Patient kidnapped from care facility in conservatorship scheme, California police say

Three people are accused of abducting a patient from a health care facility as part of a conservatorship scheme, California police reported.

The trio entered the back of the facility, kidnapped a patient and assaulted a nurse who tried to stop them at about 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, Novato police said in a news release.

A deputy spotted their fleeing getaway car on Highway 101 within 20 minutes and stopped it, police said.

The patient, considered at-risk and under a conservatorship, was taken to a hospital.

“A ‘conservatorship’ is a court-ordered arrangement that gives a responsible person or organization the power to manage another person’s finances or personal care,” police said.

The abduction was part of a scheme to become conservators of the patient for financial gain, police said.

Michael Roberts, 49, of Dana Point, Laura Boyle, 61, of Mission Viejo, and Paula Burkes, 57, of Mission Viejo, face charges including kidnapping, elder abuse, battery, burglary and conspiracy, police said.

Charges are pending against a fourth person accused of conspiring with the others in the case, police said.

Detectives ask anyone with information to call 415-897-4361.

Novato is about a 30-mile drive north from San Francisco.

This story was originally published February 19, 2025 at 11:47 AM with the headline "Patient kidnapped from care facility in conservatorship scheme, California police say."