Man Arrested in Connection with Murdered Elderly Mississippi Widow Whose Body Was Set on Fire

A Mississippi man has been arrested after he allegedly broke into an elderly woman’s home, raped and shot her and then set her body on fire, according to authorities.

On Dec. 30, relatives of 73-year-old Mary Eady discovered her dead in her home in Scott County after they got a cell phone alert from her security system, WLBT reported.

Officials said Eady’s home was ransacked, and surveillance footage allegedly showed who investigators believe was 36-year-old Sammy Patrick approaching Eady’s home, Scott County Sheriff Mike Lee told WAPT.

Authorities claimed Patrick broke into Eady’s home and allegedly committed the grisly crime.

In a crime allegedly caught on surveillance video on Jan. 1, Patrick is accused of committing an armed robbery at a Subway restaurant in Woodville, officials said.

Then, two days later, on Jan. 3, Patrick allegedly stole a vehicle in Louisiana, two days before his arrest, according to law enforcement officials.

The Scott County Sheriff’s Office announced on Jan. 5 that Patrick was pulled over at a gas station in Byram while he was driving the stolen car from Jefferson Parish, Louisiana.

Patrick was arrested and charged with capital murder.

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Sheriff Lee indicated there is no direct connection between Eady and Patrick, and a motive for the murder remains unclear.

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.”

The investigation is ongoing.