Man Charged for ‘Brutal’ Murders of Pregnant Mother, Daughter; ‘Death Penalty on the Table’

In 2010 Marcel Johnson was performing an original soulful tune in the auditorium of Harry S. Truman High School. A little more than three years later, he was shackled and walking into district court in Bristol Township, accused of killing a pregnant mother and her young daughter. Later setting fire to an apartment in an attempt to cover up the murders.

Johnson, 21, of Bristol Township, was charged Friday afternoon with two counts of criminal homicide, criminal homicide of an unborn child, two counts of arson and a single charge of possessing an instrument of crime. Police say he killed the five-months pregnant Ebony Talley, 22, and her daughter, R’mani Rankins, 4 on November 25.

Johnson stood quietly in his green prison garb as District Court Judge Joanne Kline read of the homicide charges to the standing room only crowd. Kline said to the accused killer and his public defender that she could not set bail at this time due to the seriousness of the charges and that he is free to apply for a bail hearing with the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas.

When Johnson left the courthouse, apparent supporters of Talley and R’man screamed at him wanting to know “why did you do it” and also shouted “why does he get protection? Where was that protection for R’Mani?”

Police zeroed in on Johnson as a suspect in the murder shortly after the bodies were discovered by firefighters who were called to apartment 604 of the Avalon Court apartments in the 3500 block of Bristol-Oxford Valley Road. Talley was dead of “various injuries including multiple stab wounds on the floor of the apartment,” but first responders rushed R’mani to the ER at St. Mary Medical Center. However it was too late to for the little girl family said was known for being full of energy.

Police detailed that Talley was found dead face down on the floor of the bedroom in apartment shortly after 3:30 p.m. on November 25 as a Newportville firefighter worked to extinguish the blaze. Shortly after, a Levittown Fire Company 2 fireman found the body of R’mani under an overturned sofa.

The 22-year-old suffered a stab wound to her left shoulder blade, under her armpit and two “defensive” wounds to her left forearm. The little girl had a stab wound on her upper chest and suffered third-degree burns on her stomach.

According to officials, Talley was still alive before he burned her and placed a bag over her prior to leaving the scene, which led to her conclusion.

Authorities said there was DNA from the victims found under the fingernails of Johnson who “brutally murdered” and “incinerated.”

Witnesses placed Johnson at the scene and said they saw him flee 10 minutes before firefighters were dispatched.

Johnson was arrested after a traffic stop outside the Levittown Trace apartments. He was charged for drug-related crimes.

Officials have announced no motive so far for the murder.

Search warrants were signed and law enforcement quickly got to work executing them. One warrant allowed investigators to collect DNA, hair, and under the fingernail samples from Johnson. The second warrant gave police permission to search the 2003 Cadillac CTS Johnson was driving when he was arrested following a planned traffic stop. The warrant was for DNA, fingerprints, blood, cell phones, weapons, accelerates and other items in the maroon vehicle.

Investigators interviewed a confidential informant in early December at the Buck County jail in Dolyestown. The informant said Johnson while in prison on drug charges said “Ebony made me kill her.” He said he stabbed her in the upper chest to kill the baby. He reportedly also told the informant he killed R’mani because she was “real smart” and could identify him.

An autopsy was performed following the murders and Talley was found to be five months pregnant, carrying a boy.

According to court documents, Johnson started the fire and used clothes, even his own, to grow the fire.

Fire investigators said the start of the blaze appeared to be centered around bedding and clothing it the ground-floor apartment. A reader view exclusively obtained by LevittownNow.com and view by police shows a thick white smoke coming from the windows of apartment 604 in the moments before firefighters arrived.

Officials on Friday thanked the law enforcement agencies involved in the case and months-long investigation. The Pennsylvania State Police lab crime lab put the DNA used to establish a firm link between the murders and Johnson.

Bucks County Chief Deputy District Attorney Matt Weintraub called it a “heinous crime” at the press conference held at the Bristol Township Municipal Building Friday adding a decision to pursue a death penalty prosecution had yet to be made but he thinks “we have not made a determination of whether to seek the death penalty but its certainly on the table, he said.  There are also a number of potential sentences for this crime including life in prison, the prosecutor added.

“He will be brought to justice vigorously and swiftly” said Weintraub with the wall of investigators surrounding him from left to right looking out into the audience as he spoke.

The District Attorney’s office has until Johnson’s formal arraignment at the court of common pleas to decide whether or not to pursue a death penalty case, officials said.

Citing the work of key elements during the investigation of the Pennsylvania State Crime Lab, State Troopers, Bristol Township police and the Fire Marshal’s office,  the ADA said each played an integral role in the case.  When asked if Fire Marshal Kevin Dipolito’s report would be available to the press the ADA said it would not be at this time.

Johnson had a previous relationship with Talley. 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 and a number of sources who have contacted LevittowNow.com have alleged both “were knee deep in the local drug-trade,”  however, details have not been released of the  connection have not been released by investigators to date.

Johnson went to Harry S. Truman High School and sang “Breath,” an original composition, during the school’s spring talent show. The soulful performance was met with applause by the audience. A video of the performance shows Johnson bowing.

What happened in the years between is not entirely clear. His criminal history in Bucks County is limited. Trespassing and several minor vehicle offenses are among his only previous offenses.

Tally and R’mani were remembered days after their murders by friends and family. Over 200 people came out for a candle light vigil at the scene of the crime.

“She was as real as it gets,” James Parrish, godfather to R’mani and one of the vigil’s organizers, said. He recalled how Talley made her daughter the focus of her life. “Despite what you may have heard, it was all about her daughter.”

R’mani’s father, Rakeem Rankin, told LevittownNow.com following the murders he planned to start a foundation in his daughter’s memory to help families who have experienced hardships. Rakeem Rankin did not wish to publicly comment following the announcement of the charges on Friday.

Officials said at the press conference that Johnson’s motivation for the murder is still unknown to them. Officials also said that said the expect the preliminary hearing date set for January 22 to be rescheduled.

Detectives spent days processing the crime scene inside the apartment complex. Investigators used 3D computer-aided measurements and Johnson may have had a good voice, but police say he made some deadly choices.

 

Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.

Previous:

• Vigil Held for Murdered Pregnant Mother, Daughter
• Father Starts Memorial Fund & Foundation for Murdered Daughter in Time of Grief
• Mother, Daughter Killed in Bristol Twp.
• Search Warrant: ‘Person of Interest’ in Double Murder, Arson Case at Scene Minutes Before Fire
• PHOTOS: Double Murder Investigation in Bristol Twp.
• Vigil Held for Murdered Pregnant Mother, Daughter
• Investigation Into Murder of Pregnant Mother, Young Daughter Continuing
• ‘Person of Interest’ in Killings Arrested for Drugs, Cops Say