4:55 p.m. Nursing home resident found

WELLSBURG - The woman reported missing from the Valley Haven Geriatric Center last week has been found, and criminal charges are pending against the man who allegedly took her from the Beech Bottom nursing home.

Brooke County Sheriff Rich Ferguson said Nancy Jean Seals, 67, and her alleged abductor - David E. White, 64, of Wheeling - were found at a bank in Alexandria, Louisiana, thanks to the cooperation of White's family.

Ferguson said the sheriff's department had put out an all-points bulletin for White in 36 states. But it was through contact with relatives of White, whom he had contacted during his trip south, that authorities were able to locate him and Seals, the sheriff said.

Ferguson said Seals was dehydrated from exposure to excessive heat but appeared to be otherwise unharmed when Alexandria area police found her and White.

He said she is recovering at an Alexandria hospital, and Valley Haven has made arrangements to fly her home when she is ready.

Ferguson said police there indicated White didnt resist arrest and wasn't carrying a weapon. White has been incarcerated and awaits an extradition hearing.

Ferguson said it may be several days before White returns to Brooke County, where he faces a charge of abduction and possibly, misuse of funds.

Ferguson said White and Seals became friends when the two were living in Wheeling, and he was somehow able to gain power of attorney over her after she moved to Valley Haven.

The sheriff said Seals' 72-year-old brother in Florida learned of White's legal status and became suspicious when he found a large number of checks had been written on Seals' account.

He said White visited Seals at the nursing home almost daily without incident, so Valley Haven staff had no reason to be suspicious of him until July 3, when Seals, who has limited vision and mobility, was found missing.

Ferguson said White and Seals had been sitting in a gazebo outside the nursing home prior to that, and her wheelchair was found later behind a Dumpster.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)