A West Columbia woman tells authorities she was expecting a visit from family when someone knocked on her front door Sunday night.

Instead, two men, unknown to her, forced their way into her West Columbia home on Colony Park Lane, and struck her to the ground when she answered the door.

The harrowing tale was released by the Lexington County Sheriff’s department Wednesday in its plea for public help in finding the two suspects.

The victim told investigators that as one suspect rummaged for jewelry, the other tried to rape her. The man who assaulted her was slowed down by a cast on her leg long enough for two large dogs in a back bedroom to break through their restraining pen to rush to her assistance,the victim told detectives..

The suspects ran from the home, dropping some of the jewelry in the front yard, the incident report indicates.

One of the suspects, an hispanic male with slick hair , was called “Cabrone’ by the other suspect, a black male of bulky build, the victim said.

-- Rachael Myers Lowe