The man accused of stabbing to death a 14-year-old in her Decatur apartment was the girl’s uncle, police said Tuesday.

Shykia Ward-Reese, who attended Renfroe Middle School, and her mother’s boyfriend, Manuel De Jesus Franco, were both killed Sunday morning, according to police. Franco was 35.

On Monday, investigators located the suspect, Royce Alex Stewart, and the car he allegedly stole from the Trinity Walk apartments after the stabbings. He was found in southeast DeKalb County.

The shooting happened early Tuesday morning.

Stewart and the slain teenager’s mother are siblings, police said Tuesday.

Investigators have not released details about a possible motive.

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University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue said joining neighboring states to form a new accreditation agency will “keep Georgia’s universities among the best in the nation." (Jason Getz/AJC)

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