Ohio
Christian restaurateur who boycotted Olympics over ‘Last Supper’ drag controversy arrested for attempted murder, rape, kidnapping
A restaurateur who refused to play the Olympics at his Ohio eateries after claiming the opening ceremony “Last Supper” drag controversy mocked Christians has been arrested for attempted murder, rape, kidnapping and more.
Businessman Bobby George, 43, is accused of a horrific pattern of abuse against a woman he lived with — including mocking her for praying to God that she wouldn’t die during one of multiple alleged attacks while the pair resided under the same roof.
“You think God is going to help you?” he reportedly taunted the 25-year-old victim as he allegedly shoved a towel down her throat and strangled her, according to police records obtained by Cleveland.com.
George, of Lakewood, Ohio, turned himself in to authorities after police issued a warrant Friday for his arrest on charges of attempted murder, rape, felony assault, four counts of kidnapping and two counts of strangulation, according to the local publication.
He appeared in Cleveland Municipal Court Tuesday and was released after posting a $200,000 bond — but must not contact the victim he’s accused of attacking multiple times from September 2023 up until last month per the order of protection the judge granted.
The victim “fears for her life” after the repeated attacks, a Cleveland police detective wrote in court documents cited by the local outlet.
In the first attack noted by police, George — who owns Cleveland restaurants TownHall and the Barley House — allegedly threw the woman into a kitchen cabinet, causing the glass of the cabinet to shatter.
The next month, police say he pinned her to the ground, choked her so that she couldn’t breathe and slammed her head into a table repeatedly. She reportedly suffered blurred vision and a ringing in her ears which were left bloodied, according to the court docs.
“The defendant then had victim treated by his business’(s) nurse-practitioner who diagnosed her with post-concussion syndrome,” the Cleveland police Domestic Violence Unit wrote in the arrest warrant, according to Cleveland.com.
In another alleged assault, George is accused of shoving a gun to the woman’s stomach after she tried to flee their residence in her car and forced her back inside, the arrest warrant states.
The rape charge comes from yet another attack when he allegedly pushed her to the ground and held her down while he raped her after she got out of the shower, according to the warrant.
Then in June came the prayer-mocking incident.
The victim hid in a closet as she prayed for her life only to be pulled out by the restauranteur who shoved a cloth into her throat, spit at her, bit her nose, choked her and pushed her around the home while refusing to let her leave, police alleged in the docs.
“Defendant pulled her hair, strangled her and threw her all over the house,” the Cleveland police detective wrote.
George reportedly apologized after admitting to some of the accusations against him and told the victim that he loves her in an audio recording, according to the court documents.
His attorney, Kevin Spellacy, told Cleveland.com that the charges shouldn’t have ever been brought against his client and implied that he was targeted for his well-known name in the community. He denied the allegations against George.
The Cleveland law director said the case was thoroughly investigated and handled no differently than other cases.
“It’s imperative for the public to know that this case was treated according to standard protocols like any other case — regardless of the defendant’s name, title, or occupation. The investigation remains ongoing,” law director Mark Griffin said in a statement to WKYC.
The local NBC affiliate station reported earlier this month that George refused to show the Paris Olympic games on TVs inside his businesses over the reported depiction of the “Last Supper” during the event’s opening ceremony.
“The portrayal of ‘The Last Supper’ was handled with an irresponsible level of irreverence, insulting the Christian faith,” signs at the restaurants said, according to the station.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.
Ohio
Remains of Ohio airmen killed in Iraq will be brought back March 29
Amanda-Clearcreek honors Ohio Air National Guard member Capt. Seth Koval
Amanda-Clearcreek honors Ohio Air National Guard member Capt. Seth Koval
The remains of three Ohio airmen who were killed in the crash of their KC-135 refueling plane in Iraq earlier this month will be returned this weekend, according to a family member of one of the deceased.
The airmen, identified as Master Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28, of Columbus; Capt. Curtis Angst, 30, of Wilmington, and Capt. Seth Koval, 38, of Stoutsville, will be brought back March 29 to Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base near Columbus, said Charles Simmons, Tyler’s father.
“Tyler will have a hero’s welcome, because he is a hero,” said Charles.
The Columbus Division of Police will be involved in the funeral procession when the airmen’s remains are transferred from the airport to funeral homes, said Columbus police Sgt. James Fuqua. That will take place between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. March 29, said Fuqua.
The airmen’s remains first arrived back in the U.S. on March 18 with a dignified transfer taking place at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
Curtis, Angst, and Simmons were members of the 166th Air Refueling Squadron connected to the 121st Air Refueling Wing based at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus.
The airmen, as well as three other servicemembers, died on March 12 when their KC-135 tanker crashed in western Iraq during a mission in support of Operation Epic Fury in Iran. The cause of the crash, which occurred in friendly airspace, has not been publicly identified. U.S. Central Command has said the incident did not involve hostile or friendly fire, and military experts have theorized the crash may have been the result of a collision with a second KC-135 that sustained heavy damage to its tail fin but landed safely at an airport in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Reporter Bethany Bruner can be reached at bbruner@dispatch.com.
Reporter Shahid Meighan can be reached at smeighan@dispatch.com, at ShahidMeighan on X, and at shahidthereporter.dispatch.com on Bluesky.
Ohio
Thousands head to Columbus for 23rd annual Home Improvement Show at Ohio Expo Center
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Thousands of people are expected to head to downtown Columbus for the 23rd annual Home Improvement Show this weekend.
Organizers say visitors can find ideas for everything from small interior design projects to major renovations.
The event is being held at the Ohio Expo Center and includes seminars, exhibits and demonstrations from local and national companies.
The show begins at noon Friday and runs until 6 p.m.
It continues Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Adult tickets cost $5 at the door.
Ohio
Matt Patricia sought stability in return as Ohio State football defensive coordinator
Matt Patricia’s contract extension earlier this offseason included a pay raise that figures to make him the highest-paid assistant coach in college football this year.
But Patricia, who will make $3.75 million in guaranteed compensation as Ohio State’s defensive coordinator in 2026, also held an appreciation for his situation.
“Ohio State is such a special place, not only just the history, the tradition, the football program, the school, but the people here,” Patricia said. “Having a chance to have a little stability with my family, it’s hard when you have to move your family around, your kids and the new school and all that.”
Before he joined Ryan Day’s staff last year, the 51-year-old Patricia had bounced around as an assistant in the NFL for much of the decade.
He spent 2021 and 2022 in a variety of roles with the New England Patriots, then a year as a defensive assistant with the Philadelphia Eagles. He took off from coaching in 2024. The frequent relocation gave him perspective.
“We had an unbelievable experience settling into Columbus,” Patricia said. “Everybody’s been so nice and welcoming. It feels like home. It’s a big deal for us to be in a place where everybody’s happy. That’s really important.”
Patricia had a significant impact on the Buckeyes in his first year replacing Jim Knowles. Despite heavy roster attrition following their national championship season, he kept the defense atop the Football Bowl Subdivision. For the second straight season, no one allowed fewer points than Ohio State.
The 9.3 points per game allowed by the Buckeyes were the fewest by any defense since Alabama in 2011.
The success made Patricia a hot commodity on the coaching market, rebuilding his reputation as a sharp and creative football mind only a decade removed from his tenure as a Super Bowl-winning defensive coordinator for the Patriots. He was a finalist for the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant.
Patricia said he heard about opportunities in the NFL and elsewhere across the college football landscape, though none of them would pry him away from Ohio State.
“It wasn’t necessarily something where you’re looking to leave,” Patricia said, “but you do have to listen when those things come up. I’m just glad everything worked out.”
His challenge in his second season mirrors his previous one, as the Buckeyes are again managing the loss of eight starters on defense.
But unlike 2025, they have fewer returning pieces, relying on a larger class of transfers to help fill the holes on the depth chart.
“With as much coming into the program for the first time, not only are you trying to catch them up on the football scheme, but you’re also trying to catch them up on everything else,” Patricia said. “This is how we work, this is how we do things, this is the standard we’re looking for, this is how we practice, this is how we prepare, this is how we go to school. That has to be also taught. It becomes a lot, but that’s why you bring in the right guys that have the mental makeup to do all that.”
Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com and follow him on @joeyrkaufman on X.
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