CLEVELAND — Bionca Ellis, the 33-year-old 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 for a pretrial hearing Monday morning.
Ellis was present in the courtroom as Judge John Russo tentatively set the start of her trial for Monday, Dec. 9, with a final pretrial scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 7.
The prosecutor also said an autopsy report should be complete within the next three to four weeks.
Ellis, who sat silently for the duration of the hearing, was seen rocking back and forth at times with her eyes closed.
She's being held on a $5 million bond after pleading not guilty to the following charges against her 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
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 last week 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.
JULIAN'S FATHER SPEAKS OUT IN COURT
Julian's dad was in the court last week where he addressed 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.”
PREVIOUS COVERAGE OF THIS CASE FROM 3NEWS...
- Photos: Community holds memory line for 3-year-old boy killed in double stabbing outside North Olmsted Giant Eagle
- Newly released surveillance video shows moments leading up to fatal stabbing of 3-year-old boy in North Olmsted
- 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