CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A Charlotte mother and her two young children were found dead at their home in northeast Charlotte Friday afternoon, police said. 

According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police, the discovery was made around 1:45 p.m. in the 400 block of Orchard Trace Lane, off Reagan Drive, after officers carried out a search warrant.

Homicide Unit detectives responded to the scene to conduct an investigation, and Crime Scene Search responded to process the scene and collect physical evidence.

The next day, CMPD Chief Jennings revealed that the remains had been identified as those of 22-year-old Markayla Johnson and her two children, 4-year-old Miracle Johnson and 7-month-old Messiah Johnson.

The victims’ family joined Chief Jennings during a press conference on Saturday, March 16.

“We’re going to do everything we can to bring closure to family and find the person responsible for these murders,” Chief Jennings said.y

A missing persons report was made on March 3rd when Johnson and her two young children went missing from Orchard Trace Lane; however, CMPD did not notify the public until March 8th.

March 16 CMPD Press Conference confirming the death of Johnson and her children

Jennings says authorities didn’t know what they had until they dug deeper into the investigation.

A search warrant was issued on March 15th. Jennings did not have an answer as to why Johnson’s missing person report wasn’t publicly announced until 5 days later.

“Generally, we try to get [missing person reports] out as quickly as possible, particularly when someone’s in danger. We feel like there might be foul play involved,” the Chief said. 

Authorities say they are looking for a suspect in the Carolinas who may have been Johnson’s boyfriend.

“The person that we are looking for is within the states of North Carolina and South Carolina,” Chief Jennings. “However, we don’t know where that person is at this time, but we are actively looking for [them]. She was in a relationship. That is the person that we are looking for that she was acquainted with. That is why we want to make sure that that we know that everyone knows that it’s not a random act that we’re talking about.”

The medical examiner will verify the identities of the three on Monday.

“Who is to say that a man that she think that she loves was going to kill her… and kids?” said Ramona Johnson, Markayla’s grandmother.

Representatives of CMPD’s Operations Command, Victim Services, MEDIC and the Charlotte Fire Department also assisted in the investigation.

The cause of death is unknown at this point.

“I just want to say I miss my baby. I miss my grandkids. She was a good person. And everybody knows Kayla would do anything for you. She didn’t deserve this,” said her mother, Markeysha Johnson.