A Villa Ridge woman was taken to the hospital with serious injuries over the weekend after a man attacked her with an ax. Early Sunday morning Franklin County Sheriffs Deputies responded to an apartment building in the 900 block of Osage Village Court in Villa Ridge because residents reported hearing a female screaming. The female was identified as 37 year old Cheryl Gettys from Villa Ridge. Police arrived on the scene to find a couch on fire in the apartment. Deputies began attempting to extinguish the fire while looking for Gettys and suspect. Deputies were able to slow the fire with a fire extinguisher, however, it rekindled while deputies were attempting to locate the victim, suspect, and evacuate the building. Gettys was located in a neighboring residence where she had gone for help. She had numerous lacerations to her face, arms and torso sustained from a battle ax. She advised that the male suspect, who was an associate of a friend of hers, had gone home with her from a bar. She stated that he became violent and began striking her with an ax. She began screaming breaking away and escaping out of a back window. Although her wounds were numerous, she is expected to survive. The victim was transported to Mercy Hospital in Washington. The suspect was taken in to custody for investigation of Assault and Arson. He is a 33 year old man from Cottage Hills, Illinois.