Family of Ontario woman almost beaten to death asks witnesses to come forward

The family of Kimberly Black, a 50-year-old Toronto woman who was found in critical condition and remains on life support at the Toronto trauma centre, is asking any potential witnesses to the crime to step forward.

Durham Regional Police say that Black was found at around 10:30 on July 29 near a creek at the intersection between Taunton Road East and Anderson street.

"It was surreal. How do you believe this was actually Kim?" said Naomi McBride, cousin of Black, to CTV News.

"I can't see anybody holding a grudge against Kim to hurt her to this extent. She's just too kind of a person to have someone to do this to her."

Police have announced that the crime scene is being processed for evidence collection.

“At this point in the investigation, no arrests have been made and efforts continue to determine the nature of the assault and the person responsible,” a statement from police said. “Investigators have not ruled out the possibility of this being a random attack by a stranger.”

A GoFundMe account has been set up for Black, which has garnered more than $70,000 from over over 1,400 donors.

“They have revived her a few times. The last report I heard through her husband (Rob) was that it was five times,” McBride continued. “She made it through the night which is amazing. She did breathe on her own which is a huge accomplishment right now. As of right now she does not have any brain injuries. If she can speak they’ll get some information from her."

Of Black's injuries, McBride refused to go into detail, telling Durham Regional that “it was bad… the expression to say this perpetrator beat her to death is not an understatement.”