The father of five South Carolina children whose bodies were found in Alabama Tuesday confessed to killing them, then led authorities to their bodies, according to Smith County, Miss., Sheriff Charlie Crumpton.  His name is Timothy Ray Jones, Jr.

Authorities found the remains of the five children — ages 1 to 8 — around 3 p.m. on a dirt road off Alabama Highway 10 near the Oak Hillcommunity in Wilcox County, said Alabama Law Enforcement Agency spokesman Sgt. Steve Jarrett.

Neighbors told authorities that Jones, who had been taking care of the children at his home, said he wanted ‘a new start’.  He apparently took the children and left his house last week and drove to Alabama, where all five of the children were found dead.

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, local media reported.

Alabama Department of Public Safety spokesman Sgt Steve Jarrett told a news conference on Tuesday Mr Jones led investigators to the children’s bodies.

Smith County, Mississippi, Sheriff Charlie Crumpton told reporters that Mr Jones was stopped at a safety checkpoint on Saturday and was determined to be driving under the influence of drugs,

A deputy found what were believed to be chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine and a substance believed to be the street drug Spice, Mr Crumpton said.

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

When officers ran his vehicle’s identification through a national database, police discovered he was wanted in South Carolina “regarding a welfare concern of his children”, who were on a national missing persons list.

Mr Jones had told neighbours in South Carolina he was preparing to move out of the state with the children, local media report.