IDAHO FALLS - Neighbors and friends are shocked by Mary Helburn's death. They can't believe something like this actually happened, but tell me they had fears all along.

"The things that she shared with us here and getting to know her personally, it's just really hard to believe this could happen to such a wonderful person," says Ruben Niteo, Mary's friend.

Mary was known by many as a giving soul. A woman who donated her time to help others. But they also knew the troubles in her life.

"She cared. She really loved her son and wanted to be there for him even though it was hard," says Ron Youderian, Mary's friend.

"Is that the price we have to pay for love?" says Youderian.

Neighbors and friends tell me her son Nate was mentally unstable and two of them actually saw her physically abused by him.

"She shared an incident that Nate grabbed her. Physically grabbed her. Took her to the ground and stuck his heal on her throat to show her how quick and easy he could hurt her," says Niteo.

Tears and shock were felt by friends as they learned of Mary's death. She wasn't at church Sunday and Tuesday when they got to her house, the coroner was taking out her covered body.

The troubled life Mary led wasn't a secret. Her time volunteering at the Genesis House for recovering addicts was spent cooking and laughing, but at other times talking about life at home.

"First off to believe that someone could do something like that to their mother is beyond me," says Niteo.

Before she left the Genesis House Thursday afternoon, she wrote on the board, 'Pray for Mary and Nate.' That was the last time they saw her.

"It's really weird because it's Mary knew last Thursday," says Niteo.

"She's still on our schedule for doing cooking classes tomorrow," Youderian.

Even through all this tragedy, her friends have faith.

"I can't help but think he was the one who did it. My concern is really for Nate. I believe God's justice will be done. Man's justice is inevitable, but you never know this might be the beginning of his salvation," says Niteo.

Idaho Falls police are still searching for Nathan Helburn.

He is white, six foot two and 250 pounds, with short blond hair and hazel eyes.

If you have any information call Crime Stoppers at 522-1983.

Police believe Nathan has left the country and friends of Mary tell us he is headed to Korea for a miracle cancer drug.