Mallory Owens is recovering at USA Medical Center in Mobile from what her family is calling a brutal hate crime.

"He tried to kill her. He's lucky he didn't kill her. She's lucky to be alive," her mother Kristi Taylor said. "I didn't recognize her when I got here. It's hard to look at her like that," she cried.

This time, she was beaten so badly that she's almost unrecognizable. She had to have facial reconstruction surgery, with metal plates put in her cheek bones. Her sister Avery has been by her side ever since.

Rich says she has no reason to call it a hate crime at this point in the investigation.

"We are assessing her injuries, everything regarding her hospital stay. But at this time, he is charged with causing serious physical injuries to her, which is assault second degree under the laws of the State of Alabama."

Family and countless supporters who have heard Mallory's story want justice. They're asking for the charges to be upgraded against Travis Hawkins to attempted murder.