PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A neighborhood handyman was arrested Saturday in the death of an elderly woman found beaten and stabbed in the bedroom of her northwest Philadelphia home.

Leroy Wilson, 37, faces a murder charge in the death of Regina Brunner, 85, whose body was discovered Monday in her East Mount Airy home, homicide division Capt. James Clark told reporters at a news conference.

Brunner's car was found the next day six miles away in north Philadelphia. Clark said her computer also was recovered, and both provided evidence that led them to Wilson, who had "a violent and lengthy criminal history" in Florida and Philadelphia.

Wilson also was seen on surveillance video trying to use Brunner's debit card at an ATM hours after the killing, police said. And attempts were made to use her credit card to make purchases online, they said.

Clark said Wilson was known as "Leroy the handyman" and had done work for several people in the area, including Brunner, and she likely let him in when he came to her door that night.

"We believe right now he probably was stealing something from her, maybe she caught him in the act of doing that, and with that he was set off, beat her and stabbed her," and ultimately killed her, Clark said.

He said a special task force worked on the case around the clock despite the July Fourth holiday weekend.

"They vowed that they were not going to take this holiday until they brought this killer to justice," he said.

Wilson was arrested in Norristown by Philadelphia and Norristown police and U.S. marshals, Clark said.

Wilson remained in custody, and it was unclear whether he had an attorney who could respond to the allegations.