Dallas police say they have made two arrests in the slaying of a 79-year-old woman who was killed in her East Dallas home two weeks ago.
Police found the body of Avanell Cowgill in home home in the 11300 block of Earlywood Drive on March 9 after her daughter asked officers to check on her.
Dallas police said late Friday night that David Herron, 29, and Daniel Brooks, 28, will be charged with capital murder in Cowgill's death.
"It was a brutal murder," Maj. Jeff Cottner said. "It was a clearly irresponsible and just dasterdly deed. We don't know why. They took a life of a grandmother, needlessly."
Police said Brooks was in custody at DPD headquarters, while Herron was at a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Officials did not elaborate on his injuries or what caused them.
Investigators said Herron and Brooks took Cowgill's purse and used her credit cards to buy an electronic device at Wal-Mart, a purchase that was captured on surveillance video.
Dallas police last week released surveillance photos and video of two men at a Wal-Mart who used Cowgill's credit cards.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
Surveillance video also recorded Herron and Brooks attempting to withdraw money from Cowgill's account at an ATM, police said.
Police learned where Herron and Brooks sold the electronic device they had purchased with Cowgill's credit card and then learned the identity of Brooks. Investigators then determined that the two had been arrested Wednesday and were being held in the Richardson jail on an unrelated theft charge.
Investigators have said that Cowgill left church at approximately 3:30 p.m. on March 7 before going to a store and then home. Police have said she may have been killed that night.
NBC 5's Eric King contributed to this report.
