Couple beaten and slashed in brutal attack recovering

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The house on Cedar Avenue south of Fresno became a house of horrors on Sunday, when sheriff's detectives say Gustavo Hernandez attacked his friend, Tony Sanchez, knocking him unconscious, then attacking his wife Francisca.

Fresno County Sheriff's Department Spokesman Tony Botti said it was, "Obviously a very gruesome attack. She's got a slash to her throat he's got a pretty serious head injury."

The attacker may have left them for dead, but with blood pouring from her throat Francisca made it to a neighbor's house. Desperate for help she pounded on the door. Her wound left her unable to call for help. It was 4 in the morning and the neighbor, who didn't want to be identified tells Action News he was afraid to answer the door.

"I took out my gun and went around the side door and that's when I seen the lady, she had her hand on her throat with a shirt. She had a shirt it was drenched in blood she was drenched in blood."

She gave him a note asking for help, to call the police and call her mother.

"It was a little scary but what else could we do we had to help her?"

Deputies arrived and got the woman and her husband to the hospital. A three year old girl, described as a god-daughter to the couple slept through the attack and was unhurt. The suspect in the attack was identified as Gustavo Hernandez. He's 20. Deputies arrested him Sunday afternoon. Botti says the motive for the attack is unclear.

Botti explained, "We don't know right now, we know there is a connection between the victims and the suspect, he apparently knew one of the victims from working with him, they were said to be friends."