CLEVELAND — Bond has been set at $5 million for 32-year-old Bionca Ellis, the Cleveland woman accused of killing 3-year-old Julian Wood in a double stabbing outside of a Giant Eagle in North Olmsted.
Ellis is due back in court for a pretrial hearing at 9 a.m. on Monday, June 17, with Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge John Russo assigned to the case.
ELLIS DOESN'T ANSWER JUDGE'S QUESTIONS
When the arraignment hearing first began, Ellis appeared via video while holding her head down as Judge Nancy Margaret Russo asked her a series of questions -- many of which Ellis did not answer.
You can watch the entire arraignment video in the player below:
Here is part of the exchange:
Judge Nancy Margaret Russo: “Miss Ellis? Miss Ellis? Miss Ellis? Please raise your head.”
Ellis: “Where is this coming from?”
Judge: “I just need to ask you a few questions. I need to make sure you understand them? Do you have an attorney?”
Ellis: “I’m looking for one.”
Judge: “Do you have the money or means to hire an attorney?”
Ellis: “Repeat that.”
Judge: “Do you have the money or means to hire an attorney?”
Ellis: “Possible.”
Judge: “Have you received and read your indictment?”
Ellis: “I don’t know.”
Judge: “You don’t know if you’ve received it? Have you received it? Ma’am, just tell me whether or not you’ve received it, please. Miss Ellis, we’ll be out of here in a few minutes if you just answer these questions. Miss Ellis, have you received your indictment?”
Ellis: “What’s her name? What’s the judge’s name?”
Judge: “Russo.”
Ellis: “Russo? Russo with an R?”
Judge: “Have you received and read your indictment? Yes or no? If you haven’t received it, I’m going to send it over there. So you need to tell me that. Miss Ellis? Why don’t you want to answer these questions? We’ll come back to her when she’s ready to talk to me.”
When Ellis was brought back into the video arraignment, it was a similar outcome. She held her head down and did not respond to some of the judge's questions.
That's when a defense attorney asked to enter a not guilty plea for Ellis while noting her mental health, but the judge stopped the proceedings saying this could be a capital murder case. It was then ordered that an attorney go to review the indictment with Ellis.
ELLIS BROUGHT INTO THE COURTROOM
A short time later, Ellis was eventually brought into the the courtroom where she faced the judge in person. She whispered the following responses to the judge's questions.
Judge: “Do you have the money or means to hire an attorney?”
Ellis: “Yeah.”
Judge: “Have you received your indictment?”
Ellis: “I don’t know.”
Judge: “Have you read it?”
Ellis: “No.”
Judge: “You have not read it? We have a copy here. You can read it.”
Ellis: “I don’t want to read it.”
Judge: “You don’t want to read it?”
Ellis: “No.”
Judge: “Are you willing to accept that the public defender has read it to you?”
Ellis: “I asked her not to.”
Judge: “You asked her not to? Well, but she did read it to you, correct?”
Ellis: “No.”
Judge: “She didn’t read it to you?”
Ellis: “No.”
Judge: “OK. Well, we can read it in open court.”
As the judge read through the indictment, Ellis appeared to smile at times before ultimately pleading not guilty to the charges.
JULIAN'S FATHER ASKS JUDGE TO 'KEEP THIS MONSTER BEHIND BARS'
Prior to the judge announcing bond, Julian's father took a moment to address the court with the following statement:
"That day, one week ago, she took everything from us. There’s nothing that could ever replace my son or anything that my wife and I, even our other kids, are going through. It’s horrendous. I really wish no bail. Period. Or extend it to the maximum limit possible that you can, at the very least. Just do whatever you can to keep this monster behind bars.”
THE CHARGES AGAINST ELLIS
The arraignment hearing comes after Ellis was indicted on the following charges last week:
- 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
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 is expected to make a full recovery, according to police.
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.
FUNDRAISER FOR THE FAMILY
A GoFundMe has been established to help raise money for Julian's family. The effort had raised more than $115,000 by 10:30 a.m. last Wednesday before topping $242,000 by 5 a.m. on June 10.
Here's how you can make a donation.
A memorial also appeared outside of the Giant Eagle store to pay tribute to Julian.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE OF THE CASE FROM 3NEWS...
- GoFundMe raises more than $175,000 after 3-year-old boy killed in double stabbing outside North Olmsted Giant Eagle
- Suspect accused of stabbing, killing 3-year-old boy at Giant Eagle in North Olmsted indicted
- 3-year-old child dies after double stabbing at Giant Eagle in North Olmsted, suspect in custody