The Ohio judge who released the woman accused of stabbing a three-year-old to death at a grocery store defended his decision.
He asserted the suspect had no “red flags” despite her extensive criminal background and a referral for a mental health evaluation.
Police have also unveiled some alarming remarks by the obviously disturbed woman that signal she was a threat to the public and in need of dire help.
She confessed to murdering someone in one comment, and that she wanted to “kill” someone else and “eat their flesh.”
Bionca Ellis, 32, had been arrested on May 29 for a probation violation related to a Walmart shoplifting charge from the previous year. She was released just days before the deadly attack.
These unearthed revelations have sparked a firestorm online, with X users questioning Judge Brian Hagan’s decision to release Ellis back on the streets days before the fatal stabbing.
“I’m confident in the way the court handled the matter,” he told Fox 8. “We did it by the letter of the law, there was nothing there to send up alarms.”
“There wasn’t any red flags shooting up that pole.”
There were “no signs of mental distress, no signs of previous, violent acts,” Hagan explained, despite a referral for a mental health evaluation just days before the three-year-old was killed.
A magistrate judge ordered Ellis to be held for a mental health evaluation after she appeared unresponsive while in Rocky River Municipal Court for the probation violation, Fox 8 reported.
“Ms. Ellis, can you hear me? Can you tell me, North Olmsted, is she falling asleep, or what’s going on?” Magistrate Gregory Sponseller said. “Can you acknowledge me, Ms. Ellis, please?”
Ellis refused to answer, prompting Sponseller to say, “I think we need to get a mental health evaluation. Let’s hold her for an evaluation from recovery resources.”
“I’m not sure she fully understands the simple requirements the court has imposed on her.”
Fox 8 has also revealed Ellis had warrants for her arrest issued in February after she was charged with three counts of “battery on person.”
This saga eventually landed her in a Ohio women’s shelter, where police were notified after Ellis confessed to murdering a woman in California.
Ellis reportedly told officers she dumped the victim’s body in an unknown area, possibly near a river.
“Bionca then went and explained that sometime in the last few months that she murdered someone in Bakersfield, California,” a police report said.
“She states the victim was a white female, approx. 5’6”, 150 pounds, and that she was a bartender or worked at a bar.”
Police never pursued any charges against Ellis for these claims due to a lack of evidence, even though there were several homicide cases “similar” to what Eliis described open at the time.
They also did not get Ellis for the assault warrants, but instead advised her about them.
Ellis told officers if she was not taken to jail “she was going to murder someone at the shelter” and wanted to “kill someone and eat their flesh,” according to police.
Ellis was then transported to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation, where they said she became “extremely irate, agitated and began fighting” with medical staff and police.
The police report stated Ellis was eventually sedated for safety purposes.
Ellis first made headlines earlier this week after showcasing an “evil” smirk during her hearing Monday for allegedly stabbing three-year-old Julian Wood to death.
Julian’s father addressed the court with a heartfelt statement before the judge announced the $5 million bond. “Just do whatever you can to keep this monster behind bars,” he said.
