Arrest Warrant Issued In Woman's Disappearance

Delaware County authorities continue to search for an elderly man they say abducted his wife and disappeared.  The News On 6's Chris Wright reports 80-year-old Everett 'Wayne' Taylor and his wife, 93-year-old Vera Gillen, have been missing since Friday.

Deputies say Taylor snatched his wife from a local hospital on Friday.  The two have not been spotted since, and authorities are worried about their safety.  An arrest warrant has been issued for Taylor.

Everett 'Wayne' Taylor and Vera Gillen's home in Zena now sits empty.  Their puppy is still on the porch, but the couple is long gone.  Ralph Wright has lived next door since they moved in five years ago.

"I seen him Thursday or Friday of last week, sitting on his porch, talking to his pup. I waved at him from my place, and that's the last time I seen him," said neighbor, Ralph Wright.

The bizarre series of events started at Grove Integris Hospital.  According to the Delaware County Journal, Vera was placed in a nursing home, and then moved to the hospital recently.

Even though he wasn't authorized to do so, police say Wayne showed up at this hospital on Friday, grabbed his 93-year-old wife and took off.  And, that's the last time anyone has seen the couple.

"For our area, it's very rare. I've never seen it happen here like this," said Delaware County Sheriff's Detective Ron Teel.

The disappearance has Delaware County authorities baffled.  Detective Ron Teal says the events of the past week don't make much sense.

"No idea.  We've been searching the county by driving the roads; we've had airplanes up, helicopters up.  We've been running all the leads that do come in," said Delaware County Sheriff's Detective Ron Teel.

Making matters worse, authorities say both Vera and Wayne suffer from dementia, and might not have their medication.  Deputies say Wayne also may have threatened to harm his wife and himself before their disappearance.

Their neighbor though holds out hope that this strange story will have a happy ending.

"Maybe they just wandered off and haven't got home yet.  I don't know. You just hope for the best," said neighbor, Ralph Wright.

Grove Integris is trying to figure out exactly how Wayne walked in, and walked out with Vera.  The two were last spotted in a 1998 white Chevy pick-up.

Anyone with information can call the Delaware County Sheriff's Department at 877-722-0007.

Related story:

6/24/2008  Search On For Missing Couple