Benalla, Victoria: Horror ‘torture ordeal’ of young woman allegedly attacked in her own home by couple she had generously taken in
A young woman is in hospital with injuries all over her body after she was allegedly tortured, beaten, burned and set ablaze by a couple staying in her home.
Sally-Anne Edmondstone, 29, was allegedly attacked in her unit in Benalla, a rural town in Victoria’s High Country region, on the afternoon of August 12.
Mother Wendy Schultz says her daughter is in “unbearable pain” after she was allegedly tortured, then managed to escape through a window and run to a neighbor for help.
Ms Edmondstone was airlifted from Wangaratta to Melbourne with burns to her head, neck, arms, hands and chest after boiling water was poured over her. She also suffered fractures to her ribs, upper spine and temples.
Her mother said Sally-Anne had allowed the homeless couple to stay in her apartment several times over the past year before the alleged attack.
She reportedly escaped by running through a bedroom window while the couple were in the kitchen trying to boil water for the third time during the ongoing ordeal.
“She said she was locked in her bedroom,” her mother said in a GoFundMe appeal.
‘When they both went to the kitchen and were boiling water for the third time, she managed to escape through the bedroom window and ask the neighbors for help.
Sally-Anne Edmondstone, 29, was allegedly attacked on the afternoon of August 12 at her unit in Benalla, a rural town in Victoria’s High Country region (she is pictured at The Alfred Hospital).
The 29-year-old (pictured) was rushed to Wangaratta Airfield, where she was airlifted to The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne’s CBD for treatment.
‘Given the injuries she had already sustained, her survival instincts kicked in and she knew this was her only chance to get out of there.
‘I am so proud of her for saving her life despite the unbearable pain.
‘Sally had to have skin grafts, using her own skin from her thigh. She will now have scars in many places for the rest of her life and will most likely need to get a wig.
“She is so traumatized by everything and doesn’t want to go back to her home. She has a long road to recovery ahead of her.”
Victoria Police have confirmed two people have been arrested in connection with the alleged attacks.
“Police arrested a man and a woman on August 12 following alleged attacks in Benalla,” a spokesperson said.
Detectives said the pair attacked a woman at an address on Ballintine Street at around 3.30pm before leaving the address and attacking a man at a property on Jenson Court.
Detectives assume that all those involved know each other.
A 34-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman, both of no fixed address, were charged with assault.
‘They were remanded to appear in Shepparton Local Court on November 7.’
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Wendy Schultz for comment.