Woman accused of killing three-year-old child in random attack giggles in court

CUYAHOGA COUNTY, Ohio (Scripps News Cleveland/Court TV) – An Ohio woman accused of murdering a young child in a random attack outside a grocery store appeared in court Monday, where her arraignment had to be restarted several times because of her conduct.

Bianca Ellis appeared in court on charges that she killed a child outside a grocery store. (Scripps News Cleveland)

Bionca Ellis is accused of fatally stabbing 3-year-old Julian Wood last week in the parking lot of a Giant Eagle grocery store in North Olmstead, Ohio. Authorities say Ellis stole two knives from the Volunteers of America store and then went into the grocery store next door, where she spotted Margot Wood pushing her 3-year-old son, Julian, in a shopping cart.

Investigators say Wood was returning to her car when Ellis ran toward her with a knife and stabbed the child. When Margot tried to pull the child to safety, Ellis allegedly stabbed her as well. Margot was injured but survived the attack. Authorities believe the victims were randomly targeted.

Following her court appearance last week, Bionca Ellis’ case was moved to Cuyahoga County, where it stalled twice during her arraignment on Monday.

When Judge Nancy Russo first spoke to Ellis, she refused to acknowledge the judge and answer questions. In a second video appearance before the judge, she said she “did not know” whether her indictment had been read to her.

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Russo said the charges could make this case a death penalty case. A lawyer tried to waive the right to prosecute, but the judge responded, saying, “This could be a capital case, I don’t think that’s appropriate.”

On Ellis’ third attempt at arraignment, the court brought her downstairs to face the judge in person.

Ellis refused to acknowledge the indictment and stated that she did not want to read it or have it read to her by her lawyer.

Russo read the indictment aloud, and Ellis could be seen smiling as she listened to the charges against her. When Russo asked if Ellis would plead not guilty, she first giggled and said “si” instead of answering yes or no. Eventually, she said yes.

Before Russo set bail, Julian Wood’s father, Jared Wood, spoke on behalf of his family. “Your Honor, that day, a week ago, she took everything from us,” Wood said. “There is nothing that could ever replace my son or what my wife or I or even my other children are going through. It’s horrific.” Wood told the judge, “Do everything you can to keep this monster behind bars,” and asked the judge to deny bail.

Russo set Ellis’s bail as high as possible: five million dollars.

Last week, her bail was set at $1 million in Rocky River. During the proceedings, Ellis also refused to raise her head.

According to the Cuyahoga County District Attorney’s Office, a grand jury indicted Ellis on the following grounds:

• One count of aggravated murder
• Double murder
• Two cases of attempted murder
• Two cases of serious bodily harm
• A case of endangerment of children
• A case of falsification of evidence
• A case of petty theft