‘Very vibrant’ | Tributes pour in for mother of two stabbed to death in Norwood Skyline Chili
NORWOOD, Ohio — Skyline Chili announced a donation from the company and its partners toward a fund for the family of the woman stabbed and killed at the Norwood location Tuesday afternoon.
Norwood police said officers responded to the Skyline at 4588 Montgomery Road for reports of a stabbing just before noon Tuesday.
They found a woman, identified as Alyssa Hill, a mother of two, who had been stabbed. She was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Police said the suspect, 37-year-old Rick Wright, was taken into custody near the scene. Wright is currently being held in the Hamilton County Justice Center without bond.
Court documents and 911 calls identified Wright as Hill’s ex-boyfriend.
WATCH: Alyssa Hill’s loved ones describe the friend they lost Tuesday
Court documents identify woman killed in stabbing at Norwood Skyline Chili
WCPO spoke with Kayla Elliot, a longtime friend of Hill’s, on Tuesday. Elliot described Hill as high-spirited, sweet, hardworking and independent.
She said Hill was a single mother who also cared for her father while working almost every day at Skyline for years.
“The loss has been heartbreaking for everyone who knew and loved her,” Elliot said. “Her children and family meant everything to her, and the love she had for them was obvious in everything she did.”
The Norwood Skyline Chili location was closed Wednesday, but flowers and cards lined the doorway. Employees who work in the plaza told us the restaurant owner had been stopping by throughout the day to collect tributes for Hill.
WATCH: Tributes pour in for Alyssa Hill, the mother of two who was killed Tuesday
Tributes pour in for mother of two stabbed to death in Norwood Skyline Chili
“You feel a heavy presence today in the office. Everybody’s feeling it,” said Leah Chilton, who left placed flowers outside the restaurant along with her coworker.
Chilton said her coworkers at the BMV would get lunch at the restaurant often and that staff there — including Hill — treated them like family.
“Flowers won’t mend it, but I feel like it’s the best thing,” Sarah Salvidge said. “I tried to pick out the prettiest, the ones with the most colors, just like from what I was reading online, she was very helpful, very vibrant, and very out there, and I wanted these flowers to stand out.”
Skyline Chili announced it is donating $25,000 to a fund for Hill’s two children. Coca-Cola Consolidated also contributed $25,000 to the fund. Additionally, the Norwood Skyline will donate 20% of the restaurant’s sales for the week of June 8-15 to the fund.
The Norwood Police Association is also organizing a fundraiser in honor of Hill. The event will be held at Cappy’s in Norwood on June 20, with all proceeds going to her family.
“Many of the officers had the great honor to be taken care of and served by Ally at the Norwood Skyline for quite some time, and they are graciously looking to pay it forward in some way,” Hill’s friend Tessa Jordan said on Facebook.
Wright was wanted by police at the time of the stabbing. Court documents show he had a warrant out for his arrest after a probation violation tied to a February 2025 assault in which Wright had allegedly tried to attack a Norwood police officer.
During Wright’s arraignment Wednesday morning, Hamilton County Assistant Prosecutor Sarah McMahon asked the judge to refuse Wright bond.
“Your honor, I’d like to speak to the facts and the seriousness and the heinousness of this crime,” McMahon said. “A member of our community is dead. The victim in this matter’s name is Alyssa Hill. She was a mother, she’s a daughter, she was a co-worker and a friend.”
McMahon said Wright’s prior convictions for assault, drug trafficking and menacing showed a “demonstrated history of violence” that meant the community could not be safe if he were to be released.
