Cleveland, OH
Bail set at $5M for woman accused of fatally stabbing 3-year-old outside an Ohio supermarket
CLEVELAND (AP) — Bail was set at $5 million Monday for a woman who authorities say fatally stabbed a 3-year-old boy last week as he sat in a grocery cart outside an Ohio supermarket and wounded his mother.
The ruling by Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Nancy Margaret Russo concluded an arraignment hearing for Bionca Ellis, 32, of Cleveland, that took three attempts and nearly an hour to complete, Cleveland.com reported.
Authorities have said Ellis was inside the Giant Eagle grocery store on June 3 in the Cleveland suburb of North Olmsted when she saw Julian Wood and his mother, Margot Wood, near the front and followed them into the parking lot,
The mother was about to load her groceries into her vehicle when Ellis ran at them with a knife, stabbing the boy twice, in an attack that took less than five seconds before Ellis walked away. The boy died at a hospital while Margot Wood was treated at a hospital for a stab wound to her shoulder — a wound prosecutors have said she suffered after trying to pull the boy out of the cart during the attack.
Authorities have not given a motivation for the attack, which they believe was a random incident. Ellis is being represented by the public defender’s office, which generally does not comment on cases.
On Monday, Ellis initially appeared via video from the county jail, but stared at the floor as Russo asked if she had a copy of the indictment that charged her with aggravated murder and other related counts. Ellis first told the judge “I don’t know,” then stopped answering despite multiple requests by the judge. Russo then asked Ellis why she wasn’t answering, and Ellis again remained silent.
The judge then moved on to other arraignments but called Ellis again a few minutes later and again asked her if she had the indictment. Ellis again said she didn’t know and an assistant public defender, whose office had represented Ellis in an unrelated matter, told Russo that Ellis had mental health issues and tried to waive Ellis’ right to review the indictment before being arraigned.
Russo refused, saying it wasn’t appropriate because prosecutors could seek the death penalty. She then ordered Ellis to appear in the courtroom and for the public defender’s office to review the indictment with her.
In the courtroom, Ellis said she asked assistant Cuyahoga County Public Defender Linda Hricko not to read her indictment. When Russo asked if Hricko did, Ellis whispered no but Hricko nodded her head yes. The judge then read all ten counts of the indictment aloud, and Ellis appeared to smile.
Speaking at Monday’s hearing as Ellis stood just a few feet away from him with her back turned, Julian’s father told the judge he didn’t want Ellis to be free on bond.
“There’s nothing that could ever replace my son, or anything my wife and I and our other kids are going through. It’s horrendous,” Jared Wood said, struggling to keep his composure. “Just do whatever you can to keep this monster behind bars.”
Cleveland, OH
Report: Ohio among worst states in the U.S.
OHIO — The U.S. News & World Report released its sixth Best States rankings, and this year’s shows Ohio is among the worst.
The rankings are based across 71 metrics in eight categories, including the economy, health care, infrastructure and natural environment. Some categories were weighed more heavily than others. Health care and education had the most weight, then came state economies, infrastructure and opportunities given to each state’s citizens.
Ohio came in 36th place. It ranked high in opportunities for citizens and fiscal stability, but low in natural environment, economy and health care.
Here’s what the report ranked as the Top 10 states:
- Utah
- New Hampshire
- Nebraska
- Minnesota
- Idaho
- Iowa
- Vermont
- Washington
- Florida
- Massachusettes
Here are the top 10 worst states:
- Louisiana
- New Mexico
- Mississippi
- Arkansas
- West Virginia
- Alaska
- Alabama
- Oklahoma
- Michigan
- South Carolina
Cleveland, OH
3rd man charged in deadly shooting of Cleveland mom in front of her children
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The Cuyahoga County prosecutor said a third person is now charged in the deadly shooting of a Cleveland mother in front of her two young children.
Alyson Appling-France, 29, was shot 17 times while unloading groceries in the parking lot of her apartment complex near Detroit Avenue and Berea Road on Jan. 10, said Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley.
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Her daughters, ages six and 10, were inside the car. They were not injured.
O’Malley said a grand jury has indicted Jamar Skanes, 49, Alontez Beasley, 34, and Clarence Bennett, 43, on these charges:
JAMAR SKANES | ALONTEZ BEASLEY | CLARENCE BENNETT |
---|---|---|
One count of aggravated murder One count of conspiracy to commit murder Two counts of murder Five counts of felonious assault |
One count of aggravated murder One count of conspiracy to commit murder Two counts of murder One count of involuntary manslaughter Five counts of felonious assault One count of having weapons while under disability |
One count of aggravated murder One count of conspiracy to commit murder Two counts of murder One count of involuntary manslaughter Five counts of felonious assault One count of having weapons while under disability |
Skanes pleaded not guilty on Feb. 8 to aggravated murder, murder, and felonious assault, The judge ordered him held on a $1 million bond.
Beasley was also in court on Feb. 8 and pleaded not guilty to murder, aggravated murder, felonious assault, having weapons under disability, and involuntary manslaughter.
He received a $1 million bond.
PREVIOUS STORY: 2 men plead not guilty to shooting Cleveland mom 17x in front of her children
Arraignments for Skanes and Beasley on the new charges will happen at a later date, according to O’Malley.
According to O’Malley, Bennett followed the victim to Target, watched her enter and exit, then tipped off Skanes and Beasley when she was heading home.
After the shooting, Skanes and Beasley fled the scene, said O’Malley. They were arrested by Cleveland police on Jan. 26.
Bennett remains on the loose and authorities need help locating him. Anyone with information should contact the U.S. Marshals at 1-866-4.WANTED.
“These three individuals conspired to brutally murder Alyson Appling-France in front of her 10-year-old and 6-year-old daughters. Their actions were unfathomable, and it is my firm belief that they are a danger to the public… Jamar Skanes and Alontez Beasley are in custody. We need the public’s help to find Clarence Bennett. If you have any information regarding his whereabouts, please contact the U.S. Marshals at 1-866-4.WANTED.”
Copyright 2024 WOIO. All rights reserved.
Cleveland, OH
Eggy Performs National Anthem At Cleveland Guardians Game [Watch]
Connecticut-native quartet Eggy on Tuesday headed to Cleveland, OH’s Major League Baseball park, Progressive Field, to perform the national anthem ahead of a matchup between the Cleveland Guardians and the visiting Seattle Mariners.
Appearing in red Guardians jerseys with “Eggy” emblazoned across their backs, band members Jake Brownstein, Dani Battat, Mike Goodman, and Alex Bailey left their instruments in the van and used their first-ever public rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” to showcase their aptitude for four-part vocal harmony.
Eggy Guitarist Jake Brownstein Hits Record-Breaking Trick Shot At Westville Music Bowl [Watch]
“As long time fans of baseball, it was surreal to play a role in the actual production of a Major League game,” Battat told Live For Live Music of Eggy’s national anthem performance in Cleveland. “We challenged ourselves with an acapella arrangement by the Gaither Vocal Band, and are all extremely proud with the result. The whole experience is a dream come true and we can’t wait to do it again.” Watch a video of the Eggy national anthem performance at Tuesday’s Cleveland Guardians game below.
Eggy is in the midst of a particularly busy year. In addition to rolling out singles from their forthcoming sophomore LP, Waiting Game, Brownstein, Battat, Bailey, and Goodman are due to make their debuts at a number of notable venues and festivals in the coming months. After performing at Electric Forest today (6/20) and supporting Blues Traveler at Morrison, CO’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre on July 4th, Eggy will continue on to festival gigs at Quincy, CA’s High Sierra Music Festival (7/5–7/7), Snowshoe, WV’s 4848 Festival (7/18–7/20), Jay, VT’s Jeezum Crow Festival (7/19–7/20), Check, VA’s FloydFest (7/24–7/27), East Aurora, NY’s Borderland Music Festival (9/13–9/15), Asbury Park, NJ’s Sea Hear Now (9/14–9/15), Austin, TX’s Austin City Limits Festival (10/6–10/6, 10/11–10/13), Live Oak, FL’s Suwannee Hulaween (10/24–10/27), and more. In August, the group will join Umphrey’s McGee as support for a run of amphitheater shows. For a full list of upcoming Eggy tour dates, head here.
Eggy Shares New Single “Laurel”, An Ode To The Romantic Allure Of L.A. [Listen]
Tuesday’s a cappella “Star-Spangled Banner” at the Guardians/Mariners game came on the heels of Eggy’s debut performances at Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival late last week. Watch a full, pro-shot video of the group’s Thursday, June 13th performance in the festival’s “This Tent” below.
Eggy – Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival – Full Set [Pro-Shot] – 6/13/24
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