Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
ALBION -ÊMurder charges were filed against Ligonier woman Thursday in Noble County Superior Court.
Christine A. Ratliff, 29, of 102 Grand St., Ligonier, allegedly killed her boyfriend Robert H. Moser by repeatedly hitting him in the head with a hammer.
Ratliff reportedly walked into the lobby of the Noble County Jail Sunday and told a jail officer she killed Moser.
Noble County officers then went to Lot 154 at Shady Acres Mobile Home Court in Cromwell and found Moser's body face down on a bed in a rear bedroom. Moser had an obvious head injury and the room was spattered with blood.
Ratliff reportedly told police she used a hammer to hit Moser several times sometime between 10 a.m. and noon Sunday.
The hammer allegedly used in the attack was later found by police where Ratliff said it was hidden.
After she allegedly killed Moser, Ratliff changed her clothes than went to her sister's house. Ratliff reportedly told her sister and two men that she killed Moser.
Ratliff is being held without bond in the Noble County Jail. Her initial hearing was at 8 a.m. today.
Noble County Coroner Dr. Terry Gaff ruled the death a homicide and said Moser died from blunt-force trauma to his head.
Moser, a Wawasee High School graduate, was a self-employed carpenter/construction worker.
Moser had criminal records in Kosciusko and Allen counties, dating back to 1995. In Kosciusko County, he pleaded guilty to charges including escape, battery, resisting law enforcement, driving while intoxicated and battery causing bodily industry. In Allen County, he led police on a car chase and crashed into two police cars in 2003, and also pleaded guilty to resisting law enforcement and possession of a firearm by a felon.
