Man suspected in the deaths of his five children

A South Carolina father is suspected of killing his five children and dumping their bodies in another state, police have said.

Timothy Ray Jones faces multiples charges in his home state after being arrested on Saturday on unrelated charges in Mississippi.

The children, ages one to eight, were reported missing on Wednesday, when their mother told police she could not get in contact with her ex-husband.

Authorities found the children buried near an Alabama highway after an all-day search on Tuesday, after Jones led investigators to the children's bodies.

Jones was stopped at a safety checkpoint on Saturday and was determined to be driving under the influence of drugs. A search of his car revealed what were believed to be chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine and a substance believed to be the street drug Spice.

Investigator also found what appeared to be bleach, hydrochloric acid, blood and possible body fluids inside the vehicle.

Further investigation lead to the discovery that Jones was wanted in South Carolina "regarding a welfare concern of his children", who were on a national missing persons list.