Two suburban women, 42 and 69, attacked at random; police searching for suspect

(WXYZ) - A frantic search is on for a man who police think brutally attacked two women at random with a club-like weapon.

One victim is 69 years old, the other is 42 years old. Neither woman has been identified. The 69-year-old is in stable condition; the 42-year-old remains in critical.

The attacks happened Wednesday in Northville and Farmington Hills. Around 11 a.m. the 69-year-old victim was coming home from the Northville Community Center. As she was getting out of her car a man approached her in her driveway and asked if she would complete a survey.

The woman asked for identification – the man refused and hit her with something. The impact knocked out the female victim and when she awoke her purse had been stolen. She was able to get inside her house and call for help.

Later that night, police in Farmington Hills say the 42-year-old woman was attacked by what appears to be the same man.

In this case the woman was making trips between her condo and her car at the complex near 8 Mile and Grand River, about nine miles from where the first assault took place.

According to Farmington Hills investigators the 42-year-old victim was attacked near the door to her building at around 10:45 p.m. She was also hit with a blunt weapon. Police say nothing was taken from her.

The woman's neighbor saw her trying to get into her home and went to help.

"I didn't know what had happened, what was going through my mind was--she needed help," said neighbor Vicki Buchta. "She just was just in a lot of pain and was just screaming loudly."

Police say the suspect dumped the 69-year-old woman’s cell phone in Founder’s Sports Park in Farmington Hills. It has been recovered.

They believe the man in question was driving an early model brown or tan Ford Taurus. Detectives also believe he may have almost collided with another vehicle as he was fleeing the scene in Farmington Hills.

Police describe the suspect as an African American man about 35 years old, 5' 10"- 6' 2" with a medium build. He was also described as wearing a beige jacket and blue jeans at the time of the attacks.

Police want to talk to anyone who may have seen the brown Ford Taurus in the area of 8 Mile and Grand River Wednesday night.