A 21-year-old man has been charged with murder after a man and woman were found dead in a house Thursday morning, police said.

Police carried out a welfare check on an individual after his colleague reported around 6:30 a.m. that he had failed to show up for work, Middleborough Police Chief Joseph Perkins said. during a press conference around noon.

The shift sergeant broke into the house where the welfare check was being carried out and discovered the two victims, Perkins said.

Shortly after locating the victims, police contacted Ryan True and took the Middleborough man into custody. The suspect was not at the scene, the police chief said.

“There was no problem with the arrest. It was peaceful, ”he added.

True has been charged with two counts of murder and is expected to be brought to justice on Thursday or Friday, Plymouth District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz noted at the briefing.

The suspect had a relationship with the victims, according to police, although Perkins said authorities would not comment on how True knew of those killed.

“I would like to reassure the community that this was not some random act of violence,” said Perkins, “and they have no reason to fear living in the community of Middleborough

The authorities are withholding the names of the victims pending positive identification and notification of their families, the police chief added.

Authorities will release the names of the victims later Thursday, he said.

“It is a tragic and horrific situation for obviously the family of the deceased and obviously here in the town of Middleborough,” said Cruz. “It’s a nice little community, and fortunately that doesn’t happen very often here.