Police Make Two Arrests In Assault of Raleigh Woman

Raleigh police say an 87-year old woman was attacked in her home overnight and left to die.

Police say the woman, a retired schoolteacher, was alone at her home on Barringer Drive when the suspect broke in.

"In the early morning hours probably sometime after 3 p.m., her home was burglarized by an individual," says Capt. Mike Longmire of the Raleigh Police Department. "She was robbed and violently assaulted."

Police have charged 22-year-old Julio Hernandez with attempted murder, burglary and robbery. Police say Hernandez also had an accomplice, 23-year-old Sergio Callazo. They are being held in the Wake County jail.

Neighbor Kathy Tomasik says the victim was like part of the family and never hurt anybody.

"Her face is totally bruised," Tomasik says. "It looks like someone beat her with a baseball bat."

The victim is in serious condition at Rex Hospital.