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BY MEGHAN V. MALLOY
Staff Writer 07/23/2008

enlarge Staff photo by Joe Phelan

Will Guerrette talks about injuries to his left eye from a May home invasion attack during an interview on Tuesday afternoon. Because of a wound just below it, Guerrette said that he can't blink that eye.

enlarge Staff photo by Joe Phelan

Nicole Guerrette, 11, talks about her recovery from wounds suffered during a May home invasion. She said that she tell people the the scar under her left upper arm is a shark bite. Guerrette is wearing the helmet because a piece of broken skull bone had to be removed because of an infection.

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Staff Writer

Nicole Guerrette is like many 11-year-old girls: She likes to swim, play with friends and read, especially the Harry Potter series.

But the soft-spoken child with hazel eyes is experiencing something most girls her age never will. She is undergoing treatment for injuries she and her father, William Guerrette Jr., 48, incurred during a brutal machete attack in their own home May 27 in Pittston.

Leo Hylton, 18, was indicted in June on four counts of aggravated attempted murder in the attack on William and Nicole Guerrette. He faces life in prison if convicted.

Nicole has been in the hospital twice as a result of the attack. William Guerrette was released three days ago after spending eight weeks in a hospital bed.

Both are still being treated.

Nicole must wear a helmet to protect a soft spot on her head where her skull bone was fractured and removed after an infection in the bone developed. William Guerrette faces months of speech, physical and occupational therapy and additional surgeries.

Both have deep scarring on their arms and faces.

William Guerrette is missing a finger. He is unable to blink his left eye, from where the machete severed a muscle just below the eye socket.

Guerrette, a businessman and former state legislator, spoke candidly about his time in the hospital, which included a four-week drug-induced coma and a stroke.

"I am lucky to be alive," he stated frankly. "I am very blessed to be here."

Guerrette said he has limited memory of the brutal attack and does not recall most of the incident.

"Honestly, I felt like I went to bed the night before (the attack) and woke up four weeks later," he said. "People had to tell me what happened to me."

There are times when the family said they feel ire, though William Guerrette added they choose not to dwell on "vengeance or anger."

"What good does it do to dwell on anger?" William Guerrette said. "It's not good for the soul."

Still, he added, it is distressing to see his youngest child wearing an IV pack and not being able to live life like most girls her age.

"I just don't know how someone could do this," William Guerrette said. "I want to know how any human being does what they did to my child."

Melanie Guerrette, William Guerrette's wife, said she feels fear -- "debilitating" at times -- more than anger.

"It's very hard to describe to you how it has felt," she said about life after the machete attack.

After a thoughtful pause, she added, "I will never feel safe again. Our lives will never be the same again."

Added Nicole quietly, "I'm still scared sometimes."

Though the Guerrette family expressed anger and confusion as to the unknown motive of the attacks, the "overwhelming" outpouring of support and kindness from the greater Augusta community has helped ease the family's pain.

Since May 27, bottle drives have been held, the Guerrette daughters' cheerleading squad held a rally and prepared gift baskets for the family and churches across the region held prayer groups.

"I would say people's generosity toward me and my family has restored my faith in humanity, yes, yes," William Guerrette said. "If I could say anything, it would be a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has helped us and prayed for us. They have given me hope."

Several community members and groups have reached out to the family, many of them the Guerrettes have not had contact with for years or have never met.

"I will never be able to fully express the gratitude I feel toward people, it's that overwhelming," Melanie Guerrette said.

"I'm simply touched and amazed."

As with dozens of community members, Bruce and Lynn McInnis' hearts broke when they heard the family had been attacked.

"I've known Willie since he was a kid," Bruce McInnis said. "He is the least aggressive man I know. That's why (the May 27 attack) was so shocking."

The couple has organized a benefit featuring the Blake Brothers Band and popular Maine comedian Bob Marley to help with medical bills.

When Marley, best known for his Maine and New England-themed humor, was approached by Lynn McInnis, president of the talent agency Stepping Stone Productions, for the benefit, "he checked his personal calendar and said 'I'm doing it,'" Bruce McInnis said.

The benefit will also feature radio personality Jon James as emcee. It will be held July 30 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the gym at Gardiner Area High School. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children under 14. All proceeds will go to assist the Guerrettes' medical bills.

Meghan V. Malloy -- 623-3811, Ext. 431

mmalloy@centralmaine.com

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