She Wanted Love, He Wanted Control

Lisa Hairston says James Roberts, who called himself Toby, was a nice guy when she met him eight years ago in Rockingham County, N.C.  Introduced by mutual friends, they were a perfect match -- or so it would seem.  During their five year relationship, Lisa says Roberts, who had moved in with her and her children, began to drink and do drugs, showing her a dark side she had never seen before. 

She says Roberts slowly turned from the "nice guy" she once knew, to a controlling, abusive boyfriend.  Lisa says he would even time her if she left the house to run an errand, and get abusive if he felt she took too long.

Lisa knew something had to change.  Worried for the safety of her children, she tried to kick Roberts out, but to no avail.  She says he became enraged, threatening to hurt her or her kids.  Lisa grew desperate, and finally went to the magistrate's office in the hopes of taking out a restraining order.

When police ran Roberts' name, however, they found out there was a warrant for his arrest.  Roberts had failed to pay child support, and police offered to pick him up to serve his 30-day sentence.  Lisa agreed to help.

Two Nooses: One For Lisa, One For Her Child?

Police say when Roberts' 30 days were up, he made a beeline for Lisa's house.  Cops say he walked the few miles from the jail to her house, broke in through a bathroom window, then waited for Lisa to come home. 

While waiting, investigators say Roberts tore the house apart, gathering together tools to use for his murderous revenge.  He busted a hole in a bedroom ceiling and tied an extension cord to a ceiling beam, making two nooses out of the chord.  One was smaller than the other, and police can only guess that the smaller was intended for Lisa's 4-year-old daughter.

When Lisa got home with her daughter, police say Roberts met her on the porch, and while they struggled, Roberts stabbed Lisa several times with a steak knife until the handle broke off.  Detectives say he then dragged her still struggling, injured body inside the house and tried to force her into the room with the nooses. 

When Lisa refused -- her little daughter watching the entire nightmarish scene -- Roberts grew even more enraged and grabbed a hammer. 

Cops say Roberts pummeled Lisa with the hammer.  Her cell phone still in her hand, Lisa tried to dial 9-1-1 while under the crushing hail of hard metal.  Furious, police say Roberts snatched the cell phone and began to smash it, with such ferocity that he broke the hammer in two. 

Police say he then punched Lisa in the face, knocking her again to the ground, then told her he was going for another hammer.

Her Daughter Was Her Only Thought

With the need to protect her daughter foremost in her mind, Lisa says she dragged herself outside.  Screaming, she says she made it to the yard before Roberts found her, yielding yet another hammer.  Police say this time Roberts aimed for Lisa's head, splitting her skull open.  Finally, luck was on Lisa's side.  Her brother and uncle were next door, moving.  They heard her cries and came running.

Police say Roberts snatched the car keys that were still in Lisa's bloody hands, and ran to her car in an attempt to get away.  He started to back out of the driveway when Lisa's brother jumped into the car. 

While the two men struggled, cops say Roberts backed into a tree.  Lisa's brother had a hold of Roberts at some point until Roberts finally broke free and ran into the nearby woods. He hasn't been found yet.

Lisa was taken to the hospital. She required a total of 21 staples for her wounds, but amazingly, she survived. Her daughter was so traumatized by watching her mother get brutally beaten that she lost all of her hair shortly after the event.

Lisa, her son, and her daughter spent the next three months in a protection facility.  Still, Lisa says she will not live in fear: she just wants to see Roberts behind bars.