‘You think God is going to help you?’: Prominent businessman tells girlfriend her prayers are useless as he shoves towel down her throat and bites her nose
Robert "Bobby" George (Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department).
A well-known Ohio businessman and restaurateur is accused of brutally attacking a woman he was dating, allegedly taunting her as she prayed for her life during the assault.
Robert “Bobby” George, 44, of Lakewood, allegedly forced a towel down the 25-year-old woman’s throat, bit her nose, and spat in her face during a violent confrontation in June 2024, according to Cuyahoga County prosecutors.
George, the owner of popular Cleveland establishments including TownHall and the Barley House, reportedly plans to plead guilty to a reduced charge of attempted strangulation, allowing him to bypass grand jury proceedings, Cleveland.com reported.
Court documents say George intends to admit that he attacked the woman during an argument, choking her multiple times over several hours and preventing her from leaving their shared home. At one point, he allegedly picked her up and threw her around the residence.
“[George] did knowingly attempt to cause or create a substantial risk of physical harm to Jane Doe by means of strangulation,” reads the indictment. Prosecutors note that the victim was someone George was in a dating relationship with.
George initially faced several felony charges — including attempted murder and rape — for allegedly assaulting the woman multiple times between November 2023 and July 2024.
Jefferson County Prosecutor Jane Hanlin, who took over the case after Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley recused himself due to prior business donations to George’s ventures, said she worked closely with the victim on the plea arrangement.
“I can’t tell you how much respect I have for this young woman and everything she has gone through,” Hanlin told Cleveland.com. “I wanted to reach a resolution that reflected her wishes and ensured her protection, because cases involving partner violence can be very difficult for victims.”
During the attack, prosecutors say the victim hid in a closet praying when George mocked her, asking, “You think God is going to help you?”
Following his arrest, George reportedly lost $3.5 million in state funding from the Ohio Senate for a proposed $35 million restaurant and entertainment project near the Cuyahoga River.
He remains free on bond while prosecutors await the formal announcement of his plea deal.
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