'Shattered In An Instant:' Murrieta Grandmother Survives Brutal Attack. A Community Gathers To Support Her

MURRIETA, CA — A Murrieta family was shattered last week when a home usually filled with love and laughter became the focus of a deadly attack. On the morning of Nov. 5, for reasons still under investigation, someone broke into the home of Murrieta residents Cyndye Polsgrove and Robert Brink.

The intruder brutally stabbed Brink and plunged a screwdriver into Polsgrove's head, police say. She survived. Her husband died at the scene.

Now, in an effort to pick up the pieces, her children and grandchildren are raising funds to bury their Grandfather, lovingly remembered as Papa, and help their Nana heal. The family shared their story with Patch.

Here's how to help Murrieta Grandmother Cyndye Polsgrove and Family on gofundme.com.

Polsgrove survived with serious injuries that will take time and care to heal, her son Robert Cundiff writes on the GoFundMe established for her recovery, "But, what she lost that morning can never be fully restored."

Shortly before 8:30 a.m., Polsgrove dialed 911, alerting police and medics to come to her home on Old Spring Road in the Country Walk neighborhood.

The tract home area where they live, which backs up to a greenbelt, is located off Murrieta Hot Springs Road, just east of Interstate 215.

She reported that someone she didn't know entered her home and attacked both her and her husband. He was dead, and she was injured, telling officials that the barefoot suspect fled out the back door." The stabbing incited a massive air and ground police search.

Ultimately, Arturo Alvarez, 36, of Modesto, was located and arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, as well as other felonies, according to police reports.

A GoFundMe fundraiser established by their son, Robert Cundiff and Stephanie Perez described the chaos left in he wake of the attack.

"A quiet Murrieta home filled with decades of love was shattered in an instant. A stranger walked in and brought unimaginable violence into the lives of a couple who deserved nothing but peace," the GoFundMe post reads.

"This feels like a nightmare, but it's not," their granddaughter Stephanie Camacho told Patch in an interview.

She worries about her family and all of the things that didn't happen.

"My grandchildren would spend weekends with them," she said. "What if they'd been there?"

Most of the time, she aches for her grandmother, who is healing, and the grandfather she's lost. The family's GoFundMe fundraiser aims to ease the financial burdens of medical bills and a funeral for her grandfather.

"They are Nana and Papa to us all."

In the span of just one week, the family's entire world was turned upside down.

Camacho remembers her Papa as "a hard-working family man who never hurt anyone or yelled or screamed. He was so innocent to all of this, really."

Brink and Polsgrove, together, raised two children and loved and supported eight grandchildren, and now have four great-grandchildren. Camacho's mother, their daughter, died of leukemia in 2017. That loss was tragic, but now?

"It's devastating," she said.

"Behind every photograph was Papa."

"Papa always was the man behind the camera in family photos," Camacho said. "He didn't like pictures, but he was always there."

Now, there is a void in the family that will take time, support and love to heal, the family says.

"My grandma is heartbroken, she can't eat or sleep and blames herself for not doing more. But I keep telling her, 'if you did, nana, you wouldn't be here!'"

"Nana's medical bills are piling up, and she's stressed," added Camacho. "I'm just trying to advocate for her."

Indeed, Polsgrove has needed several surgeries to fix the damage done during the attack. The latest sought to address double vision caused by a bone fragment left behind from the screwdriver stabbing, her granddaughter said.

Murrieta Community Reaches Out, Cares For Their Own, Amid Uncertainty

The city of Murrieta has stepped in, with many neighbors offering to contribute Meal Train meals and support as she recovers and adjusts to her new normal.

Camacho shared her very last memory of time spent with her Papa, before his untimely death.

"I walked him up a huge slope to see my baby graduate," she said. "That's the kind of man he was. He was already sick, which makes this hurt worse."

On Thursday, the city of Murrieta will host a Town Hall meeting to discuss the break-in and public safety. The meeting will take place at 5 p.m. at Murrieta City Hall, 1 Town Square.

The purpose is to give residents an opportunity-- particularly those in the Country Walk neighborhood and surrounding areas--to hear directly from Mayor Warren, District Council Member, Police Department officials and City Leadership, according to the public notice. Attendees have the chance to ask questions and share concerns regarding public safety.

To support the family affected by this tragedy, go to GoFundMe.

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Couple Stabbed In Their Murrieta Home, Police Arrest Suspect With K9 Officer Assistance