AURORA —An 18-year-old woman suspected of stabbing and killing her mother late Wednesday spit on her mother's face the night before the murder, the suspect's father said Thursday.

"They were getting into fights all the time," said Robert Guzman, the father of Isabella Guzman.

Robert Guzman said police came to his home late Wednesday night and told him that his ex-wife, Yun Mi Hoy, had been killed. Robert Guzman said his ex-wife called the night before the stabbing and said she and her daughter and gotten into a bad fight.

Police are looking for Isabella Guzman. She's about 5-feet 6-inches tall and 130 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

"It's heartbreaking," Robert Guzman said.

Police were called

about 10 p.m. to the home in the 2600 block of South Lima Street on a family disturbance, according to an Aurora Police Department media release.

When officers arrived, a man at the front door told them a woman was upstairs in need of help. Officers found the victim in what police described as "grave condition."

Emergency medical responders arrived a short time later and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Police did not release her identity.

The victim appeared to have at least one stab wound, said Frank Fania, a police spokesman who was at the scene. He described the incident as "gruesome."

Guzman is considered armed and dangerous, police said.

Robert Guzman said his ex-wife owned Bella's Portrait Studio at the Town Center at Aurora, and often worked long, 12-hour days. His daughter sometimes worked at her mother's studio, he said.

"She was really a hard-working woman," he said of his ex-wife. "She tried really, really hard for her family but Isabella didn't appreciate anything she did for her."

Isabella Guzman attended Overland High School but dropped out, her father said.

Robert Guzman said his daughter might be hiding out with friends because she didn't have a car or much money. "She has to be with some friends," he said.

Julie Armstrong, a neighbor who lives across the street, said police were at the home, a tri-level single-family residence with a two-car garage, earlier Wednesday.

On Wednesday afternoon police parked down the block from the home, walked to the front door and knocked, Armstrong said.

Police entered the home and Guzman's stepfather came out front and paced for a while. The police left a short time later.

"There have been issues there," Armstrong said.

Still, Armstrong described the incident as "very shocking."

Anyone who believes they have spotted Guzman, or who has information on her whereabouts, is asked to call 911 or Det. Mark Yacano at 303 739-6090.

Tips can also be left with Crime Stoppers at 720 913-STOP (7867). Tipsters could earn a reward of up to $2,000.

Denver Post online producer Daniel J. Schneider and researcher Vickie Makings contributed to this report.