News 12 First at Five, March 25, 2009

GROVETOWN, Ga.---It's a brutal attack that started as a home burglary. It happened sometime before 9:00 this morning on Hot Springs Drive, just off Columbia Road.

The victim came home from taking her kids to school and found someone in her house, then they attacked her. Neighbors in this normally quiet and safe neighborhood are shocked.

Investigators aren't sure whether or not the burglary in progress was random or not. While they look for clues, neighbors are on edge.

It's your average, every day street but today, it's a crime scene. Investigators say a home burglary turned violent when 41-year old Laverne Parsons, who goes by the name Kay, came home from taking her son to school.

"It appears that the homeowner surprised the burglar. This was a burglary in progress when she came home she was attacked. She was seriously injured," says Columbia County Sheriff's Captain Steve Morris.

Neighbors who live in this quiet neighborhood in Grovetown don't know what to think. "It really is shocking, it's a tight neighborhood everybody kinda knows everybody. I've never even heard of a burglary in this neighborhood," says a concerned neighbor who wished to keep his name private.

But investigators agree, they say violent burglaries like this aren't common in this area. "I'm not sure the last burglary that's been reported in this neighborhood, so this is rare," says Capt. Morris.

Investigators say a second house, next door, was also burglarized. They're hoping someone in this close knit community might have seen something. "Right now we're going door to door in hopes of obtaining information that will help us solve this case," says Capt. Morris.

And solving this case is really what neighbors are hoping for. "I know all the neighbors are on high alert and are anxious to find out what actually happened. If the people got caught or whats going on," says the concerned neighbor.

"You gotta always question I guess when you see something like that happen that it can happen to you too. No where's really safe I don't guess," says neighbor Jamie Zellner.

While neighbors try to cope themselves, their thoughts are with the Kay Parsons. "I just wish the best for her and her family for sure. So hopefully she'll come out okay," adds the neighbor.

Kay Parsons is being treated at MCG, they have no information about her condition. Her husband was out of town on business during the attack.

Right now there are no suspects, but we're told investigators did question and release two neighbors.

The Parsons' home is for sale and a construction worker initially found her. He was there to do some minor repairs and notified neighbors when she wasn't answering the door. The neighbor and the worker went in and found her.