benjamin Taylor, 35, was found in Imperial County, California, Saturday night, not far from the border with Mexico. He was taken into custody on three counts of murder and one count of concealing a death and is now awaiting extradition back to North Carolina.

Police did not say how they identified Taylor or knew he was in California, the Charlotte Observer said. Police Chief Johnny Jennings said, however, that Taylor had been in a relationship with Johnson.

For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.

[Featured image: Markayla Johnson and her children, Miracle and Messiah/handout]