A live-in caregiver is accused of stealing more than $29,000 from an elderly Evanston woman, authorities said.

An investigation began after a neighbor of the 91-year-old woman informed police of suspicions. Police said they discovered the caregiver, 42-year-old Blanca Fichera, withdrew money from the elderly woman’s bank account without her permission nine times and cashed checks last year worth “just over $29,000” in total.

Fichera, of the 3300 block of South Clinton Avenue in Berwyn, Illinois, was charged Wednesday with financial exploitation of an elderly person, a felony. Fichera is scheduled to appear in court June 4.

Email: @[email protected]
Twitter: @PatrickSvitek