Wilson Co. man arrested in California after wife, dad found dead in NC

WILSON COUNTY, North Carolina (WTVD) -- Los Angeles, California law enforcement officials have arrested a Wilson County man accused of slaying his wife and father in North Carolina.

Michael Allen Joyner, 38, was arrested in Los Angeles on June 3, our sister station KABC confirms.

On June 2, the Wilson County Sheriff's Office responded to the 4100 block of Evansdale Road for a welfare check. The caller told deputies Dennis Joyner, 63, had not shown up to work, which was unusual.

Deputies knocked on the door several times but received no response. Deputies looked through the windows and saw a toddler locked inside a bedroom.

Deputies forced their way into the home to check on the child; they found the toddler's mother, 36-year-old Michelle Joyner, dead on the floor.

Dennis Joyner, the toddler's grandfather, was also found dead inside the home.

The Wilson County Sheriff's Office issued an arrest warrant for Michael Joyner, 38. Michael is the son of Dennis Joyner and husband of Michelle Joyner.

Deputies said the murders appeared to have happened sometime that morning. Michael Joyner was not at the scene when deputies arrived.

EMS checked on the welfare of the toddler at the scene; officials did not release the child's condition.

Joyner was extradited back to Wilson on Tuesday. He was taken into custody at RDU and booked into the Wilson County Detention Center.

He is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, financial card theft, probation violation, and felony child abuse.