Officials said the suspect confronted the woman Tuesday morning outside her home in Stanton on the 10000 block of Via Jacara.
"I'd rather be playing poker" is the license plate frame on the Mercedes Benz SUV driven by the 56-year-old victim.
The woman was at Commerce Casino working as a dealer when she returned to her home around 5 a.m. That's when police said she was attacked.
"A suspect in a black vehicle drove up, asked her directions to the 91 Freeway, she got out of her car, he then grabbed her by her neck, hit her in the head several times, pulled out some type of an object, stabbed her in the stomach. She fell back into her vehicle, he then reached in, grabbed her purse and fled," said Jim Amormino of the Orange County Sheriff's Department.
Officials said the woman underwent surgery and was in serious but stable condition.
There's no clear suspect description, only that the suspect was in a black car. A neighbor who usually walks in the area around 5 a.m. said he saw a car pull away quickly.
"As we turned there he sped out, he or she, in a black car. Got to the end there turned right and sped down that street," said neighbor Jack Conred.
Investigators don't know if the woman was followed the entire way home. Neighbors said they're in shock.
"If we need something, she would always come help. She's a really nice woman. This never happened before," said neighbor Armen Plavdjian. "This is very scary because now I'm worried."
In a statement, the casino said: "Commerce Casino takes the security of its patrons and employees very seriously. Commerce employs a security and surveillance staff of over 150 persons who monitor both the casino and parking lots 24 hours per day."
Anyone with information related to the case should contact the Orange County Sheriff's Department at (866) TIP-OCSD.
