The Ohio woman accused of stabbing three-year-old Julian Wood and his mother while shopping was seen smiling in court Monday as she faced charges in the boy’s murder.
Bionca Ellis, 32, was seen in Cuyahoga Common Pleas Court smiling and almost laughing as Judge Nancy Margaret announced she is charged with murder, aggravated murder, attempted murder, felonious assault, child endangerment, tampering of evidence and misdemeanor theft.
He even turned directly to the camera and smiled, before pleading not guilty to charges stemming from Wood’s murder at the Giant Eagle grocery store in North Olmstead, Cleveland, on June 2.
But moments later, Wood’s grieving father, Jared Wood, pleaded with the judge to “do everything possible to keep this monster behind bars” and prosecutors announced they would seek the death penalty.
Bionca Ellis, 32, was seen smiling as she faced murder charges in the stabbing death of three-year-old Julian Wood on Monday.
The young man was sitting in a shopping cart when Ellis allegedly stabbed him in the face and back.
“That day a week ago, she took everything from us,” he said, apparently fighting back tears.
“There is nothing that can replace my son or anything that my wife and I, even our other children, are going through.”
Police say Ellis first encountered Julian and his mother, Margot, 37, as they were leaving the Giant Eagle grocery store and followed them to their car, brandishing a knife he allegedly stole from a thrift store. Volunteers of America hand nearby.
He then allegedly stabbed the boy in the face and back while he was sitting in the shopping cart, then slashed his mother as she tried to carry her son to safety. according to Cleveland 19.
Ellis was found a few minutes later walking down a nearby side street, still holding a bloody knife, police said.
Wood’s grieving father, Jared Wood, pleaded with the judge to “do everything possible to keep this monster behind bars.”
Ellis’ defense attorney suggested in court that she has “notable mental health issues”
Meanwhile, the grocery store was plunged into chaos as paramedics desperately tried to revive the young man and transported him and his mother to nearby St John’s Medical Centre.
But Julián’s injuries were too serious and he did not survive the attack.
However, his mother is expected to make a full recovery.
It’s unclear why Ellis allegedly attacked the family as they left the grocery store.
Police say Ellis had no prior connection to the Wood family and called the attack “a totally random act of violence.”
‘There is no indication why he committed this. She didn’t talk about anything, she looked for a lawyer,” said Detective Sergeant Matthew Beck.
Ellis was allegedly caught on surveillance footage following Julian and his mother out of the supermarket while brandishing a knife.
He initially appeared in court Monday via video conference with his head bowed.
He noted that there was no recorded history of mental illness, but confessed that after his alleged cruel and inexplicable crime, he wasn’t so sure it was accurate.
“We have some concerns about mental health, but nothing concrete at this time,” he said.
Ellis’ defense attorney also suggested in court Monday that she has “notable mental health issues,” as the suspect initially appeared on video with her head down and refused to answer any of the judge’s questions about whether she had read or not the accusation.
Judge Russo then ordered an attorney from the public defender’s office to go to the Cuyahoga County Jail and read the indictment to Ellis.
About 45 minutes later, Ellis appeared in court and pleaded not guilty.
Russo then set Ellis’ bail at $5 million and ordered the suspect to return to court next Monday.
Julian’s family is raising money for his funeral, legal bills and Margot’s recovery.
Meanwhile, Julian’s family is raising money for his funeral, legal bills, and Margot’s recovery.
“Our family is overwhelmed with sadness,” they wrote in a collective statement.
“We have no explanation as to how or why this happened, it was a random act of violence. There was no prior altercation, they did not know each other… this was a malicious and random act.
“She has devastated our family beyond words, she took something from us that we can never get back.”