Joshua Lucas, 21, of the 200 block of West 27th Street in Wilmington, was arrested on Monday.
Police say Lucas entered the home on McGovern Terrace in Cleland Heights through the back door late Friday and eventually confronted the woman in her bedroom, beating her and ransacking closets and drawers before leaving.
Officials say the woman was taken to a hospital with head and facial injuries and was in stable condition. They say a neighbor, Alysha Julian, reported hearing the woman scream for help and say that she was robbed while leaning out of her second-story window.
Julian checked on the woman and called 911.
"There was blood all over her and she was screaming, 'They're gonna kill me! They're gonna kill me!'" Julian said.
Julian tells Action News, once inside, her father checked the elderly woman's home as she sat with the woman and covered her head to stop the bleeding.
The victim has since been released from the hospital.
Lucas has been charged with attempted robbery in the first degree, burglary in the first degree, felony assault and criminal mischief. He was also charged with possession with intent to deliver cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
