Cops arrest two in unrelated murders of elderly man and woman

Police have arrested two men in the unrelated fatal beatings of two elderly citizens.

In the first case, police say Tito DeJesus, 42, of North Philadelphia, broke into a home on Water Street near Ontario through a first-floor, front window and attacked Alice Sanders, 94, as she slept in her living room on Feb. 25. DeJesus, 42, who was homeless but recently lived about a block away from his victim on Ontario Street near Front, allegedly punched Sanders in her head and tried to sexually assault her before fleeing, police spokeswoman Officer Christine O'Brien said. Friends trying to visit Sanders the next day heard moaning from within her home and alerted police, who discovered Sanders inside with a severe head injury, O'Brien said. Sanders died from her injuries on March 21 at a Wyncote nursing home, O'Brien said.

DeJesus was arrested last Thursday for murder, burglary, criminal trespass, attempted sexual assault and related offenses.He was ordered held without bail and faces a June 19 preliminary hearing.

In the second case, police say Kareem Mosley, 23, of Southwest Philadelphia, beat Richard Eley, 63, of Mount Moriah in the doorway of a home on Vodges Street near Christian in Southwest Philadelphia, just before 7 p.m. on April 1, 2012. Bystanders told police that Mosley, of Angorra Terrace near 54th Street, repeatedly kicked Eley, of Chester Avenue near Cemetery Avenue, in the head and body, O'Brien said. Eley died from his injuries on Dec. 29 at a nursing home, O'Brien said.

Mosley was arrested last Friday for murder and involuntary manslaughter. He was ordered held without bail and faces a June 19 preliminary hearing.