Cleveland, OH
New details about woman charged in fatal stabbing outside North Olmsted Giant Eagle
NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio (WOIO) – We’re learning more about the woman charged with fatally stabbing a three-year-old boy outside a Giant Eagle grocery store in North Olmsted on Monday. According to public records, Bionca Ellis, 32, of Cleveland has not had an extensive criminal history.
“There is nothing that shows that she has any violent tendencies,” said North Olmsted Detective Sergeant Matthew Beck.
On Tuesday, Ellis was charged with the aggravated murder of Julian Wood.
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Investigators say Ellis stabbed the boy and his mother with a kitchen knife in the parking lot of a Giant Eagle supermarket in North Olmsted. They say it appears to be a random attack.
Prior to that, court records show Ellis had been charged with theft at a North Olmsted Walmart in May of last year. Records show Ellis pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of unauthorized use of property and was given a six-month probation.
Judge Brian Hagan at Rocky River Municipal Court oversaw that case and told 19 Investigates that Ellis never completed her required theft education program ― thereby violating her probation. A warrant was then issued for her arrest.
“She was arrested on Thursday at Walmart,” said Detective Sergeant Beck. “A welfare check was done on her and she was found to have that warrant, so she was taken into custody and then she ― upon her release last week ― came back yesterday morning inquiring about some property of hers.”
Judge Hagan also said Ellis had no apparent history of mental health problems at the time ― something investigators now question.
“There is some mental health concerns that we have, but nothing concrete at this point,” said Detective Sergeant Beck.
Records show this past March, Ellis was also charged with criminal trespassing at a hotel in Kissimmee, Florida. According to the complaint, Ellis tried renting a room but didn’t have the funds. When the clerk at the front desk asked her to leave, she refused.
Officials confirm she was jailed for more than a month in Florida before being released. Other than that, Ellis appears to have nothing on her record but a number of traffic violations.
There is a Cleveland woman named Bionca Ellis on Facebook who claims to work at Cuyahoga County’s Department of Job & Family Services. Various people have begun posting derogatory remarks on her page ― making reference to her employment position. But 19 investigates contacted both Cuyahoga County and state officials who confirmed Ellis doesn’t work for job and family services and never has.
As for explaining why she did what she’s now accused of doing?
“There’s no indication as to why she committed this,” said Detective Sergeant Beck. “She wouldn’t speak about anything, she lawyered up.”
We tried contacting Ellis’ potential relatives to learn more about her, but haven’t heard back.
Copyright 2024 WOIO. All rights reserved.
Cleveland, OH
Medical examiner releases new details about bodies of 2 young girls found in suitcases near Cleveland school
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner released new information about the bodies of two young girls found in suitcases in Cleveland’s South Collinwood neighborhood.
On Wednesday morning, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner confirmed through DNA that the two girls are half-siblings.
At this time, they have not been positively identified, and no further information is available while the investigation is ongoing.
In a news conference on Tuesday, Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd confirmed the bodies of two young girls were found in suitcases on the city’s East Side on Monday evening.
Cleveland police were called just after 6 p.m. to a field in the area of East 163rd and Midland Avenue for a suspected dead body.
According to police sources, a man was walking his dog in the area, for the first time in a while, due to the snow, and the dog hit on the scent.
The man immediately called 911.
“The officers responded out and located a deceased individual that was in a shallow grave inside of a suitcase,” said Chief Todd.
When officers and homicide detectives got to the scene, Todd said they found the second body nearby.
According to the chief, both suitcases were partially buried in shallow graves. She said the victims had been there quite some time.
“It is traumatic for everyone. It is traumatic for those who live in the area to know that this was right there at their doorstep,” said Todd.
Authorities said one victim is believed to be 8-and-a-half to 13 years old and the other is believed to be 10-and-a-half to 14 years old.
“Locally, we have no reports of missing children to match these identifications. We are checking statewide as well. We have assistance from our state, federal and local partners,” said Todd.
Detectives are checking with state and federal partners as well.
This crime scene is located near Ginn Academy in the city’s South Collinwood neighborhood.
Police said the investigation remains in its very early stages and there is no indication of an ongoing threat to public safety.
If anyone has any information, they are asked to call the Cleveland Police Homicide Unit at 216-623-5464.
Tips can remain anonymous.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
Cleveland, OH
Bodies of 2 young girls found in suitcases in Cleveland’s South Collinwood neighborhood
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd on Tuesday confirmed the bodies of two young girls were found in suitcases on the city’s East Side Monday evening.
Cleveland police were called just after 6 p.m. to a field in the area of East 163rd and Midland Avenue for a suspected dead body.
According to police sources, a man was walking his dog in the area, for the first time in awhile due to the snow, and the dog hit on the scent.
The man immediately called 911.
“The officers responded out and located a deceased individual that was in a shallow grave inside of a suitcase,” said Chief Todd.
When officers and homicide detectives got to the scene, Todd said they found the second body nearby.
According to the chief, both suitcases were partially buried in shallow graves. She said the victims had been there quite some time.
“It is traumatic for everyone. It is traumatic for those who live in the area to know that this was right there at their door step,” said Todd.
Authorities said one victim is believed to be 8-and-a-half to 13 years old and the other is believed to be 10-and-a-half to 14 years old.
There is no indication at this time on their identities, according to police.
“locally we have no reports of missing children to match these identifications. We are checking statewide as well. We have assistance from our state federal and local partners,” said Todd.
Detectives are checking with state and federal partners as well.
The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner has taken custody of the bodies and will conduct further examination to determine the cause of death.
This crime scene is located near Ginn Academy in the city’s South Collinwood neighborhood.
Police said the investigation remains in its very early stages and there is no indication of an ongoing threat to public safety.
If anyone has any information, they are asked to call the Cleveland Police Homicide Unit at 216-623-5464.
Tips can remain anonymous.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Thousands of FirstEnergy customers are without power in Cuyahoga County this Tuesday.
The total number reached 31,785 reported outages in Cuyahoga County at noon.
That number decreased to 16,486 as of 1:10 p.m.
There were just 2,751 still without power less than an hour later at 2 p.m.
FirstEnergy estimates power to be restored to most impacted customers between 2-4 p.m. Tuesday.
FirstEnergy spokesperson Brooke Conlan said this is due to small fires on poles.
According to Conlan, the misty rain combined with salt on the road can cause contamination on utility poles, which causes electricity to travel across the the pole and cause the fire.
Conlan added their crews are working as quickly as possible to restore power.
Due to the outages, the Parma Justice Center is closed, and all court proceedings are suspended for the remainder of Tuesday.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
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