PALATKA, Fla. -- Police have arrested Quritus Lowe II, 20, and Gytonia Cheek, 27, on Thursday in connection to the Christmas Day 2007 slaying of retired teacher Myrtle McKinney.

Both are charged with first-degree murder.

McKinney, 58, was found dead in her home by her family when they went to pick her up for Christmas dinner.

Investigators have not released how she was killed, but called it a "brutal murder."

"It feels good to get the job done and get the information you need to solve the crime," said James Griffith, assistant chief of the Palatka Police Department.

Police said the suspects knew who McKinney was, but they weren't sure how well they were acquainted.

Jail records show Lowe has been in jail since Jan. 5 on numerous drug charges, auto theft and resisting arrest.

Cheek was booked into jail Thursday night.

McKinney's family gathered on Mother's Day to make a public appeal for information about who killed their mother.

Police said they received tips that helped them break the case, but the investigation is not over.

They said there is reason to believe more people were in McKinney's apartment the day she was killed and more arrests are possible.