South Florida Michelin-star chef charged with witness tampering following violent assault
A South Florida Michelin-star chef charged with violently attacking a woman last week is facing new charges after police say he left her voicemails from jail asking for help paying his bond.
Jacob Bickelhaupt, 41, a co-founder of Konro in West Palm Beach, was charged Saturday with an additional two counts of witness tampering, a first-degree felony, and one count of violating a domestic violence injunction with two or more prior convictions, a third-degree felony, according to court records. He was previously arrested on charges of aggravated battery causing bodily harm or disability and battery causing bodily harm.
Bickelhaupt is accused of punching and kicking the woman for over two hours on June 2, leaving her hospitalized with bleeding in her brain and in need of emergency surgery, according to police. Paramedics found her after she had a seizure at the airport while trying to buy a plane ticket to Denver, Colo., according to a probable cause affidavit. Her sister told the Sun Sentinel she could have died if she had boarded the plane.
South Florida Michelin-star chef charged with second violent domestic assault
After a violent spiral, famed Chicago chef seeks redemption — and Michelin stars — in South Florida
The chef was taken to Palm Beach County jail, where he has remained in lieu of a $90,000 bond. A judge issued a no-contact order with the victim, GPS monitoring, and a no-weapons order. He was declared indigent and given a public defender.
On Friday, a woman who shares a business phone with the victim contacted the police and gave them two voicemail recordings Bickelhaupt had left for the victim, who also worked with him at Konro. He had left the voicemails Wednesday afternoon, according to the affidavit, two days after the attack.
'This is Jacob, if you haven't given up on me please call the public defender,' the first message said, according to the affidavit, followed by the phone number of the public defender. 'I love you so much, I don't know what to say, I don't have much time. Again, call the public defender and tell them you don't want a order of no contact … I have nowhere to stay, nowhere to sleep. I need your help; I have a way to probably pay some of the bail. But we need to get someone to pay $1,500 of $9,000.00 upfront. I need a call back with a phone number so we can work this out. Im just calling my business and hopefully I can work things out.'
About 20 minutes later, Bickelhaupt left another message, according to the affidavit.
'Hey this is Jacob again, trying to get ahold of you,' it said. 'Here is the deal, I know there is a lot going on and you're in really bad shape. Im going to be here for a very long time if you so choose, maybe a year … I have a way to get out for $1,500.00 with payments, I will explain how to do that, when I get out I have house arrest with ankle bracelet and no order to contact. So I need to find somewhere else to sleep, and I can't do the restaurant. I don't have any money, they took all my ID's and I don't have any shoes, its in evidence. You have to call this number if you want to help me out … I'm not trying to sound inconsiderate right now, I really don't have a lot of time. I love you, please call that number. Okay.'
South Florida Michelin-star chef charged with second violent domestic assault
After a violent spiral, famed Chicago chef seeks redemption — and Michelin stars — in South Florida
Bickelhaupt's calls did not come from the jail, but from a phone number associated with another woman, according to the affidavit. That woman had been arrested in Palm Beach County in late May on charges of dealing in stolen property. It is unclear how Bickelhaupt obtained the phone.
The victim's condition was not immediately available Tuesday. Hospitals do not give out information on domestic violence victims. A voicemail left with the woman's family was not immediately returned.
Bickelhaupt has a history of domestic violence. In 2017, he pleaded guilty to attacking ex-wife and business partner in Chicago, leading to widespread public backlash across the city and the closure of his restaurant 42 Grams, which had won two Michelin stars. He later self-financed a documentary, '86ed,' about the experience of getting 'canceled' and 'his search for redemption,' according to a description of the film.
Bickelhaupt got a fresh start in South Florida, moving to West Palm Beach in 2022 and opening Konro, which earned a Michelin star in April.
This is a developing story, so check back for updates. Click here to have breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox.
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