OKC police rescue bedridden woman from accused abuser

Oklahoma City police rescued a bedridden woman on Monday from her accused abuser. Police said the woman needed immediate medical attention and was locked inside her southwest Oklahoma City home, unable to leave. Someone concerned for the woman's safety called police for help.

Police said her caretaker and ex-husband William Herbert, 50, would not allow officers inside the home. They had to force their way inside get the victim to the hospital. The victim was locked inside a home by a tall chain link fence and metal bars on the front door.

“Police were given information that this person was not allowed to leave the home and suffering injuries by another person inside the home,” said Sgt. Dillon Quirk with the Oklahoma City Police Department.

Officers went back to the home for a second time on the same day after receiving pictures of the victim's face covered in injuries and bruises.

“They were able to get ahold of the victim by phone,” said Quirk. “Who advised, seemed that she was fearful. Told police she could not get up, she was bedridden.”

Police said Herbert took the phone from the woman when an ambulance showed up.

“The suspect did not let medical services in,” said Quirk. “He ran back into the house, shut the door, and locked it again.”

Police had to make a warrantless forced entry. According to court papers, the woman was surrounded in feces and covered in bruises. Police said she was unable to feed or bathe herself.

“It was very apparent she was in very poor condition and that she needed medical services,” said Quirk.

The victim told police she lived with her ex-husband for three years and during that time her medical condition worsened. She also told police she was not allowed to have a key to the doors and Herbert would assault her anytime she attempted to leave, so she stopped trying.

Police arrested Herbert at the scene for abuse by a caretaker, kidnapping, and disrupting an emergency phone call.

Herbert was released on bond Tuesday night from the Oklahoma County Detention Center. He has not been formally charged by the Oklahoma County District Attorney.