Suspect in deadly giant eagle attack released from prison 3 days early

Lina Portman4 weeks ago

1 2 minutes read

NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio (WJW) – FOX 8's I-Team discovered a woman was released from jail three days before police arrested her for a deadly attack at a North Olmsted grocery store.

She was released even though the court raised concerns about her mental health.

Bionca Ellis has now been charged with stabbing a woman and child outside a giant eagle, killing 3-year-old Julian Wood.

Now we've discovered the story of how Ellis ended up on the streets right before this attack.

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Police video shows that last week, North Olmsted officers stopped a woman in a wheelchair on a busy street corner. It turned out to be Ellis.

“Are you doing OK?” » asked an officer in the video.

“I’m fine, I’m heading to the bus stop,” she replied.

Police discovered that Ellis was wanted for a probation violation in a theft case. So they arrested her. The video shows Ellis did a little dance while being handcuffed.

Records show a Rocky River Municipal Court magistrate remanded her for a mental health evaluation, but that did not happen. On Friday, Rocky River Judge Brian Hagan released Ellis.

On Monday, she was arrested for this violent attack, which police describe as random.

The court's brush with Ellis dates back to last year – an arrest for stealing $69 worth of merchandise from a department store.

All Ellis had to do was report to a probation officer and take a short course for court, but records show she didn't do that, so she had a warrant out for her arrest. She.

“Why didn’t this woman have a psychiatric or mental health evaluation?” “” the I-Team asked Judge Hagan.

The judge tells us the organization that handles mental health evaluations for the court didn't have anyone available. Additionally, Ellis should have been in jail for days for a very minor matter.

“There was no red flag on that pole. There was no indication here. No signs of mental distress. No signs of prior violent acts,” Judge Hagan said.

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After the probation violation arrest, you can get an indication of why a magistrate ordered a mental health examination. On audio from the hearing, Magistrate Gregory Sponseller wonders if Ellis is paying attention or falling asleep.

“MS. Ellis, can you hear me? Can you tell me, North Olmsted, is she falling asleep or what's going on? he said. “Can you say hi, Mrs. Ellis , Please?”

Finally, the magistrate said: “I think we need to do a mental health assessment. Let’s hold her for evaluation by recovery resources” and “I’m not sure she fully understands the simple requirements the court has placed on her.” »

Nonetheless, Judge Hagan released Ellis. And we found out he'll do it again even though she's now charged with murder.

“What would you do differently to handle this matter, or even next time? » asked the I-Team.

“Nothing. I am confident in the way this court handled the case,” the judge said. “We did it to the letter of the law. There was nothing there to trigger the alarm.

The murder case is moving forward in county court and Ellis could face the death penalty. Cuyahoga County prosecutors will ask a panel to review the case.

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