GORHAM – A woman recovering from being stabbed several times in a brutal South Boston attack last week is a Gorham native, a family friend confirmed on Tuesday.

Kayleigh Ballantyne, 21, was stabbed just hours after the body of murder victim Amy Lord, who had been abducted, was found on July 23 in Boston’s Hyde Park neighborhood. Using a description Ballantyne gave police, a man was arrested within a short time after the incident, and the suspect, Boston media reports say, is a person of interest in Lord’s murder investigation.

The attack at just after midnight on July 24 on Ballantyne, who grew up in Gorham, marked the third shocking assault on women in less than 24 hours last week in South Boston.

Ballantyne, who is a 2010 graduate of Gorham High School, is the sister of Kendrick Ballantyne, according to Portland native Quinton Porter.

“When I talked to him, she was stable but in rough shape,” Porter said on Tuesday when contacted by telephone.

Kendrick Ballentyne is a former tight end with the Baltimore Ravens and is also a Gorham High graduate. His friend Porter is a pro football quarterback.

Kayleigh Ballantyne’s family could not be reached this week for comment. Porter said Kendrick Ballantyne is not fielding media calls because of the ongoing investigation of Lord’s murder.

A Boston Police Department posting on Facebook said officers responded to a call for a person stabbed on Gates Street on July 24.

“Upon arrival officers spoke to a female victim who stated she was stabbed by (a) suspect as she entered an apartment building,” the posted police report said.

A Boston Herald story on July 29 reported a witness account of the attack.

“I’ll never forget that screaming, just thinking about it now makes my heart race,” Charles Reddy of Gates Street in South Boston told the newspaper.

The Herald story said, “Reddy said he left his Gates Street home just before midnight, planned to ring in his 48th birthday with a buddy, when he noticed the woman walking past, and a man following right behind her.”

“When she turned right to go into her house, he hurried up behind her and pushed her in the door,” the Herald quoted Reddy. “Immediately I heard the screaming.”

The Herald reported that Reddy confronted the suspect, who ran. Police said the suspect fled toward Dorchester Street.

Despite repeated calls, the American Journal was unable to reach Reddy.

Boston police did not release Ballantyne’s name or birth date information.

“For the victim’s protection, we do not release their personal information,” Boston Police Officer Kat Shea said on Tuesday.

But, WBZ-TV last week had aired the victim’s name.

“WBZ-TV has learned that 21-year old Kayleigh Ballantyne was stabbed six times as she headed into her South Boston apartment Wednesday morning, finally escaping through the front door,” the station reported.

The TV station also reported that Ballantyne “was able to kick the knife out the attacker’s hands.”

Boston police said the victim reported being followed before she was attacked.

“The victim was able to break free and escape from the suspect,” the police report said.

Ballantyne has been a standout athlete at Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I. According to the university’s field hockey statistics, she is 5 feet, 8 inches tall.

In the police report, she described the man who attacked her as a “white or Hispanic male 5 feet 9 inches, 20-30 years of age, wearing a Red Sox baseball cap with a red B, dark T-shirt with writing on the front and dark shorts.”

Her description of the assailant led to apprehension of a suspect. Boston police a few hours later arrested a suspect, Edwin Alemany, 28, of Boston on a charge of assault with intent to murder, according to the police report.

Kayleigh Ballantyne was a standout field hockey player at Gorham High School and three times was an all-state selection. She also played varsity basketball along with track and field in high school.

At Gorham High School, Principal Chris Record said she was “always smiling, very friendly, very good student and great athlete.”

“We wish her a swift recovery,” Record said.

Cindy Hazelton, director of the Gorham Recreation Department, said Ballantyne previously worked as a counselor for the department.

“Nice kid, nice family,” Hazelton said.