A judge in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, has sentenced Bionca Ellis, 34, to life in prison without the possibility of parole following her conviction for the brutal stabbing of a 3-year-old boy outside a supermarket. The attack, which occurred in June 2024, claimed the life of Julian Wood and also left his mother, Margot Wood, injured.
During the sentencing on Monday, Ellis displayed no emotion as Judge John Russo delivered the verdict. A jury had found her guilty earlier in October of several charges, including aggravated murder and child endangering. Following her indictment by a grand jury last year, Ellis had been held in jail on a $5 million bond.
Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley expressed profound sorrow over the incident, calling it one of the most heartbreaking cases he has encountered amid a career filled with violent acts. He stated, “Bionca Ellis’ horrific actions warrant nothing less than life without parole,” emphasizing the severity of the crime.
Ellis’ defense attorneys, Fernando Mack and Carlos Johnson, have publicly stated their disagreement with the ruling, asserting that it is “the wrong outcome.” The defense plans to appeal the conviction and the sentence, having previously entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. Mack highlighted concerns about Ellis’s mental state, noting that she was deemed incompetent at the time of her arrest and struggled with severe mental health issues.
According to authorities, Ellis entered the Giant Eagle grocery store in North Olmsted with two knives stolen from a nearby thrift store. After following Julian and his mother to the parking lot, she attacked them, stabbing the young boy twice before fleeing. Tragically, Julian succumbed to his injuries at a hospital, while his mother suffered a stab wound to her shoulder, during which she attempted to save her son.
This case underscores the pervasive issues surrounding mental health, public safety, and the devastating effects of violence on families and communities.