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James A. Hole, 34, of Brookfield, Ill., is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, arson and burglary in the March 18 death of Ann B. Nelson, 71, of Cambridge. The criminal complaint said he admitted strangling and beating her and taking valuables from her purse.
Jefferson County Circuit Judge Jacqueline Erwin ruled prosecutors presented enough evidence during a 90-minute preliminary hearing to justify a trial. Hole remains in jail on $1 million bond.
He entered a not guilty plea and is scheduled for a pretrial conference April 30.
No trial date was immediately set, District Attorney Dave Wambach said.
Wambach argued at the preliminary hearing that the information about the Illinois attack was relevant to the murder case.
Police said Hole was interviewed earlier in the week and admitted attacking a retired teacher in her La Grange Park, Ill., apartment Jan. 4 and taking $300 from her purse, as well as a similar purse-snatching in June 2007.
La Grange Park Detective Fran Marrocco interviewed Hole about the attack on Mary Elmslie, 69, who was found unconscious in her apartment.
La Grange Park Police Chief Dan McCollum said Hole admitted knocking Elmslie down on a concrete floor and taking the money from her purse. He said she was in a coma but has recovered.
La Grange Park will not charge Hole until the Wisconsin case is finished, he said.
"We are going to yield at this time to Wisconsin because, if he is proven guilty, he's eligible in Wisconsin for life without parole," he said.
Hole's public defender, Jeffrey De La Rosa, said today he was not present when Hole talked to the La Grange Park detective.
According to the criminal complaint in Jefferson County, Hole met with Nelson to see a property, which he did not realize at first was a lot with unimproved land. The agent then offered to show him a nearby property with a home on it in the town of Oakland, about 50 miles west of Milwaukee.
Hole told investigators that while Nelson was showing him that house, they discussed price and Nelson questioned why Hole was looking at a home he would not purchase, the complaint said, adding that he then became upset and strangled her.
Hole said he also struck Nelson with a fireplace poker, started a fire and took valuables from her purse, the complaint said.
Nelson's family contacted authorities after she didn't return home that night. Deputies tracked her down to the vacant house and noticed smoke coming from it.
Records showed Hole served more than eight years in prison in Illinois for aggravated criminal sexual assault before his release in January 2006, the complaint said.
Barry Luce, an owner of Re/Max Community Realty in nearby Lake Mills, said Nelson had worked for the company for four years.
De La Rosa did not immediately return a telephone message from The Associated Press late today seeking comment.
