Ohio – In a shocking and deeply tragic case out of Ohio, a 34-year-old woman, identified as B. Ellis has been found guilty of killing a toddler and severely injuring his mother in a brutal stabbing outside a grocery store. A jury convicted Ellis on all nine counts, including aggravated murder, attempted murder, felonious assault, and child endangerment, for an unprovoked attack that claimed the life of a 3-year-old boy identified as Julian W. Prosecutors said the violence was deliberate, cold, and without motive—an act that shattered a family and stunned an entire community.
Authorities revealed that the charges stemmed from a fatal encounter in the parking lot of a supermarket. On that June afternoon in 2024, Ellis armed herself after stealing knives from a nearby thrift store, then followed Julian and his 37-year-old mother, identified as Margot W., into the grocery store before trailing them back outside. What followed, investigators said, was a sudden and horrifying assault that unfolded in broad daylight before bystanders could even react.
It was shortly after noon on June 3, 2024, when Margot and her young son finished shopping and walked toward their car, unaware that Ellis had been shadowing them since they left the checkout line. According to prosecutors, Ellis had entered the thrift store next door moments earlier, where she stole two knives before making her way into the supermarket. Inside, she spotted the mother and child and followed them until they reached the parking lot. As Margot placed her groceries in the car, Ellis closed in. Without warning, the woman immediately stabbed the 3-year-old, striking him multiple times as he sat in the shopping cart. When Margot tried to pull her son away, Ellis turned on her as well, stabbing her in a frantic struggle that left both victims bleeding beside their vehicle.
Several witnesses rushed to help, calling 911 as the chaos unfolded. Within minutes, police officers arrived at the scene and spotted Ellis walking calmly toward a nearby road, with a knife in her hand. Officers arrested her on the spot. Both victims were rushed to a nearby hospital, but despite doctors’ efforts, Julian did not survive his injuries. His mother was treated for multiple stab wounds and later released. Authorities said the attack appeared to be a random act of violence and that Ellis had no prior connection to the victims.
During the trial, Ellis entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, but jurors were unconvinced. Prosecutors argued that Ellis’s actions were deliberate—she had armed herself, chosen her victims, and carried out the stabbing with clear intent. After roughly 24 hours of deliberation, the jury returned a guilty verdict on all counts. In the courtroom, Ellis sat expressionless as the decision was read. Across the aisle, Margot, the boy’s mother, clutched a tissue and spoke softly afterward, thanking the community for standing with her family through the ordeal. “We just want to thank everyone for the love and support for our son,” she said. “Everybody that’s visited him, commented, sent love—we appreciate you guys so much. This was for him today.”
Ellis is scheduled to be sentenced on October 27. Under Ohio law, she faces life in prison and could also face the death penalty. For Margot and those who loved Julian, the verdict offered a measure of justice—but not peace. A simple grocery trip had turned into an unimaginable nightmare, one that left a mother wounded and a little boy’s life stolen before it had truly begun.
