Man arrested in elderly woman’s beating, assault

Police have arrested a 48-year-old man in the beating and sexual assault of a 79-year-old Prince William County woman.

Detectives on Thursday obtained warrants charging Andy Ralston, of no fixed address, with burglary with intent to commit rape, abduction with intent to defile, armed robbery and object sexual penetration, Prince William County police 1st Sgt. Kim Chinn said.

Police first responded to the 4800 block of the Prince William Parkway about 10 p.m. Tuesday to investigate an unknown situation, police said.

They arrived to find a man inside the victim’s house. When they tried to make contact, they saw a man running to the rear of the house.

Chinn said police arrested Ralston at 4 p.m. Thursday in Fairfax County near the Loudoun County line after a tip.

The victim remained in the hospital Thursday for observation, Chinn said.

Prince William detectives are working with Fairfax police to look at similarities between this case and the 2006 killings of two elderly women in Springfield. Marion Marshall and Marion Newman were both beaten to death in their homes in the same neighborhood. Fairfax police said unidentified evidence determined that the same person was involved.