Former Assisted Living Home Employee Charged with Theft From Residents

A former assisted living home employee faces charges of stealing more than $8,000 from residents at the Cupertino Home in Warrenville, DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin announced Tuesday.

Linda Cottrell, 37, of 891 Victory Ln, Justice, appeared in Bond Court this morning where Judge Elizabeth Sexton set bond at $50,000 with 10 percent to apply.

According to a press release from the DuPage County State's Attorney, Cottrell allegedly had access as House Manager to a safe where residents' kept their ATM cards. On numerous occasions from December 2008 through December 2011, Cottrell used the residents' ATM cards without permission to withdraw money from their accounts to keep for herself, according to the release.

A fellow employee discovered the alleged scheme after noticing discrepancies in residents' accounts. Cottrell allegedly stole money from four different victims in the amounts of $7,698.85; $515.40; $524.20 and $110.00 for a total of $8,848.45. She has been charged with one count of Financial Exploitation of a Disabled person, a Class 2 felony, according to the release.            

“What Ms. Cottrell is accused of is very serious and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Berlin said in a statement. “People with disabilities rely on others for their day to day living and to steal from someone who has placed that amount of trust in you is just disgraceful. I would like to thank Corporal Weihofen with the Warrenville Police Department for her fine work on the case. I would also like to thank authorities at the Cupertino Home for uncovering this alleged scheme and for bringing this matter to our attention as well as Assistant State’s Attorney Diane Michalak for her efforts.”

Cottrell’s next court appearance is scheduled for October 29, 2012 in front of Judge Kathryn Creswell.

Information courtesy of a press release from the DuPage County State's Attorney.

Police Blotter information is provided by local law enforcement agencies. Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions taken on a given day, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If you or a family member are charged or cited and the case is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor. We will verify and report the outcome.

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