A Mississippi man was arrested on Friday, nearly a week after allegedly he broke into an elderly woman’s home and murdered her.
WLBT reported that a state trooper and U.S. Marshal pulled over Sammy Patrick, 36, at a QuikTrip in Byrum while he drove a car stolen out of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. Authorities believe Patrick broke into Mary Eady’s home in Scott County, where he shot and raped her before setting her body on fire.
Eady’s relatives discovered her body in her home they got a cell phone alert from her security system, according to WLBT.
WAPT reported that on Monday — two days after Eady’s slaying — Patrick committed an armed robbery at a Subway in Woodville. Surveillance cameras allegedly filmed him in the restaurant.
Eady’s home was reportedly ransacked. Scott County Sheriff Mike Lee said Patrick was seen in surveillance footage approaching Eady’s home, according to WAPT.
Patrick is believed to have stolen the vehicle in Louisiana on Wednesday, two days before his arrest.
A motive in Eady’s murder remains unclear. Sheriff Lee said there is no direct connection between Eady, 73, and Patrick. Patrick faces capital murder charges.
Sheriff Lee told WLBT, “Miss Eady was a widow and lived there by herself. [Patrick’s] home is not far from where she lived. There may have been, if any, some interaction, but there would not be a direct link such as him working for her or knowing her in a personal situation.”
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[Featured image: Mary Eady/Twitter; Sammy Patrick/Scott County Sheriff’s Office]