Man charged with abducting wheelchair-bound partner
An 80-year-old man has been charged after allegedly taking his wheelchair-bound partner out of a care facility and driving her 1500 kilometres away in an attempt to cross the border.
Police allege that Ralph Gibbs was visiting Carol Lisle, 84, at her care facility in Mandurah, WA, and took the opportunity to remove her from the facility, placing her in his car and driving away.
Missing couple Carol Lisle and Ralph Gibbs were found just shy of the NT border on Tuesday. Image: 9News
It is also alleged that he made plans prior to visiting her to remove her from the facility and leave WA.
Mr Gibbs allegedly did not have the legal authority to remove Ms Lisle, his partner of more than a decade, from the facility.
Ms Lisle suffers from Parkinson’s disease and dementia, and allegedly did not have the capacity to make the decision to leave the facility for herself.
Due to Ms Lisle’s need for a high level of care, Mr Gibbs has also been accused of putting her health and safety at risk, as well as not considering the level of care she required.
The pair were first reported missing on the night of Sunday, January 2, and were located two days later near Warakurna, just over an hour away from the NT border.
Carol Lisle, a wheelchair-bound woman living in a care home, was found 1,500 kilometres from her home. Image: Western Australia Police
Ms Lisle required urgent medical attention and was taken to a Warakurna nursing home. She was later flown to Perth and admitted to the Peel Health Campus.
Mr Gibbs has been charged with deprivation of liberty and endangering the life, health and safety of a person.
He was due to appear at Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday, with The West Australian reporting that he was granted bail.
Image: Western Australia Police