CLEVELAND — Bionca Ellis -- the 33-year-old woman accused of killing 3-year-old Julian Wood in a double stabbing outside of a Giant Eagle in North Olmsted -- has been ruled incompetent to stand trial following a 20-day evaluation at Northcoast Behavioral Health.
The results of the evaluation were announced during a hearing Friday in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. However, the doctor handling Ellis' case said there was "a substantial probability of restoration to competency within the statutory time frame if provided with a course of treatment."
Ellis will receive in-patient treatment at Northcoast Behavioral Health. Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge John Russo ordered Ellis to cooperate with all prescribed medications and ordered her to be returned to Cuyahoga County Jail once she is either competent to stand trial or "unable to be restored to competency."
A competency hearing was first ordered for Ellis back on July 16. In August, Russo announced that Ellis would undergo a 20-day evaluation based on the recommendation from a forensic psychiatrist.
CHARGES AGAINST ELLIS
Ellis is being held on a $5 million bond after previously pleading not guilty to the following charges:
- One count of aggravated murder
- Two counts of murder
- Two counts of attempted murder
- Two counts of felonious assault
- One count of endangering children
- One count of tampering with evidence
- One count of misdemeanor theft
During the initial hearing, which was held back on June 10, Ellis was seen smiling at times while the judge discussed the case.
You can watch that entire arraignment as it unfolded:
Ellis, who was 32 years old at the time of her arrest, turned 33 on June 11.
CASE DETAILS
North Olmsted police said it was shortly after 3 p.m. on Monday, June 3, when Julian and his mother, 38-year-old Margot Wood, were stabbed in the parking lot of the Giant Eagle in the 27200 block of Lorain Road.
Both were taken to the hospital for treatment, but the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office later said Julian died from his injuries. Margot survived.
When officers responded to the situation, they found the suspect -- identified as Ellis -- walking toward Dover Center Road holding a knife. She was taken into custody without incident.
As police continue their investigation, they have said it appears this was “a random act of violence” as Ellis had no prior interactions with the victims before the stabbing.
PREVIOUS REPORTING:
- Bionca Ellis ordered for further competency evaluation amid charges in deadly stabbing of 3-year-old boy outside Giant Eagle in North Olmsted
- Bionca Ellis in court: Competency evaluation ordered for woman accused of killing 3-year-old Julian Wood in stabbing outside North Olmsted Giant Eagle
- Bond set at $5 million for Bionca Ellis: Woman accused of killing 3-year-old Julian Wood in stabbing outside North Olmsted Giant Eagle
- Newly released surveillance video shows moments leading up to fatal stabbing of 3-year-old boy in North Olmsted
- Photos: Community holds memory line for 3-year-old boy killed in double stabbing outside North Olmsted Giant Eagle
- 3-year-old child dies after double stabbing at Giant Eagle in North Olmsted, suspect in custody