An Ohio woman has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after fatally stabbing a 3-year-old boy outside a North Olmsted grocery store.
According to the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, 34-year-old Bionca Ellis stole two knives from the Volunteers of America Thrift Store located next to the Giant Eagle supermarket on June 3, 2024. After entering the supermarket, Ellis encountered 3-year-old Julian Wood and his mother, 37-year-old Margot Wood. She followed them into the parking lot, where she attacked — stabbing the toddler multiple times as he sat in a shopping cart.
Julian’s mother tried to pull him out of the cart but was also stabbed during the assault, prosecutors said.
Ellis was arrested moments later by North Olmsted police officers, who saw her walking with a knife in her hand. Both victims were rushed to a nearby hospital; Margot Wood survived her injuries, but Julian was pronounced dead.
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Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley said of the sentencing, “In my years as Prosecutor, I have seen unimaginable acts of violence — but this is among the most heartbreaking.”
A jury found Ellis guilty on nine counts, including aggravated murder, felonious assault, child endangering, and aggravated theft, following a week-and-a-half-long trial.
Although Ellis’ attorneys entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity — citing her history of schizophrenia — jurors rejected that claim, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Following the sentencing, Ellis’ attorneys Fernando Mack and Carlos Johnson called the ruling “the wrong outcome” and announced plans to appeal, per the Associated Press.
Julian’s father, Jared Wood, said after the verdict, “All of our hearts will forever be missing a piece.”
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His mother, Margot Wood, who was also injured in the attack, told News 5 Cleveland:
“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 page established for the Wood family had raised more than $278,000 as of Tuesday, Oct. 28.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, you can text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to reach a certified crisis counselor.
