A mother and daughter are recovering after a brutal attack in their own home. The mother was still in critical condition Wednesday, and the daughter's ex-boyfriend is behind bars.
The attack happened Tuesday night in the Silverthorn community in Spring Hill.
In this neighborhood, you see people walking dogs or driving golf carts, but deputies said 53-year-old Joseph Panarese attacked his ex-girlfriend and her mother. Neighbors called 911.
"The younger female was outside running and screaming, and yes, they did hear that, and that's what prompted them to call in," Denise Maloney with the Hernando County Sheriff's Office said.
Deputies said both women were badly hurt and airlifted out, but are both expected to survive. The daughter chased Panarese out of the house. He scaled a wall, and deputies caught him along the Suncoast Parkway.
He's been charged with home invasion, robbery and two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. His bond was set at $150,000.
While the Sheriff's office said this is an isolated attack, it opens up security concerns for neighbors.
"They really need to make it more secure. I think at the gates, there needs to be a real gate that closes so people on foot cannot come in here," Jerry Rodriguez said. "We're not too confident in the security here."
There was a community meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday night with the sheriff at the Silverthorn Community Center.
ABC Action News reached out to the company that owns Silverthorn, but did not get a response.
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