CLEVELAND – Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley announced that Rayshon Reese, 51, (50 at the time of the incident) was sentenced to 22 to 27.5 years in prison for kidnapping and attacking a 59-year-old woman at a bus stop in the Ohio City neighborhood in Cleveland in April 2025.

“Rayshon Reese is a convicted rapist who was clearly not rehabilitated. Thankfully, this courageous woman fought off this serial sexual predator, and the Cleveland Police did tremendous work to quickly apprehend him. Hell awaits this monster.”

– Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley

On April 15, 2025, around 5:03 a.m., the female victim, 59, was waiting at a bus stop near West 25th Street and Detroit Avenue in Ohio City. Rayshon Reese approached the victim and asked her questions about the time and the bus schedules. The victim replied, and Reese moved closer to her, putting a box cutter to her throat. He demanded that the victim put her arm around him and commanded the victim to follow him silently, telling her he would slash her throat and kill her if she did not comply. They walked westbound on Detroit Avenue, and Reese continued to threaten to kill the victim.

They continued walking northbound on West 28th Street, and the victim attempted to run away from Reese and tried to get the attention of nearby drivers. The victim fought back, and while attempting to run away, Reese shoved her to the ground. Reese then attacked her with the box cutter, cutting her multiple times, including her face. He also punched and kicked the victim, breaking her nose. Reese then fled the scene in his vehicle, which was parked near West 28th Street and Detroit Avenue, striking a dumpster with his vehicle as he fled. The victim fled and ran to a nearby hospital, where she was treated for her injuries. The Cleveland Division of Police (CDP) responded to the hospital.

CDP conducted an investigation, and surveillance footage and witness testimony linked Reese to the crime. Later that same day, CDP located Reese’s vehicle parked near Storer Avenue and West 56th Street in Cleveland. There was a box cutter in plain view inside the vehicle, and the vehicle sustained damage consistent with hitting the dumpster. Rayshon Reese was arrested without incident. Further investigation revealed that the victim’s blood and Rayshon Reese’s DNA were located on the box cutter.

On September 24, 2025, Rayshon Reese pleaded guilty to the following charges:

  • One count of Attempted Murder
  • One count of Kidnapping

Today, he was sentenced to 22 to 27.5 years in prison.