i'm at work." and he says, "okay, i'm just trying to get in touch with kay. i'm in california." >> reporter: first responders at the scene alerted investigator jimmy edmunds with the columbia county sheriff's office. >> it's very unusual to have -- have two houses side by side, you know, hit it one time that's, you know, that same way. >> reporter: so are you thinking, "where's this guy gonna go next?" >> correct. i'm definitely thinking, "where's he at?" >> reporter: but as edmunds turned his attention to the break-ins at these two homes, he and his team discovered something ugly. >> she was in a pool of blood. >> reporter: this wasn't going to be a simple burglary. this was a violent attack with a bloody trail between the homes of two best friends and a female body lying in the garage. >> she was beaten so severely you couldn't even recognize her. >> reporter: what had happened on hot springs drive? and whose sanctuary was about to be violated next? >> a badly-injured victim in one house.