A man who showed up at a police station with a dead body in his car confessed to killing four family members, three of whom were found in his apartment, according to Californian police.

Shankar Nagaappa Hangud was arrested on Monday after he turned himself into Mount Shasta police and told investigators he had killed the man in his car, Roseville police captain Josh Simon said.

He also confessed to killing three other people at his apartment in Roseville, about 260 miles south of Mount Shasta.

Mr Hangud is now facing four murder charges.

Officers found the bodies of an adult and two juveniles at the suspect’s Roseville apartment after police told them about his statement.

Victoria Hall: Police reopen probe into murder of 17-year-old in 1999 Show all 13 1 /13 Victoria Hall: Police reopen probe into murder of 17-year-old in 1999 Victoria Hall: Police reopen probe into murder of 17-year-old in 1999 File photo dated 25 September, 1999 showing scene of crime investigators at the site in Creeting St Peter, near Stowmarket, Suffolk, where the body of missing teenager Victoria Hall was found. Fiona Hanson/PA Victoria Hall: Police reopen probe into murder of 17-year-old in 1999 Undated handout file photo of 17-year-old Victoria Hall who vanished while walking home in Trimley St Mary, Suffolk, on 19 September, 1999, and whose body was found five days later. PA Victoria Hall: Police reopen probe into murder of 17-year-old in 1999 Undated handout file photo of 17-year-old Victoria Hall. PA Victoria Hall: Police reopen probe into murder of 17-year-old in 1999 Undated handout file photo of 17-year-old Victoria Hall. Suffolk Constabulary Victoria Hall: Police reopen probe into murder of 17-year-old in 1999 Undated file photo of a black dress with shoestring straps similar to the one which 17-year-old Victoria Hall was wearing on the night she disappeared. Suffolk Constabulary Victoria Hall: Police reopen probe into murder of 17-year-old in 1999 Undated file photo of a brown jacket similar to the one which 17-year-old Victoria Hall was wearing on the night she disappeared. Suffolk Constabulary Victoria Hall: Police reopen probe into murder of 17-year-old in 1999 Undated file photo of a platform-heeled black sandal similar to the pair which 17-year-old Victoria Hall was wearing on the night she disappeared in 1999, which has never been found. Suffolk Constabulary Victoria Hall: Police reopen probe into murder of 17-year-old in 1999 Undated handout photo issued by Suffolk Constabulary of a hair clip similar to the one which Victoria Hall was wearing on the night she disappeared. Suffolk Constabulary Victoria Hall: Police reopen probe into murder of 17-year-old in 1999 File photo dated 21 September, 1999 of the Bandbox club in Felixstowe, Suffolk, where Victoria Hall had been on a night out before she disappeared. PA Victoria Hall: Police reopen probe into murder of 17-year-old in 1999 Screengrab taken from previously unreleased CCTV dated 18 October, 1999 issued by Suffolk Constabulary of a group of people at night with torches going into field in Creeting St Peter, Suffolk, where the body of 17-year-old Victoria Hall was found. Suffolk Constabulary Victoria Hall: Police reopen probe into murder of 17-year-old in 1999 Screengrab taken from previously unreleased CCTV dated 18 October, 1999 issued by Suffolk Constabulary of a group of people at night with torches going into field in Creeting St Peter, Suffolk, where the body of 17-year-old Victoria Hall was found. Suffolk Constabulary Victoria Hall: Police reopen probe into murder of 17-year-old in 1999 Screengrab taken from previously unreleased CCTV dated 7 October, 1999 by Suffolk Constabulary of a van stopping and manoeuvring at the entrance to the field in Creeting St Peter, Suffolk, where the body of 17-year-old Victoria Hall was found. Suffolk Constabulary Victoria Hall: Police reopen probe into murder of 17-year-old in 1999 Screengrab taken from previously unreleased CCTV dated 7 October, 1999 by Suffolk Constabulary of a van stopping and manoeuvring at the entrance to the field in Creeting St Peter, Suffolk, where the body of 17-year-old Victoria Hall was found. Suffolk Constabulary

Mr Hangud left his home with the relative found in his car last week and they travelled to numerous places in northern California and ended up in Mount Shasta, the police captain said.

It appeared the victims were killed over a few days, though detectives were still trying to piece together when they died.

“We’re still working to put that timeline together,” Mr Simon said. “We can confirm the victim he had in his vehicle in Mount Shasta was an adult male of east Indian descent.”

He asked the public to reach out to the Roseville Police Department if they recently saw Mr Hangud’s red Mazda 6 sedan or if they know the family.

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Officials were working to identify the victims. An autopsy will determine how they died, Mr Simon said.

Detectives have interviewed the suspect but have not yet determined a motive.

Tax records showed that Mr Hangud faced an federal tax lien of $178,00 (£140,000).