CLEVELAND - Tributes are pouring in to honor a local reporter who was found shot to death near Toledo. Nikki Delamotte was a culture reporter for Cleveland.com, and her passing is being felt across Northeast Ohio.
Delamotte had been with the online news publication for the past two years.
"This was just a person who wanted to see this city succeed and she did what she had to do to do that," recalled Dylan Glover, GM and talent buyer for Mahall’s 20 Lanes, a music venue and bowling alley in Lakewood.
Delamotte, 30, wrote articles and reviews on up-and-coming businesses as well as staples of Northeast Ohio culture.
"She believed in us, I felt, and was willing to do that for us and kind of always represented the venue in a really good light," Glover said.
Police in Perrysburg Township near Toledo say the body of a man and woman were discovered in a mobile home park around 9:00 a.m. Monday. Cleveland.com reports that Nikki's mother confirmed to them that Nikki and her uncle were found shot to death inside his trailer.
"It's just difficult, shock and a little bit of denial," said Glover.
He also said Nikki, who he considered a friend, wrote several articles promoting his establishment and many others.
"More people would be patronizing that place after that article that she would write and I think that there's like a level of appreciation for Cleveland that was at the heart of it," Glover said.
Chris Quinn, President and Editor of Advance Ohio/Cleveland.com, released the following statement:
”Nikki worked tirelessly to provide Greater Cleveland with insights on the best places to eat and drink and enjoy precious leisure hours. She told the stories of people our audience would not otherwise meet. More than anything, she was kind, in an age when we need kindness. She never failed to leave an impression. Our hearts ache tonight at the loss of our dear friend and colleague.”
Cleveland Scene Magazine, where Nikki once worked as a contributing dining editor, offered similar praise.
"She had a level of commitments to excellence," said Glover.
There have been countless tributes to Nikki all across social media from her friends and co-workers. There have also been condolences from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, where she was a former intern, and the Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University, where she worked in marketing.
We are devastated to learn that a woman killed in Wood County has been identified as @clevelanddotcom reporter Nikki Delamotte. The Plain Dealer is united in grief with our sister newsroom at @clevelanddotcom , and with all of Delamotte's loved ones. https://t.co/Mi7SJlbfst
— The Plain Dealer (@ThePlainDealer) November 12, 2018
It’s with heavy hearts we report the tragic death of Nikki Delamotte, a popular culture reporter with @clevelanddotcom. Nikki was found shot dead in a suspected homicide Monday in Wood County. She was 30. Photo courtesy of Jacqueline Bon. pic.twitter.com/VOAEqXSLRJ
— clevelanddotcom (@clevelanddotcom) November 12, 2018
Our thoughts are with Nikki’s family, coworkers and fans across the city + beyond. We will miss her kind spirit and knack for storytelling. https://t.co/06G7K3Qlk3
— Rock Hall (@rockhall) November 13, 2018
We join Northeast Ohio in mourning the passing of @nikkidelamotte, Nikki was a shining star while Interning here at the Wolstein Center back in 2012-2013. We send our love to the Delamotte Family, Her friends, and co-workers at @clevelanddotcom pic.twitter.com/4DpG1jb3PG
— Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University (@wolsteincenter) November 12, 2018
