Suspect wanted after allegedly stabbing Salem woman in the eye

SALEM, Mass. — Beaten and stabbed in her own Salem home, the survivor of a ruthless attack is starting her long road to recovery as her sister demands justice.

Sarah Turner, 28, answered a knock at the door of her Salem Street home Friday afternoon before a man charged inside, stabbed her in the left eye, and punched her in the face.

Turner grabbed the blade of the knife, suffering cuts and broken bones in her hands. Her jaw was broken and all but two teeth were shattered by the multiple punches.

She blacked out several times, but Turner was able to tell police the man who had attacked her was a friend of an ex-boyfriend, her sister, Shannon Turner, told FOX25.

"He mentioned one of her ex-boyfriends' names," Shannon said. "He said that you will never be happy, and he was sent by said ex-boyfriend."

An arrest warrant was issued Sunday night for Peter Turco, whose last known address was in Salem, police in that city told FOX25.

Salem police actively searched for Turco and released a "Be On The Lookout" to other agencies on the North Shore.

Turner lost vision in her left eye, and doctors say it likely will not return. If her eye does not heal well, surgeons will have to remove it.

"If I was in her position, I'd be freaking out right now, knowing that you know you're going to lose an eye," the elder sister said. "You're only 28, and you're going to lose an eye?"

Shannon said her younger sister works at an assisted living facility, caring for elderly residents, many of whom have dementia. From her hospital bed, she has called work and checked in on her residents.

"My sister takes care of you guys' grandmothers and your grandfathers," Shannon said. "She's just so loving and caring, and I don't know why anybody would do this to her."

But Shannon Turner is proud of her little sister for defending herself and fighting to stay alive.

"This person went there to kill her," Shannon said. "If she didn't fight back, she probably would have died, and I'm just happy to still have my little sister."

Sarah is expected to have jaw surgery on Wednesday. That surgery will determine when she is able to leave the hospital. Her sister has started a GoFundMe account to help pay for her medical and dental bills at the following site: https://www.gofundme.com/2erc25g.

Cox Media Group