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Family: Woman Attacked Outside Grass Valley Church Recovering, Able To Open Eyes

GRASS VALLEY (CBS13) – Family says the woman attacked and carjacked outside of a Grass Valley church is recovering.

Greg Tassone, Mary Grace Tassone's nephew, posted an update about her condition Sunday morning, writing that Mary Grace is now awake and apparently fully conscious.

"Her eyes are open and tracking with family in the room. She can hear us; she is responding to requests to hold our hands and to move her body in various ways," Greg wrote.

Mary Grace was violently attacked outside of St. Patrick's Church last Sunday. Her alleged attacker, 50-year-old Alan Kierkegaard, stole Mary Grace's car and took off, police said. He was on the lam until Thursday night, when someone spotted him and Mary Grace's car in Grass Valley K-Mart parking lot.

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Kierkegaard is believed to have hit Mary Grace on the head with some sort of blunt object. He is facing a charge of attempted murder.

Greg wrote that Mary Grace is still not speaking, and it is too early to tell how well her brain is functioning.

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