A suspect is now behind bars in the death of a 77-year-old Cottondale man who died during a violent home invasion earlier this week.

The Tuscaloosa County Metro Homicide Unit arrested 21-year-old Donald Augustus Clark. He is charged in the death of Willis Sample who died from a heart attack after he was assaulted at his home Wednesday night.

Clark, of Holt, is charged with murder, first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary, first-degree theft and first-degree kidnapping. Capt. Gary Hood said investigators believe Clark is one of the people responsible for Sample's death and the robbery of he and his wife.

His bonds total $285,000 in the Wednesday night crimes. He is held without bond on previous unrelated charges. Jail records a previous third-degree burglary arrest.

The robbery happened about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the couple's home in the 1500 block of 55th Court East. According to neighbors, Willis and Edna Sample had just arrived home and parked in their carport. Edna Samples, 73, was already in their home and her husband was on his way inside when he was accosted by the two suspects who followed him in.

One of them was wearing camouflage face paint and both were dark-colored clothing. Both also were armed - one of them with a handgun and the other with a rifle.

They broke the Sample's gun case and took weapons, as well as money and the couple's 2005 gold Mercury Marquis. The stolen vehicle was later found abandoned at Crescent East Apartments public housing community in the Holt area. Court records list Clark's address at the complex.

Edna Sample was taken to the hospital as a precaution, and has since been treated and released.

Neighbor Paul Hoggle, who has known Sample since they were teens in Hale County, said Sample retired from the U.S. Post Office as a longtime mail carrier, and also had a working farm in Akron, Alabama. "He was just an easygoing, nice fellow,'' Hoggle said. "We've been friends all this time."

Hoggle said he and neighbors are taking extra safety precautions following Wednesday night's home invasion. "The ones I've talked to are pretty upset about it,'' he said.

Hood said the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on the case is asked to call homicide investigators at 205-464-8626 or 205-752-0616.