A nationwide manhunt under way for the suspect accused of killing an elderly Cocoa woman and stealing her car.

Investigators said he had been out of the Brevard County jail for less than a day when he attacked the woman, and he is considered armed and extremely dangerous.

Detectives say 32 year old Marcus Royal -- a registered sex offender --  had just been released from jail the day before on a charge of driving with a suspended license. Police say he has a lengthy criminal history of attacking elderly women.

At approximately 8 a.m. Sunday, Royal entered 81-year-old Ethalya Faye Jone’s home on Fiske Boulevard and brutally attacked her and then murdered her.

Jones was killed as she was leaving for church -- a neighbor who looked after her -- a 58 year old unidentified man -- tried to intervene -- he too, was attacked by Royal and is fighting to survive at Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne.

Betty Robinson, 91, lives next door. She says Jones was very active in her church and well liked.

"Her being a Christian lady, and him over there, I thought we were pretty well situated. But you never know what's going to happen. You just have to be careful if you can," Robinson said.

"He's an incredible threat to society. We need him to know there's no place he can hide," said Officer Barbara Matthews of the Cocoa Police Dept.

Police say Royal stole Jones' car. It's a green 2010 Ford Fusion with Florida tag N74 4PU. 

He used her stolen debit card in Seminole County, but now may be out of money, and heading towards the west coast or Panhandle of the state.

Anyone with information on Marcus Royal's whereabouts is urged to call Cocoa Police or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.

This isn't the first time Royal has been in trouble for attacking an elderly woman.

Back in 1993 -- the then 14 year old was arrested for sexually assaulting a 63 year old Cocoa woman.

Police say he held a knife to her throat during a robbery at the woman's home, attacked her, then stole $27 from her purse.

Police reports indicate Royal admitted to the attack.