An Ohio judge is under fire after it emerged he released a woman back onto the streets just days after she allegedly stabbed her child to death.
On June 2, 32-year-old Bionca Ellis allegedly stole a knife from the Volunteers of America thrift store and drove to a Giant Eagle grocery store in North Olmsted, Ohio, about 15 miles west of Cleveland, where she was confronted by 38-year-old Margot Wood and their three-year-old son, Julian.
“Please do everything in your power to keep this monster behind bars.”
Surveillance footage showed Ellis chasing the mother and son through the store and into the parking lot, where once outside, he allegedly attacked them with a stolen knife, stabbing little Julian in the face and back as he sat helpless. shopping cartShe also appears to have stabbed Margot as she tried to move the child to safety.
Julian later died from his injuries. Margot was injured but is expected to survive. Police said the attack was “random“
During Monday’s court hearing, Ellis grinned as he heard the horrific charges against him, while Jared Wood, Julian’s father and Margot’s husband, pleaded with the court to “please do everything you can to keep this monster behind bars.”
Ohio’s justice system appears to have had the opportunity to lock Ellis up, but didn’t: Just days before the fatal assault, Ellis had appeared in court for a hearing on an alleged probation violation related to merchandise stolen from Walmart last year.
Rocky River District Court Judge Gregory Sponsorler had already ordered Ellis to undergo a psychiatric evaluation because she appeared to have difficulty understanding what the defendant was saying and possibly even fell asleep while he was speaking. “I’m not sure that Ellis fully comprehends the simple requirements that the court has imposed on her,” Judge Sponsorler said at the time.
Unfortunately, there was no mental health professional available, and Rocky River Judge Brian Hagan ruled at the time that detaining Ellis for a minor parole violation would violate her rights, and allowed her release.
Three days later, little Julian died.
“I think she was hallucinating. … The visions and voices were overwhelming her.”
Ouija He has since spoken to Judge Hagan about the decision and claims he has no regrets. “I am confident in the way this court handled this case,” Judge Hagan told the outlet. “We did it according to the letter of the law. There was nothing to raise alarm about.”
“There was no red flag on that pole. There were no signs here.”
An investigation into Mr Ellis’ recent interactions with police did indeed reveal several “red flags” or “indicators”, but it is unclear whether Judge Hagan was aware of any of them.
In January, Ellis was arrested on multiple assault charges after assaulting three people in Bakersfield, California. A few weeks later, she returned to Ohio and told Cleveland police that she had killed someone in California and was planning to kill more. After Bakersfield police could not find any unsolved murders that matched the description Ellis gave, Cleveland police had her committed to a psychiatric hospital.
Then in March, police in Kissimmee, Florida, arrested Ellis on suspicion of trespassing after he rented a hotel room without paying for it. As a result, Ellis spent several weeks in a Florida prison.
Ellis has now pleaded not guilty to 10 new charges, including two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder, and is back in Cuyahoga County Jail on $5 million bail. Prosecutors have already indicated they intend to seek the death penalty.
Ellis’ mother Yolanda EggletonHe believes the system failed the Woods and their daughter. “I think she was hallucinating,” Eggleton says. “Bionca had been put on a number of medications, but nothing worked. The visions and hearings overwhelmed her.”
“My condolences go out to this family,” she continued. “I was devastated when I found out about this. I still am devastated.”
“No child should ever lose their life”
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