TROY, N.Y. -- Two men were arraigned Saturday morning in Troy City Court, each on four second-degree murder counts and a single first-degree murder count in connection with the quadruple homicide that took the lives of two women and two children in their Second Avenue apartment.
Justin C. Mann, 24, and James W. White, 38, allegedly bound and killed 36-year-old Shanta Myers; her children, 11-year-old Jeremiah Myers and 5-year-old Shanise Myers; and 22-year-old Brandi Mells in a basement apartment. Police say the two women were in a relationship.
The men, both from Schenectady, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Troy Police Cheif John Tedesco said investigators are still searching for a motive and that one of the suspects had a relationship with one of the victims.
"I don't need to tell you how good it feels to have these two defendants in custody," said Tedesco.
The victims were found Tuesday by the apartment building's property manager.
Earlier this week, Tedesco said he had "never seen savagery like this" in 42 years in law enforcement.