Police released a picture on Wednesday of a suspect wanted in connection to a vicious assault with a hammer reported in early April.
The attack happened at the Crittenton Children's Center on Elm Avenue on April 11.
Joyce, who did not want 41 Action News to release her last name out of fear the suspect may find her, said the attack happened shortly after she arrived for work.
"I heard banging and I thought somebody was putting something away in a drawer," she explained. "Not too long after, I heard a blood curdling scream."
Joyce said she ran to help, but in moments, she was on the ground.
"In three steps, he was right on top of me," she explained. "I saw this big hammer coming at my face."
The attack left Joyce badly bruised and with a concussion, a collapsed lung, and plenty of scars.
"I don't understand how he didn't kill me," she explained. "It was just blow after blow. I was down and it was more hammer blows, kicking, stepping."
The suspect was able to get away before police arrived.
Over a month after the attack occurred, he is still on the loose.
On Wednesday, police released a surveillance photo of the man believed to be behind the assault.
For Joyce, hearing the news of the picture's release brought back traumatic memories.
"I'm back at square one," she explained. "It's like it just happened today."
Since the attack, Joyce has had to undergo counseling to deal with her nightmares from that day.
She now finds herself constantly worried during the night and whenever she sees sudden movements by strangers out in public.
"Darkness falls and I turn every light on in my house. I don't turn my back to anything," she said. "I can't function like I used to function. He just stole my life from me."
After the photo's release on Wednesday, Joyce cannot bear to look at the picture.
However, she hoped that someone could see the surveillance image and help bring the suspect to justice.
"Come forward. Give him up," she explained. "Somebody like that does not belong on the streets."
Police ask anyone with possible information on the case to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).
