‘Person of Interest’ in Killings Arrested for Drugs, Cops Say

Bristol Township police are interviewing what sources describe as a “person of interest” in the arson fire set to cover up the murder of pregnant Ebony Talley, 22, and her 4-year-old daughter.

While police would not confirm to LevittownNow.com the name of the person, 6abc.com reports he is Marcel Johnson, 21, of Bristol Township.

Johnson was taken into custody and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia Monday night near the crime scene. Johnson is currently being held on 10 percent of $50,000 following a Tuesday arraignment.

“I didn’t do it,” Johnson told 6abc  when asked about the double  murder homicide.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, during the early stages of the investigation, Bristol T0wnship  police came into contact with Marcel Johnson, 21, at the Levittown Trace Apartment Complex parking lot a little after 7 p.m. Monday night.

Johnson, police say, had 1 bag which contained 11 smaller bags, which are known to authorities “to be consistent with the packaging commonly used to contain illicit drugs.”

Sources indicate Johnson was being questioned by detectives as of Tuesday afternoon.

Two sources close to Talley told LevittowNow.com early Tuesday morning that Johnson has a previous relationship with the murdered woman. The extent of which has not been released by authorities. Through social media, Johnson and Talley are also tenuously connected as they each appear on their Facebook friends list.

Talley, according to sources and residents in the Avalon Court Apartments, is suspected of being connected to the local drug trade. When asked, police refereed all questions to District Attorney David Heckler, who remained mum.

Talley was convicted of conspiring to rob and recklessly endangering another person in August of 2013. She was sentenced to two years of probation in connection with the Bristol Township incident, according to online court documents. She was also charged with receiving stolen property and unauthorized use of a vehicle in Philadelphia in 2007, which was later dropped.

Heckler said Monday night that 4-year-old R’Mani and Ebony Talley were found stabbed in apartment 604 after fire crews responded to a reported fire in the unit. Police and firefighters responding to scene upon entering  the 22-year-old’s apartment found the woman with “various injuries including multiple stab wounds on the floor of the apartment,” Heckler said, adding R’Mani was stabbed at least once and suffered from various injuries at what a source described to LevittowNow.com as a “violent scene.”

Police have speculated that the fire was set in an attempt to cover up the murders.

The Bucks County Coroner’s office has not yet released the results of a post-mortem examination of the victims.

Five people remain displaced from there apartments, Red Cross spokesman Dave Schrader said Tuesday evening. The residents are being put up at a local motel.

Police from Bristol Township and the Bucks County Detectives were back at the crime scene all day Tuesday. Police activity at the Levittown Trace Apartments on Ford Road is also said to be connected to the investigation of the two deaths.

Authorities reiterated to LevittownNow.com numerous times on Tuesday that the investigation is ongoing.

Previous:

• Investigation Into Murder of Pregnant Mother, Young Daughter Continuing
• PHOTOS: Double Murder Investigation in Bristol Twp.
• Mother, Daughter Killed in Bristol Twp.

Johnson told Action News 6 in Philadelphia when asked about the double  murder homicide said he didn’t do it.