An Ohio woman has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the brutal stabbing death of a 3-year-old boy outside a grocery store.
Prosecutors say 34-year-old Bionca Ellis stole two knives from a Volunteers of America Thrift Store next to a Giant Eagle supermarket in North Olmsted on June 3, 2024. Moments later, she entered the supermarket, spotted 3-year-old Julian Wood and his mother, and followed them into the parking lot.
There, Ellis attacked. She stabbed Julian multiple times as he sat in a shopping cart and also stabbed his mother, 37-year-old Margot Wood, as she tried desperately to pull her son to safety.
Police quickly arrested Ellis nearby after spotting her walking with a knife in her hand. Julian and his mother were rushed to the hospital, but the little boy did not survive.
“In my years as Prosecutor, I have seen unimaginable acts of violence — but this is among the most heartbreaking,” said Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley after Ellis’ sentencing.
A jury found Ellis guilty on nine counts, including aggravated murder, felonious assault, child endangering, and aggravated theft, after a week-and-a-half-long trial. Her defense team argued she suffered from schizophrenia and entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, but the jury rejected that claim.
Ellis’ attorneys said they plan to appeal, calling the verdict “the wrong outcome.”
Julian’s grieving parents shared emotional statements following the sentencing. His father, Jared Wood, said, “All of our hearts will forever be missing a piece.” His mother, Margot, added, “That woman murdering my son replays in my head every single day. I can still see the terror in his eyes, and it haunts me every day. Just because you have a mental illness doesn’t justify murdering my son.”
A GoFundMe set up to support the Wood family has raised more than $278,000 as of October 28.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, you can reach the Crisis Text Line by texting “STRENGTH” to 741-741 to connect with a trained counselor.
Where is the good old electric chair, when you need it!!!! Kill this sicko, and be rid of her!!
BUY A ROPE FIND THE NEAREST TREE HANG EM HIGH LEAVE THEM SWINGING LET EM ROT FOR THE BUZZARDS TO EAT
Death penalty for the murderer. Why feed and cloth this murderer for life at the tax payers expence. Could you ever trust that she would never do it aagain? Our prisons are full of these murderers.
I’ve never understood the plea “not guilty by reason of insanity”. It should be “Guilty By Reason Of Insanity”. How could the person be considered not guilty when just the fact that they have admitted to the crime makes them guilty of the crime.
Hanging us good