CLEVELAND — 33-year-old Bionca Ellis -- the woman accused of killing 3-year-old Julian Wood in a double stabbing outside of a Giant Eagle in North Olmsted -- was back in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday morning where the state requested she be referred to the court psychiatric clinic to determine if she's competent to stand trial.
With no objection from the defense, the state’s motion was granted.
The next pretrial hearing in the case is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 13. Court records show the trial is currently slated to begin later this year on Monday, Dec. 9.
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. When the arraignment first began, she 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 that entire arraignment as it unfolded:
Ellis, who was 32 years old at the time of her arrest in this case, 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 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.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE OF THE CASE FROM 3NEWS...
- Bionca Ellis back in court: Woman accused of killing 3-year-old Julian Wood in double stabbing outside Giant Eagle in North Olmsted
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- 'Keep this monster behind bars': Father of Julian Wood speaks out in court as suspect charged in his 3-year-old son's death faces judge
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