Cleveland, OH
Owner of TownHall charged with attempted murder, rape; Warrant issued
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The owner of TownHall and other major Cleveland businesses faces multiple charges, including attempted murder and rape, according to the arrest warrant.
Court records show Robert George, 43, is charged with attempted murder, four counts of kidnapping, two counts of strangulation, felonious assault, and rape.
The arrest warrant for George, who also goes by Bobby, was issued Friday evening, but records show he is not currently in custody.
According to the arrest warrant, a woman told Cleveland Police the alleged physical and verbal abuse happened between November 2023 and July 2024.
George allegedly caused multiple injuries to the victim.
On November 14, 2023, the arrest warrant said George pinned the victim to the ground and put his hands around her neck, which “made her unable to breathe or move.”
During the strangulation, the arrest warrant said George slammed the victim’s head multiple times. The victim reportedly had “blurred vision, ringing in her ears and bleeding from her ears.”
According to the arrest warrant, the victim was then treated by his business’ nurse practitioner and the victim was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome.
19 News reached out to the nurse practitioner for a comment but did not hear back.
In another incident, the arrest warrant said George followed the victim to her car, held a gun to the car window and forced her to get out of the car.
The warrant said George then held a gun to the victim’s stomach and led her back inside the home she had just run from.
Between the dates of June 8 and June 10 of this year, the arrest warrant said George pushed a towel down the victim’s throat.
After this, George allegedly said, “You think God is going to help you,” according to the warrant.
The warrant stated George said this after the woman prayed she would not die.
During this incident, the arrest warrant said George placed “one or both hands around her neck” and attempted to strangle and suffocate her.
The arrest warrant also said George threw her around the home they shared.
The warrant said George refused to let the victim leave the home during this altercation.
The victim tried to hide in the closet of the home during this incident, according to the warrant.
The warrant claims George also raped the victim as she was coming out of the shower in one instance.
In another alleged attack, the warrant said George is accused of throwing the victim into a closet as she tried to leave.
George is involved with several local businesses in the Cleveland and Columbus area, including the following:
- Ethos Hospitality Group
- Bobby George Restaurants
- REBoL
- TownHall
- Harry Buffalo
- Green Goat Cafe Bar
- Lost Social Club
- Barley House
- Lyv wellness space
- Red space events
- Mandrake – Columbus
- Townhall – Columbus
19 News also reached out to the City of Cleveland who released the following statement:
You can watch 19 News’ previous interview with George in the video below.
19 News reached out to TownHall, Ethos Hospitality Group, and George’s lawyers for a comment but has not yet heard back.
Copyright 2024 WOIO. All rights reserved.
Cleveland, OH
‘Very special’ wedding moved to Cleveland Clinic so father can attend days after quadruple bypass
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WJW) — Rick Nelson has been recovering at his Seven Hills home for 10 days after a 10-day stay in the hospital. He and his family are grateful he could see his daughter get married, and be home for his 37th anniversary and Father’s Day because he almost didn’t make it to any of them.
On May 31, six days before his daughter Rachel’s wedding, Nelson was feeling chest pains. He was quickly taken to the Marymount Emergency Room. Within minutes of being there, he was taken via helicopter to Cleveland Clinic’s main campus in Cleveland.
A mechanical device was put in his heart to keep it pumping and he was given blood thinners after it was discovered he had severe blockage. Because of the blood thinners, it wasn’t safe to perform open-heart surgery for several days.
It was scheduled as early as possible, which turned out to be June 4 — just two days before the wedding.
The surgeon who performed the procedure, Dr. Faisal Bakaeen, told FOX 8 that it takes five days to be healthy enough to be discharged after a procedure like this, but Nelson was telling every caregiver he could that he needed to be at that wedding.
Cleveland Clinic staff decided that since Nelson couldn’t travel to the wedding, they were going to help bring the wedding to him.
They coordinated to change the venue of the ceremony to the hospital’s rooftop and got Nelson cleaned up and dressed for the wedding.
Bakaeen said Nelson’s power of the mind over his body helped his recovery.
“He was really determined to get better and that helped. I’m a true believer in that, and he did it. We did our part, but he did his part and we are very happy with the outcome,” he said.
It was an emotional moment. Every Cleveland Clinic employee who wasn’t helping a patient watched Nelson get wheeled up to experience a first look with his daughter and then escort her down the aisle with nearly 100 friends and family members watching.
Rachel, who’s last name is now Schultz after marrying her husband Dana, told FOX 8 those moments took away all the stress of nearly losing her father and then seeing him go through a major surgery while also dealing with last-minute wedding preps.
“It was just so reassuring just in that moment of like, OK, all the worry kind of washed away,” Schultz explained. “It’s not how I pictured it, but [it was] better than I could’ve imagined.”
“It meant the world to me,” Rick said. “I had something to come back and live for. I just kept saying why didn’t they take me, then I just started thinking about the wedding. I just want to see my daughter walk down the aisle.”
After the fact, as they sat on their couch, Rick and Gail Nelson were able to reflect on how scary the situation really was.
“I didn’t know how bad it was at that point,” Gail recalled thinking back to the first trip to the hospital on the 31st. “It wasn’t until after that it hits you that ‘Oh my god, I could’ve lost him.’”
But they were so thankful for the staff at the clinic and how accommodating and helpful they were. From getting Rick a clean shave, dressed, and all ready to go for the wedding to covering the parking for all of the wedding guests. They told FOX 8 it was top notch.
“The Cleveland Clinic, the doctors, the nurses, everything, were just fantastic. Couldn’t have asked for better,” Rick said.
Bakaeen told FOX 8 it was just as special for him and the team of caregivers who worked so hard to make sure Rick didn’t miss one of the most important days in Rachel’s life.
“I have a daughter and there’s nothing that would stop me from attending her wedding,” Bakaeen said. “This was special for him, but very special for me and the team.”
Cleveland, OH
Ohio’s 2nd Buc-ee’s approved in Richland County amid neighbor opposition
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Ohio’s second Buc-ee’s has been approved south of Cleveland in Richland County, but neighbors next door are not happy.
An online petition opposing the location has over 1,800 signatures, the petition is unnamed. Among those opposed is the Stadelman’s, a farming family right next to the field, who will go from a quiet rural exit to a popular destination.
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Rachel Stadelman and her husband Nick farm the land bordering the future Buc-ee’s site. All that separates them is a gravel road.
From farmland to gas pumps
Right now, the exit is farmland on every corner. But Buc-ee’s is betting on the interstate traffic. The Texas-based travel center has become like a tourist destination.
The same 37.5 acres the Stadelmans lease and farm today will be over 100 gas pumps by 2028.
“I don’t know how we’re going to do it. Most of our farms are in Mansfield, so we have to go right through all of it,” Rachel Stadelman said.
Safety concerns on the highway
The Stadelmans raise cattle right next to the proposed site. They drive farm equipment, like tractors, trailers and combines on highway 39, the same route that will carry Buc-ee’s visitors every day. Some of that equipment is 16 feet wide.
“My husband’s been hit out here. He was on a smaller utility tractor. It broke a vertebra in his back. And I was in a hayfield heading toward Lucas, probably a quarter mile down the road, and I got hit,” Rachel Stadelman said.
Rachel Stadelman, emotional at times, said she fears what comes next for her family.
“The girls are just used to running around wild out here with me. Now I’m going to be scared of leaving them for a second. They’re going to have to stay with me all day. I won’t be able to take my eyes off of them. It just makes me sick,” she said.
Economic impact vs. farming future
Supporters point to the economic impact. Mansfield’s mayor Jodie Perry posted on social media after the council approved the project on June 2, saying Buc-ee’s will be a major economic boost for the city.
Buc-ee’s by the numbers, according to Perry:
- Buc-ee’s will spend $50 million to build the store
- $25 million in annual sales
- Up to 225 full-time jobs and 200 part time jobs (starting pay $18/hour
- Annual payroll is expected be $9 million
The city approved a financing deal through a New Community Authority. Under the agreement, Buc-ee’s will front the cost of building the necessary infrastructure, then get reimbursed through a 2% surcharge on retail sales at the store, excluding fuel. Of that 2%, the vast majority goes back to Buc-ee’s to cover its infrastructure costs, plus 6.35% interest. Once those costs are fully paid off, the surcharge drops to a quarter percent.
But for the Stadelmans, the math doesn’t add up.
“I don’t know how we’re going to farm anymore. I think it’s going to put us out of business,” Rachel Stadelman said.
Buc-ee’s did not respond to a request for comment.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
Cleveland, OH
Cleveland Cavaliers Have Three Clear Options With No. 29 Pick in NBA Draft
The 2026 NBA Draft has potential to be one of the best of all time.
Loaded with front of the draft talent, it also has some late players projected to be potential All-Stars or leaders of their teams.
With the Cleveland Cavaliers picking in the late first round on Tuesday, rumors are circulating on different options the Cavs could take with that pick.
Staying Put
If it turns out the Cavs would rather take their chances on the 29th pick and look for the best available there, it could work out. In recent mock drafts, multiple players are projected to be heading to Cleveland.
They could get lucky and have a player like Dailyn Swain or Jayden Quaintance fall to them. Two players projected in the 20-25 area, but could still fall to Cleveland. More recent reports and mock drafts seem to be leaning towards the Cavs taking big man Tarris Reed Jr. or Spanish wing Sergio De Larrea.
Those are areas of need for Cleveland that could come to be useful. But, there are other options with that pick.
Trading Up
It is very obvious that the Cleveland Cavaliers are tight on cap space. The 29th pick, although not a top pick, could become a valuable piece in any draft night trade.
Cleveland looks to be running Dennis Schroder through the news as somebody they may be looking to move on from. His contract is on the higher side for a player at his age and including the 29th pick with Schroder could get them up into that area of taking a more ready made player.
Getting into the lottery would be a tough task with just Schroder and a pick, but even picking late teens or early 20s would be a better outcome.
Another approach Koby Altman and the front office could look at would be going back.
Trading Down
That 29th pick has a cap hold on it that Altman may be looking at with the idea of dropping that down. A first round pick is guaranteed a four-year contract that could put them in a bad spot once again on their contracts.
Trading into the second round would not restrict them to an exact contract and they could sign somebody to a two-way contract and save them anywhere from $5 to $10 million in cap space.
Being in the second apron would make things hard because they wouldn’t be able to send cash in a trade. Making calls when it’s time for your pick would be the strategy with this decision.
Any team picking early in the second may have somebody they believe can make an impact immediately and could be open to a move.
There really are a multitude of decisions for Cleveland to make that all have pros and cons to them.
The NBA Draft takes place on June 23rd and 24th at 8:00 p.m. on ABC and ESPN.
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