By Cherri Gregg

BERLIN TWP., N.J. (CBS) – A Berlin Township woman is in critical and unstable condition after prosecutors say she was brutally beaten in her sleep by her very own niece.

Camden County Prosecutors say Berlin Township police arrived at a home on Pine Avenue just before 5 a.m. Saturday.

Police had received a call of a home invasion and reports that a woman was severely beaten, but what they discovered was much more shocking.

“After investigating, what they learned was that the woman’s niece, Tiffany Carpenter, appears to have assaulted her,” Jason Laughlin, spokesman for the Camden County prosecutors office, said.  “She’s being charged with several counts right now including, attempted murder, aggravated assault and some weapons charges.”

Laughlin says Carpenter’s weapon of choice was a pipe wrench, but says they are not sure why she chose that.

“It’s not fully clear. We know there was a dispute either earlier in the evening or in the day.  But we are not sure what led immediately to the assault.”

Carpenter is being held on $500,000 bail at the Camden County jail.