Westmoreland County police have identified a suspect in the slaying of businessman William McMichael Jones, whose body was found in his Ligoner apartment early Wednesday.

An affidavit of probable cause in the case said Westmoreland County detectives plan to arrest a soldier, Anthony Blaine Mowry of Latrobe, and start extradition proceedings to return him to Pennsylvania from Fort Hood, Texas.

Detectives interviewed him there and, according to the affidavit, he admitted that he went to Mr. Jones' apartment in Ligonier late Tuesday or early Wednesday "with the intent to beat him."

The affidavit says Mr. Mowry told detectives that he and Mr. Jones had a few drinks before he struck Mr. Jones with chimes from a grandfather clock, a candlestick and his fists.

Then, the affidavit says, Mr. Mowry stabbed him several times in the back and cut his throat.

The detectives said Mr. Mowry told them that he then "stuck around'' and drank before setting the apartment on fire and leaving with $400 and Mr. Jones' Cadillac.

Mr. Jones, 75, resigned in 1988 as president of the Tribune-Review Publishing Company. He was the great grandson of one of the founding partners of Jones & Laughlin Steel Co. and a former media consultant.

Westmoreland County District Attorney John W. Peck said detectives were led to Mr. Mowry by a woman who saw him driving the Cadillac. Mr. Peck would say no more about the woman or the case.