A Lake Wales mother who allegedly chained her 7-year-old son's hands together and repeatedly stabbed him in the chest has been arrested on attempted murder charges.

According to Lake Wales police, officers responded to a report of a stabbing at a residence on the 100 block of East Tillman Avenue around 8:14 a.m. Tuesday. They arrested 42-year-old Maisa Alvarez.

When police arrived at the home, they found "a bloody bedroom, blood on the blankets, blood on the floor," said Troy Schulze, with Lake Wales Police.

Police say the boy was supposed to be getting up to go to school. Instead “he woke up to his mother chaining his hands,” Schulze said. “Once he was awake and she realized he was awake that's when she started stabbing him.”

The boy tried to defend himself by blocking the attack and, as a result, also received defensive wounds to his arms, police said.

Police arrived to find the little boy covered in blood. He was scared, but conscious. Police say his mother appeared to be dazed.

“In those two or three times that I saw her, there was not a tearful face. There were no emotions. Almost a blank, lost look,” Schulze said.

Friends of the family said there were no signs.

“He was very well taken care of. To me, they were like the perfect family. I can't believe it. It's crazy,” said Kamilah Joseph, a family friend.

Neighbors say the boy’s mother was always doting, taking her son to school each morning and teaching him how to ride a bike.

“She must have just lost it or something, because that's not the lady I know,” said Cynthia Campbell, a next door neighbor.

The child was airlifted from the scene and taken to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando. He was in stable condition when he was airlifted from the scene, and at 11:15 a.m., a detective at the hospital reported that none of his stab wounds were life-threatening.

Police said at this point in their investigation, they have no idea why Alvarez would commit "such a violent act against her child."

Police say Alvarez had no prior criminal or mental history-- that they know of. Alvarez’s husband was out of state on business. He’s on his way to Orlando to be with his son.

The mother was charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse and booked in the Polk County Jail.