PAINESVILLE, Ohio — A beloved Ashtabula County business owner was found dead in his Lake County home Saturday morning. Now, police are searching for 65-year-old Tim Meola’s killer and his 2018 gray Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Meola owned Meola’s Catering and Guyreino’s Deli. His employees, friends and family got worried when he didn’t answer his phone or show up Saturday morning at his catering business like he did every Saturday.
“This was his life, the reason he got up every morning,” said his daughter Miranda Meola Lozitsky. Lozitsky drove to her father’s home and quickly realized something was wrong. “I have a criminal justice background and realized I entered a crime scene."
She called 911, then police responded and found Tim Meola dead.
“I had a gut feeling,” Lozitsky said. “Once police came out, I knew right away."
Meola owned his catering business for 40 years; now his daughter will step in and run the business.
“We plan to live up to my dad’s name,” Lozitsky said.
She said all the catering jobs that are booked will be fulfilled and the business will continue to run as usual.
In the meantime, Painesville police are asking for the public’s help in tracking down Meola’s gray 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee with Ohio license plate GWC-1718. Call Painesville Police at 440-392-5840 if you have information.
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