A Birmingham, Alabama man is accused of befriending a 71-year-old woman and then stabbing her to death.

Jeffery Justice, 26, is charged with capital murder in the death of Linda Allbritton, 71, according to the Associated Press.

Police say that Justice and Allbritton live near one another and used to rescue stray cats together.

"She loved cats, and he knew that,'' Lt. Sean Edwards told AL.com. "She would go around the neighborhood picking up stray cats, and he would help her recover them."

Police were called to Allbritton’s apartment at about 6 p.m. Sunday after neighbors went to check on her and found her dead, with several stab wounds in her chest and neck. The apartment showed signs of a break-in and Allbritton’s car was missing.