A Pleasantville woman charged in a brutal knife attack that left a woman dead and a man wounded will stay in jail pending trial.
Rollie Ellis, 28, was in court Wednesday, as the state moved to detain her on charges she attacked a couple inside their apartment in the Lenox
There was an altercation inside the Rodriguezes apartment at about 6:35 a.m. April 11, Chief Assistant Prosecutor Seth Levy told the judge. It did not involve the couple.
Ellis went and got two knives and came back to the apartment, where she stabbed 34-year-old Jennifer Rodriguez in the neck, Levy said.
The victim ran from the apartment to the Atlantic City Public Safety Building across the street, where she collapsed from her injury. She was pronounced dead at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center's City Campus.
Raphy Rodriguez, 34, was stabbed multiple times, and told investigators what happened, Levy said.
Ellis tried to give a knife to someone after the attack, Levy said. Both knives were recovered.
Ellis has three children, ages 11, 9 and 5, along with other strong ties to the community, public defender Anthony Previti said, in arguing for her release.
He said she would be able to stay at Sassafras Run in Pleasantville. Her children are with an aunt.
But Superior Court Judge Rodney Cunningham said there were no conditions that would warrant Ellis' release.
She has a criminal history, but none involving violence, according to information released in court.
Ellis does have a pending weapon charge, but that was in the process of being resolved.
