Maine State Police on Saturday arrested a 39-year-old man in connection with the killing of Elizabeth Williams, who was found badly beaten at the Sunrise Motel in Saco on Nov. 3.

Lebon Bruno was arrested in Lewiston on a warrant issued out of York County on Friday, according to Lt. Brian McDonough, head of the state police major crimes division in southern Maine.

Williams, 55, a transient well-known among the Portland homeless community, was found by the housekeeping staff in the bathtub of a room at the Route 1 motel. She died the next day at Maine Medical Center in Portland.

Bruno, a transient who splits time between Lewiston and Portland, is being held at the Androscoggin County Jail.

Bruno had rented the room where Williams was found, McDonough said. He said Bruno was initially questioned by police when he returned to the room carrying a 12-pack of beer, but was not immediately arrested.

“We need to investigate a case so we can get a conviction,” McDonough said.

The state Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death a homicide, but has not released the cause of death.

McDonough said Williams and Bruno had an on-again-off-again relationship over many years.

Staff Writer Beth Quimby can be contacted at at 791-6363 or at:

bquimby@pressherald.com