Local News in Brief : Man Held in 1979 Murder

A parolee has been arrested on suspicion of beating to death an elderly woman during a break-in at her Hollywood apartment more than eight years ago and police are investigating whether the man was involved in other similar slayings, authorities said Thursday.

Larry Billings, 34, was arrested after his fingerprints were matched to those left at the scene of the July 18, 1979, slaying of Violet Rodda, 73, Los Angeles Police Lt. Ed Hocking said.

Billings, who had also been sought as a parole violator, was arrested without incident near his home, Hocking said. Information was not immediately available on the nature of the parole violation.