BURKE COUNTY, N.C. -- A 15-year-old boy is accused of raping his deaf, elderly neighbor in Burke County.

Burke County deputies said the teen went to the 86-year-old’s home in the Chesterfield community at about 3 p.m. Sunday and asked to use her phone. Investigators said he then got a steak knife from her kitchen and used it to rape her at knifepoint.

“She was fighting but decided to stop once the knife was pulled because she felt she was in danger of losing her life,” said Lt. Becky Brendle of the Burke County Sheriff’s Office.

The woman used her cell phone to text a family member for help after the attack. She was taken to the hospital, where a rape kit was performed.

Investigators said they were able to collect evidence at the woman’s home that connects the teen to the crime scene.

The teen was arrested on Monday and taken to a juvenile justice center in Alexander County.

The boy’s name has not been released because he is a juvenile. Eyewitness News does not report the names of alleged victims of sex crimes.