By Ryan Raiche
Lake Wales, FL (WFTS/CNN) - A Florida mother is accused of stabbing her 7-year-old son repeatedly in the chest.
The boy is alive and the mother is charged with attempted murder.
On a normal day the boy would wake up and head off to school. Police say the boy woke up to a frightening image followed by a lot of pain.
"He woke up to his mother chaining his hands," said Dep. Chief Troy Schulze.
Once awake, police say Maisa Alvarez started stabbing her own son with a steak knife, multiple times in the chest.
Investigators say the woman eventually stopped and called 911 one herself.
By the time officers arrived, the knife and the two and a half foot chain used to tie up the boy's hands were laying on a dresser.
"She said when her child defended, reached up put his arm up to make a defensive action against the stabbing that that's when she realized what was going on and that's when she stopped," said Schulze.
He says the boy is recovering at a hospital in Orlando with what appears to be non-life threatening wounds.
During an interview, detectives say Alvarez could not answer the question why, other than to say she doesn't know. It's partly why neighbors are speechless.
"I can't believe it. I'm just in shock. Very upset," said Cynthia Campbel.
"I'm shaking right now. It's crazy. I can't believe it," said Kamilah Joseph.
Joseph says she has gone on trips with the boy and his parents and never saw any signs of trouble or anything out of the ordinary. She says they seemed like your average, loving family.
"Seemed very nice. That's why it was surprising. It's crazy," she said.
Police say the boy's dad was out of town for business, but is flying back to be with his son while his own wife sits in jail, accused of attempted murder.
Police say there is no indication of alcohol use, drug use or mental illness.
Investigators are still trying to dig up a motive.
WFTS/CNN