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Pittsburgh Native On Life Support After Attack By Baseball Bat

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Colleen Scarola, 36, is in a Burlington, Vermont hospital on life support, after police say she was beaten with a baseball bat by hear 40-year-old husband, James Scarola.

The victim lived in Pittsburgh after graduating from Penn State, and before moving to Vermont.

Police said she had filed for divorce this past summer, and on Sept. 22, while the couple's two children – ages 5 and 7 – were asleep, her husband bashed her with their son's aluminum baseball bat.

Colleen Scarola's sister, and brother-in-law – Heather and Justin Graham - live in Canonsburg, and are now in Vermont along with the victim's parents, David and Betty Bray.

David Bray grew up in Pittsburgh, according to his son-in-law.

Police say the suspect may have drugged his two children prior to the wife's attack.

He's been charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault.

He's in jail, being held without bail.

The victim's family has set up a website to try to raise money for her, expecting a long road to recovery if she survives what police called an especially brutal and violent attack.

To donate, visit: www.youcaring.com.

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