Alyssa Hill was remembered by friends as a loving mother and longtime server.
NORWOOD, Ohio — A man accused of stabbing his former girlfriend to death while she worked at a Norwood Skyline Chili has been charged with murder and ordered held without bond, authorities said.
The victim, 27-year-old Alyssa Hill, was a single mother who had worked for years as a server at the Montgomery Road restaurant. Prosecutors identified the suspect as Rick Wright, 37, and said the two had previously dated. The killing happened Tuesday inside the restaurant during Hill’s shift.
Police said the attack unfolded in the dining area while Hill was working. Emergency crews responded after witnesses reported the stabbing. Hill was taken from the restaurant for treatment but died from her injuries. Wright left the scene, according to authorities, and was arrested a short time later near a nearby bank.
Friends described Hill as kind, steady and devoted to her children. Kayla Elliott, who knew Hill closely, said Hill worked hard to support her family and had tried to move forward after the relationship ended. Elliott said Hill had noticed troubling behavior before the killing and had taken steps to distance herself.
Court documents accuse Wright of stabbing Hill at the restaurant. Officials have not released a full timeline of the moments before the attack. They also have not said whether the weapon was recovered or whether any prior reports involving Hill and Wright are part of the current investigation.
Wright’s criminal history is expected to be part of the case as it moves forward. Authorities said he had past convictions that included assault, drug trafficking and robbery. He also had been on probation for assaulting a police officer, officials said.
The killing has become a public grief point in Norwood, where the restaurant sits along a busy stretch of Montgomery Road. Customers and workers were inside when the stabbing happened, according to reports. Friends said Hill’s death leaves two children without their mother and a family facing a sudden loss.
Wright remains in custody as the murder case proceeds in Hamilton County. Prosecutors are expected to present more details through court filings and future hearings.
Author note: Last updated June 4, 2026.