ELLAVILLE, Ga. (WTVM) — City officials have fired 50-year-old Donna Lynn McChargue after she allegedly stole over $400,000 from the city.

McChargue, the former city manager, faces 29 charges of theft by taking. Ellaville Mayor Shane Tondee described the charges as heartbreaking and shocking.

“She was a well liked employee and many people find it hard to believe she charged with stealing so much money from the city,” Tondee said.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation began investigating McChargue in October 2025. The Southwestern District Attorney’s Office received a tip that city funds were being misallocated and reached out to the GBI to conduct an investigation.

During the investigation, agents found suspicious purchases and withdrawals totaling $460,000. Tondee said he had suspicions in the past when McChargue would get defensive over certain purchases.

“It was just some different things that she was paying that I questioned what this was for. She would explain it, but I just had a thing in the back of my head saying something isn’t jiving,” Tondee said. “I saw things and I started questioning and she would get defensive with me.”

As the investigation continues, city officials are not looking to rush into finding a replacement city manager. Tondee said they will make sure to look at every expense during city council meetings moving forward to make sure this doesn’t happen again.

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