Cleveland.com reporter among two bodies found
Police investigating deaths discovered at mobile home park.
The Perrysburg Township Police Department released the identity of two people whose bodies were found Monday at a Perrysburg Township mobile home park.
In a news release Monday the police confirmed one of the deceased was Nikki M. Delamotte, 30, of Cleveland Heights. Delamotte was an arts and culture reporter for cleveland.com. Police also found Robert J. Delamotte, 67, of Perrysburg, dead on scene.
The department along with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation continue to investigate the deaths.
“She’s beautiful and no one should have ever hurt her. And that’s all I’m going to say,” said Delamotte’s mother, Jo Anne Ullman.
Delamotte was previously reported missing after visiting a relative at the park, and Delamotte’s mother requested a welfare check at the park. She told police she spotted her daughter’s car on the property with her wallet and phone inside.
Police responded at 9:30 a.m. Monday to that welfare check request at a residence at Friendly Village mobile home park, Perrysburg Township Police Lt. Matt Gazarek said.
Officers found the bodies immediately upon entering the home in question, and investigators Monday afternoon were visible working at a mobile home at 159 Blackwolf Drive.
The trailer park is located just north of the Ohio Turnpike off of Oregon Road.
Ullman’s boyfriend, Matt Johnston, told The Blade he and Ullman were present at the crime scene Monday but did not offer further details.
Many took to social media Monday to post about Delamotte, saying, “your passing is such a loss for Cleveland, for journalism, for young writers, for all the people whose lives you’ve been a witness to and all the people who were lucky to hear your voice,” and “You were the nicest and most genuine person I have ever met. Thank you so much for everything you have done for Cleveland, you will be greatly missed.”
Most residents in the mobile home community said the area is fairly quiet and police are seldom seen.
Jim Riter has lived in the park for nearly 20 years. He didn’t know who lived in the residence in question, but said he never noticed any issues.
“It’s sad, it’s crazy,” Riter said. “It makes you wonder what made it happen. It’s pretty quiet for the most part. There are cops in and out, but I think they’re just (patrolling).”
Andrew Iler lived near the mobile home for eight months. He said Monday’s scene made him “feel crazy.”
“It’s decently quiet actually,” Iler said. “It’s like living in Perrysburg pretty much. You rarely see a cop ride through here.”