Assisted living helper charged with theft

It was theft done by someone who should be trusted. A Dekalb County Sheriff’s deputy and detectives went to a residence on Bastian Road near Hinckley Saturday morning. After an investigation, 50-year old Lavonda Ratliff of Sandwich – an in-home healthcare worker – was charged with financial exploitation of an elderly person.

Law enforcement officers alleged Ratliff was stealing money – over a period of time – from a 97-year old resident. Ratliff was being held in the county jail pending bond.