Carter County Sheriff Dexter Lunceford confirmed on Wednesday that an 88-year-old woman who was attacked in her home earlier this month has died at a local hospital as a result of her injuries.

Lunceford identified the woman as Mary Nolan of Dan Bowers Road. She died on Wednesday at the Johnson City Medical Center, Lunceford said.

“We’ve issued a subpoena for her medical records,” Lunceford said, adding investigators had received no information from medical staff regarding Nolan’s injuries while since she was hospitalized on July 14. “They family has helped us out with that, and we are thankful for their assistance.”

“We’ll be able to read the medical records for the first time to see the extent of her injuries,” he added.

An autopsy will be performed, and Lunceford said he is hopeful that will shed more light on Nolan’s injuries and the case.

Lunceford said his investigators are continuing to work on the case, which is now a homicide investigation.

“We are waiting on forensics,” Lunceford said. “We’ve got lots of things that have been sent to the crime lab.”

“We’ve polygraphed people. We’ve collected DNA. We’ve collected all the evidence we can,” he continued. “You have to wait for the science to catch up with you and that takes some time.”

Lunceford said his department has no new information to release regarding the incident, but they are continuing to follow up on information they receive. He is asking anyone who has any information regarding the incident or who may have seen anything suspicious late on July 13 or early on July 14 in the neighborhood to contact the Sheriff’s Office. Those with information are asked to contact Investigator Penny Garland or Investigator Jeff Markland at the Carter County Sheriff’s Office at 423-542-1846.

“Or they can come talk to me in person if they would prefer that,” Lunceford said.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously online through the Sheriff’s Office website. To submit an online tip, go to www.sheriff.cc, click on contact us, and select “Crime Tip.”

The investigation into the incident began on July 14 after a family member called 911 and reported finding the woman unresponsive in her bed.

The woman was taken to a local hospital for treatment of serious injuries, including severe bruising to her face and jaw area.

CCSO Sgt. David Tranbarger was one of the officers who responded to the woman’s home, and he later went to the hospital to try to speak with her.

“At the hospital (the woman’s) face and jaw were too severely swollen for her to speak, however, she was able to nod yes or no when asked questions,” Tranbarger said.

Tranbarger said he asked the woman if she had been assaulted and she nodded yes. He then asked her if she had been raped and she again nodded yes.