July 04, 2015
Philadelphia Police Department /PPD
Leroy Wilson, 37, was arrested on July 4 as a suspect in the brutal murder of an 85-year-old Philadelphia woman
Philadephia Police have arrested a man suspected of slashing the throat of an 85-year-old woman inside her East Mt. Airy home.
According to NBC Philadelphia, the suspect, identified as 37-year-old handyman Leroy Wilson, was taken into custody around 9 a.m. Saturday by Philadelphia detectives and U.S. Marshals in Norristown.
Leroy Wilson arrested for brutal murder of 85yr old Mt. Airy woman.footbeats located car, homicide Det. worked 24/7 pic.twitter.com/pe79vnTKMp
— Philadelphia Police (@PhillyPolice) July 4, 2015
Regina Brunner was found dead in her home Monday morning by her son in what appeared to be a robbery. Brunner's throat was slashed and her car was missing, but was discovered Thursday six blocks from her home. Wilson has previously done work for the victim and was known by other local customers as "Leroy the Handyman." He has over 20 prior arrests in Florida and Philadelphia, according to police.
In an interview with 6 ABC, Brunner's son Adam expressed sympathy for whoever killed his mother:
"We feel sorry for the people. Something must've happened to make their heart so cold but they need to be captured because they're going to do it to somebody else."
In a press briefing held on Saturday, police said they believe Wilson visited Brunner on the 300 block of Roumfort Road last Sunday night. After the murder, they suspect Wilson stole her credit cards, debit card, and lap top in addition to her Toyota Corolla.
Investigators revealed that they were able to trace DNA evidence to Wilson from the stolen vehicle and the laptop. They also obtained surveillance footage of Wilson using Brunner's debit card at an ATM machine.
