The young mother who was sexually assaulted and nearly beaten to death in front of her child in Penticton, B.C., this weekend is making progress and may be released from hospital shortly, says the child's father.
"She's recouping really well. I actually just talked to her this morning. She phoned me up and told me to be strong and told me not to worry as much," said David, who can only be identified by his first name to protect his infant son's identity.
David Bobbitt, the man charged with attempted murder after the weekend beating at his second-hand store, is still at large. He is considered armed and dangerous.
Police say the victim was bashed repeatedly in the head with a hammer and sexually assaulted over a 15-hour period. Her 22-month-old toddler was found unharmed inside the store.
Her friends set up a table at Peachfest for donations and notes of support on Wednesday.
"She's got a small child and she's in the hospital. It's the least I could do," friend Nicole Doty said.
Organizers of the small rally say there's been an overwhelming response since the weekend's attack.
"Everyone is trying to help and this is what she needs right now," said Crystal Sylvester. "She needs all the support she can get and it really seems the community is pulling together and giving to her."
The family has printed off flyers of Bobbitt hoping that someone will see the 35 year old and call police. At this point, there have been no confirmed sightings of the fugitive and police say he could be anywhere.
A trust fund for her and her son is being set up at TD Bank under the name "Support for Penticton Hostage Survivors."
Reasha Wolfe of the Penticton-area Women's Centre said the community is there to provide support.
"This isn't something they have to go through completely alone. The community is all around rallying together to support this family," she said.
Bobbitt was set to be evicted from his business the day of the attack. His landlord told CTV News that his tenant owed more than $15,000 in unpaid rent.
Bobbitt was convicted in 2005 of possessing a weapon for dangerous purposes in connection to an incident a year earlier in Nelson. Police say there have been several investigations into his alleged violent behaviour, but no formal charges.
Investigators say the victim may have visited the store before, but that the recent attack appears to have been random.
The suspect is described as a white male, 5-7 tall and 180 lbs. He has brown eyes, brown, balding hair and no facial hair.
Police are asking anyone who sees Bobbitt, or knows where he is, to immediately call 911. Anyone with information regarding the incident can contact the Penticton RCMP at 250-492-4300 or via Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Brent Shearer
