Justin Mann and James White
© Troy Police DepartmentJustin Mann (L) and James White (R) were arrested in connection to a quadruple homicide in Troy, N.Y.
Two men have been arrested in connection with the brutal murder of two women and two children in upstate New York.

James White, 38, and Justin Mann, 24, both of Schenectady, New York, were arrested in the Dec. 21 quadruple killing in Troy, New York, according to Troy Police Capt. Dan DeWolf.

White and Mann were arraigned in Troy City Court on Saturday morning and remanded to the Rensselaer County jail. They had both been brought in for questioning by the police Friday night. Each of the men was charged with one count of first-degree murder and four counts of second-degree murder, according to DeWolf.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Jan. 4.

At a press conference later Saturday, Troy Police Chief John Tedesco said one of the men was acquainted with one of the victims.

Troy Police DepartmentJustin Mann (L) and James White (R) were arrested in connection to a quadruple homicide in Troy, N.Y.

The four victims, Shanta Myers, 36; Shanise Myers, 5, and Jeremiah Myers, 11; and Brandi Mells, 22, were found dead the day after Christmas in their basement apartment in Troy, about eight miles outside of Albany, according to police.

Police said Shanta Myers and Mells were in a relationship.
Shanta Myers
© Troy Police DepartmentAn undated photo of Shanta Myers, 36, who was found dead, along with her children and her partner, in Troy, N.Y., Dec. 26, 2017.
Brandi Mells
© Troy Police DepartmentAn undated photo of Brandi Mells, 22, who was found dead in an apartment in Troy, N.Y., Dec. 26, 2017.
Troy Police Department An undated photo of Shanta Myers, 36, who was found dead, along with her children and her partner, in Troy, N.Y., Dec. 26, 2017.

Troy Police Department An undated photo of Brandi Mells, 22, who was found dead in an apartment in Troy, N.Y., Dec. 26, 2017.

At a press conference Wednesday, Tedesco said the killings weren't believed to be a random act. He called the murders "an act of savagery" and said the officers involved in the case would not be able to forget the brutal crime scene.

"I don't need to speak about the horrific events that took place in that apartment, especially dealing with children," the police chief said.
Jeremiah Myers
© Troy Police DepartmentAn undated photo of Jeremiah Myers, 11, who was found dead in an apartment in Troy, N.Y., Dec. 26, 2017.
Shanise Myers
© Troy Police DepartmentAn undated photo of Shanise Myers, 5, who was found dead in an apartment in Troy, N.Y., Dec. 26, 2017.