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CROMWELL -ÊA Ligonier woman is being held without bond in the Noble County Jail after allegedly killing her boyfriend with a hammer Sunday.
Christine A. Ratliff, 29, of 102 Grand St., Ligonier, was arrested Sunday after reportedly walking into the lobby of the Noble County Jail around 5:16 p.m. and telling a jail officer she killed her boyfriend, Robert H. Moser, 29, of 3757 N. CR 900W, Cromwell.
Noble County officers went to Lot 154 at Shady Acres Mobile Home Court on CR 900W, Cromwell, where they found Moser's body in a rear bedroom.
Ratliff allegedly used a hammer to hit Moser in the head several times, killing him while he lay in bed.
Noble County Coroner Dr. Terry Gaff ruled the death a homicide and said Moser died from blunt-force trauma to his head.
"The trauma seen in the autopsy is consistent with the use of a hammer," Gaff said.
Formal charges have not been filed in the case, but Noble County Prosecutor Steven Clouse said documents must be filed by 11 a.m. Thursday.
"We want to make sure all the facts are gathered before we present the case to the court," Clouse said this morning.
Ratliff's initial hearing is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. Thursday in Noble Superior Court I.
Moser, a Wawasee High School graduate, was a self-employed carpenter/construction worker.
Moser's obituary appears on page 3A.
