West Palm Beach, Fla. — A Michelin-star chef has been charged with new offenses after allegedly contacting a woman he is accused of violently assaulting while incarcerated. Jacob Bickelhaupt, 41, co-founder of the restaurant Konro, was charged Saturday with two counts of witness tampering and one count of violating a domestic violence injunction.
Those charges come in addition to a previous arrest for aggravated battery and battery causing bodily harm after an incident that left the woman hospitalized. Police reports indicate that Bickelhaupt allegedly assaulted her for over two hours on June 2, resulting in severe injuries, including bleeding on the brain that necessitated emergency surgery. The victim, who suffered a seizure while attempting to purchase a flight, was discovered at an airport, with her family expressing concerns she may not have survived had she boarded the plane.
Bickelhaupt remains in custody on a $90,000 bond and has been assigned a public defender after being declared indigent. A judge has issued orders prohibiting any contact between him and the victim, along with a requirement for GPS monitoring and a ban on weapons.
The situation escalated when a woman sharing a business phone with the victim reported receiving voicemails from Bickelhaupt. These recorded messages were left just two days after the alleged attack and revealed a desperate plea from the chef for assistance in securing his bond. In the first message, Bickelhaupt urged the victim to contact his public defender and mentioned the need for her support in lifting the no-contact order.
In a subsequent voicemail, he expressed concern for his future, detailing his financial hardship and requesting help in arranging his bail, while simultaneously acknowledging the victim’s critical condition. The calls were traced back to a number associated with another woman who had previously faced legal issues, raising questions about how Bickelhaupt managed to make these calls.
As the legal proceedings unfold, details regarding the victim’s current health status remain unclear, as hospitals typically restrict information on cases involving domestic violence. A family representative did not respond to requests for updates.
Bickelhaupt’s history of domestic violence is notable; he previously pleaded guilty to assaulting an ex-wife and business partner in Chicago in 2017, an incident that sparked significant public backlash and led to the closure of his acclaimed restaurant, 42 Grams. Following that turbulent period, Bickelhaupt employed a self-financed documentary to discuss his experience of being “canceled” and his quest for redemption.
After relocating to South Florida and founding Konro, Bickelhaupt garnered a Michelin star for the establishment in April, marking a successful comeback in the culinary world. However, the ongoing legal issues have brought renewed scrutiny on his personal and professional life.
As developments continue to emerge, the situation remains fluid, with the community keeping a watchful eye on both the legal outcomes and the chef’s journey in the wake of these serious allegations.