Woman Found Guilty in Fatal Stabbing of a 3-Year-Old in Grocery Store Parking Lot

A woman was found guilty of fatally stabbing a 3-year-old boy outside of a Cleveland supermarket.

The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office announced on Wednesday, Oct. 15, that a jury found Bionca Ellis, 34, guilty in the death of Julian Wood. Ellis has a history of schizophrenia, and her defense attorneys entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, WKYC reported.

Following the week-and-a-half-long trial, Ellis was convicted on nine criminal counts, including aggravated murder, felonious assault, child endangering and aggravated theft.

A grand jury indicted Ellis on the charges last year, and she was being held in jail on a $5 million bond. After being found guilty this week, she awaits her sentencing on Oct. 27, per ABC News.

Julian’s parents attended the Oct. 15 court date, and his mother, Margot Wood, said, “This was for him today.”

On June 3, 2024, Ellis stole two knives from the Volunteers of America Thrift Store, which is located next to the Giant Eagle supermarket. She then entered the store, and as she did she spotted Julian and his mother, Margot Wood, and proceeded to follow them.

Ellis continued to follow them after Margot paid for the groceries and exited the store. Ellis then followed the mother and son to their vehicle. 

She immediately stabbed Julian multiple times as he sat in the shopping cart and Margot loaded the groceries into her car, she said during her testimony, per Cleveland.com. Margot said Ellis stabbed Julian in the face. Margot tried to pull him out of the cart and was stabbed in her shoulder. Ellis then turned back to Julian and stabbed him in the back.

A nearby witness of the stabbing, Travis Bush, testified and said that he confronted Ellis about what she had done. Bush said that he asked if she knew she had just stabbed a child. Ellis only responded with a shrug, he testified.

Nearby witnesses called the police and reported the stabbing. The North Olmsted Police Department (NOPD) responded to the location, where they found Ellis walking away with a knife in her hand. She was arrested on the scene.

Upon their arrival, Ellis was located walking away with a knife in her hand. She was arrested on the scene. 

NOPD and EMS administered life-saving aid to Julian. He and his mother were transported to a nearby hospital. There, Margot was treated for her shoulder injuries, and the toddler was pronounced dead.

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