Latest news with #Bickelhaupt
Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
South Florida Michelin-star chef, formerly of 42 grams in Chicago, charged with second violent domestic assault
WEST PALM BEACH — A renowned Michelin-star chef based in South Florida with former ties to Chicago is charged with a brutal assault on a woman that left her in critical condition with bleeding in her brain. Jacob Bickelhaupt, 41, a co-founder of Konro in West Palm Beach, had a well-known history of domestic violence. He had pleaded guilty in 2017 to attacking his ex-wife and business partner in Chicago, leading to widespread public backlash across the city and the closure of his Michelin-starred restaurant 42 Grams. But Bickelhaupt's career bounced back after his move to South Florida, where he earned another Michelin star and where, he told the Sun Sentinel in 2022, he was working on himself and making 'amends' for his past behavior. 42 grams chef battered his ex-wife. Now he has filed a $250,000 defamation lawsuit against the chef is charged with another violent domestic assault that left a woman in the intensive care unit in need of emergency surgery. He faces felony counts of aggravated battery causing bodily harm or disability and battery causing bodily harm. The victim, who also worked with Bickelhaupt, had collapsed while having a seizure at a Palm Beach International airport ticket counter as she was trying to purchase a flight to Denver, Colo., according to a probable cause affidavit. Had she gotten on the flight, doctors later told her family, she would probably have died. 'They caught her in the nick of time,' her sister said. Paramedics rushed her to St. Mary's Medical Center, where she told Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputies that she had been in a car accident. But medical staff told deputies that the woman's injuries were not consistent with a car accident. She had two blackened eyes, facial swelling, bruising from shoulders to wrists, and a subdural hematoma requiring emergency surgery, according to the affidavit. Eventually, she gave a sworn statement to police, where she said that Bickelhaupt had attacked her for two hours as she tried to escape. The attack had begun when she approached him, asleep, on the couch in the early hours of the morning, trying to get him to come to bed, she said, according to the affidavit. They began to argue, and she went back to the bedroom. He followed her, then began to punch her in the face and kick her, causing her to fall to the floor. When she tried to crawl away, he continued to attack her. When West Palm Beach Police officers visited the victim's home later, they found blood splatter in multiple rooms, on bedding, walls, and furniture, according to the arrest report. When the attack was over, the victim managed to get a rideshare to the airport, where she planned to return to Denver, where she had grown up. At the hospital, the woman immediately identified Bickelhaupt as her attacker, but was unable to write her own name or sign the paper because of her 'physical condition rapidly deteriorating,' according to the affidavit. She required emergency surgery for the brain bleed and had an irregular heartbeat. Bickelhaupt was taken into custody the same day. He invoked his Miranda rights and requested his attorney when approached by police. Following a court appearance on June 3, Bickelhaupt was found indigent and granted a public defender. His bond was set at $90,000 along with a no-contact order with the victim, GPS monitoring, and a no-weapons order. He remained in the Palm Beach County jail as of Wednesday afternoon, according to inmate records. Bickelhaupt had initially gained fame with the Chicago-based restaurant 42 Grams, which earned two Michelin stars. Then, exactly eight years ago on June 4, 2017, he was charged with drunkenly attacking his ex-wife, Alexa Welsh, grabbing her by the hair and throwing her to the ground, then striking her with a glass bottle of sparking water. Her injuries required staples, according to Eater Chicago. 'Violence is a cycle. How does the saying go?' Welsh told the Sun Sentinel on Wednesday. ''Those who do not learn history …' I sent [the victim] a message of support. I hope she's able to make a full recovery.' Court documents reveal domestic violence past of 42 Grams chefBickelhaupt was arrested in the 2017 attack on a charge of domestic battery, which was then downgraded to simple battery, to which he pleaded guilty. He was released a month later. 'What I did was a very situational, passionate, alcoholic long story,' he told the Sun Sentinel for a profile in 2022. 'It was horrible, and it never should have happened, and what I did was 100 percent wrong. And that's why I'm trying to make amends to all that stuff. I'm going to live with what I did forever. I punish myself more than anyone else can punish me, I promise you that.' After the attack and the ensuing backlash, he moved to West Palm Beach in 2022 and co-founded Konro, which earned its own Michelin star in 2025. In response to questions about Bickelhaupt, Michelin said in a statement Wednesday that it 'firmly condemns all acts of violence, aggression and harassment, which violate fundamental human rights and severely impinge on the values of an entire profession. Since its inception in 1900, The MICHELIN Guide's purpose has been to provide consumers with dining recommendations enabling them to enjoy high-quality food and drink. Above all, the Guide recognizes collective achievement by awarding distinctions to restaurants rather than to chefs.' Asked whether Bickelhaupt would have his star for Konro removed, the organization said 'MICHELIN Stars are annual distinctions and therefore our Inspectors revisit the restaurants annually. At this time, Konro has been listed as temporarily closed on our website as we update all restaurants in real-time.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Michelin-rated chef arrested on domestic violence charges at West Palm Beach home
A renowned chef and the owner of the lone Michelin-starred restaurant in West Palm Beach is facing domestic battery charges after police alleged he assaulted a woman during an incident at his home. Jacob Bickelhaupt, the chef and owner of Konro restaurant, is facing one count each of domestic battery causing bodily harm and domestic battery following his arrest June 2 by West Palm Beach police. According to his arrest report, Bickelhaupt repeatedly punched and kicked the woman, leaving her with two black eyes, and with swelling and bruising on her face. The woman reportedly went to Palm Beach International Airport after the attack to try to buy a flight to her family's home but suffered a seizure at the ticket counter. She received emergency care at St. Mary's Medical Center. During a hearing June 3 at the Palm Beach County Jail, Circuit Judge Daliah Weiss ruled that Bickelhaupt, 41, is indigent and assigned a public defender to represent him. She set his bail at $90,000 and ordered that he be placed on in-house arrest with an ankle monitor if he is released. As a matter of policy, the county Public Defender's Office does not comment on active cases. After his arrest, Bickelhaupt requested to speak to an attorney and did not make other statements to investigators, his arrest report said. More: Dwyer student accused of torching classmate's car faces 2 more 'retaliation' arson charges The arrest marks the second time within the past decade Bickelhaupt has faced an allegation of domestic violence. In June 2017, Chicago police arrested him on charges that he assaulted a woman, throwing her to the ground and striking her in the head with a bottle, according to multiple published reports. He pleaded guilty to a charge of simple battery and was ordered to undergo mandatory drug and alcohol testing, complete a domestic violence program and pay fines. Shortly after the Chicago arrest, Bickelhaupt closed 42 Grams, his popular restaurant on Chicago's north side that at one time also earned Michelin-star status. In 2023, he opened Konro in West Palm Beach, on Park Place off South Dixie Highway near the Norton Museum of Art. It is a menu-free tasting restaurant with 10 counter seats and a steep, three-figure per person price tag for admission. In 2024, the Michelin Guide announced it would be rating Palm Beach County's restaurants, and in April, Konro was awarded a single Michelin star, making it the county's first and only restaurant to carry a star from the vaunted guide. According to Bickelhaupt's arrest report, his current accuser told investigators that he repeatedly attacked her over the span of two hours, even as she tried to leave the home. Once the attack stopped, the woman packed a bag and called for a ride to PBIA, where she collapsed, the arrest report said. Officers detained Bickelhaupt that night and took him to police headquarters for questioning. Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jwhigham@ and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @JuliusWhigham. Help support our work: Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Michelin-star chef arrested on domestic violence charges in West Palm
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EICC to hold groundbreaking for Bickelhaupt Arboretum, Clinton, expansion
Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) will hold a groundbreaking for the Bickelhaupt Arboretum renovation and enhancements project at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 1, at 340 S. 14th St., Clinton, a news release says. This transformational project will create a premier education and event center, enhancing hands-on learning, community engagement, and environmental appreciation. Founded in 1970 by Robert and Frances Bickelhaupt, the arboretum has long been a hub for conservation education, showcasing a collection of hundreds of diverse trees, a nationally recognized Hosta Glade, diverse conifer collection, and vibrant pollinator gardens. Originally a private residence, the arboretum became a public treasure and was donated by the Bickelhaupt family to EICC and the Clinton Community College Paul B. Sharar Foundation in 2014 to expand its educational mission. Now, the original homestead is being revitalized and expanded into a state-of-the-art space for learning and events. 'The major renovations happening at the Bickelhaupt Arboretum reflect generations of planning along with environmental and financial stewardship,' said Shawn Hill-Lamb, granddaughter of Bob and Frances Bickelhaupt and daughter of Francie B. Hill, former Director of the Bickelhaupt Arboretum. 'Under the direction of Clinton Community College and with the support of the Bickelhaupt family and community, the Arboretum will remain accessible to visitors of all ages by providing enhanced experiences for everyone who comes to study and connect with nature. Given by our family as a gift to the community, the Arboretum continues to evolve by demonstrating sustainability and soon will be offering enhanced programming and new facilities. Our family is ever so proud of the Bickelhaupt Arboretum and its supporters for joining Clinton Community College to usher in this new span of growth. We honor the past while embracing the future and move forward with the founding principles of conservation, education, and community service that have always guided this special place. We encourage Iowa and regional residents, lifelong learners, and travelers through Iowa to visit Clinton's treasure, the Bickelhaupt Arboretum. Come watch us grow.' The new events center will feature a 2,033-square-foot area with floor-to-ceiling windows and an adjoining 2,200-square-foot outdoor deck, creating a stunning venue for programs and gatherings. A unique art installation will transform the former pool area into an illuminated gathering room, while two learning center rooms and a library will support research, workshops, and interactive experiences. 'This is an amazing place with an amazing history,' said Brian Kelly, Ed.D., M.B.A, Clinton Community College president. 'This next act of the Arboretum will provide a new place to gather and learn in our community while celebrating nature and art.' Outdoor enhancements include a welcome pavilion, gazebo, and a gathering area with accessible pathways, seating, and shade. A standout feature, the Animal Exhibit, will immerse visitors in local wildlife habitats. 'This renovation is about honoring the past while building for the future,' said Ann Eisenman, Clinton Community College's Assistant to the President and Foundation Director. 'The Arboretum has always been a place of learning and connection, and these updates will make it an even more inviting space for education, community events, and nature appreciation.' EICC remains dedicated to serving as THE Community's College by expanding opportunities for students and the public. The revitalized Arboretum will enhance education across disciplines while providing a premier venue for conferences, celebrations, and cultural events. The groundbreaking ceremony will begin with refreshments at 10 a.m., followed by the formal program at 10:15 a.m. Speakers will include Brian Kelly, Ed.D., M.B.A., Clinton Community College president & EICC's vice chancellor of strategy, support, and planning; Clinton Mayor Scott Maddasion; Bickelhaupt family members; and additional honored guests. The event is open to the public. For more information, contact Ann Eisenman at 563-244-7040 or aeisenman@ Learn more here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
