ENGLEWOOD — Police are searching for a woman who fled the city after severely beating her elderly mother-in-law Wednesday night.

The 82-year-old victim was trying to counsel Mary Tene about her drug problem at her East Palisade Avenue apartment when the conversation turned violent, Englewood Det. Capt. Tim Torell said.

"The victim sustained numerous injuries including head trauma and several teeth being knocked out. She was in rough shape when officers got there," he said.

The woman was taken to Englewood Hospital, and is expected to survive.

Tene, 54, fled the scene with her husband, and is currently on the run. She has a lengthy criminal record across New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and Florida and maintains several aliases.

Authorities believe she may be hiding in a motel somewhere between Englewood and New York City. She is wanted on charges of aggravated assault and elderly abuse, and should be considered "extremely dangerous", according to Torell.

"As you can see, she is very distinctive looking and we could really use the help of the public on this one. There may be more arrests as our investigation progresses,” he said.

Anyone who has information on Tene's whereabouts is asked to contact the Englewood Police Department at (201) 568-2700. Anyone who spots her should call 911 immediately.