CHICAGO, IL – Authorities allege a Chicago mother fatally stabbed her young son, wounded two of her other children, and set their home on fire after claiming they were “possessed by the devil.”
Wendy Tolbert, 45, is accused of killing her 4-year-old son, Jordan Wallace, in the family’s Logan Square home. The incident unfolded Friday morning, leading to Tolbert’s arrest and subsequent charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated arson, and aggravated battery.
Prosecutors said Tolbert first attacked her 10-year-old son as he played video games with Jordan, stabbing the boy in his arm. She then turned on Jordan, delivering more than 30 stab wounds to his chest and torso, authorities said. Tolbert next chased her 13-year-old daughter, who was reportedly attempting to call for help before being stabbed herself.
After the alleged stabbing spree, Tolbert is accused of igniting a fire inside the residence. First responders arrived minutes later, after receiving reports of smoke and children trapped inside. Firefighters pulled the children from the burning building; Jordan was pronounced dead at the scene, while his siblings survived their injuries but remain hospitalized.
Police said Tolbert did not flee and was taken into custody outside the home. During initial interviews, investigators say Tolbert made statements about believing her children were “possessed,” a motive that prosecutors highlighted in court.
Court documents detail the chaotic scene Friday, including desperate attempts by the 13-year-old girl to escape by calling 911 and seeking help through a basement window. Authorities described significant blood and trauma throughout the house.
Neighbors in Logan Square have expressed shock and heartache over the incident. Local residents said the family kept mostly to themselves, but some occasionally saw the children playing outside. “These lives are ruined. There’s no happiness from here on for them,” said one neighbor who lives nearby.
Tolbert appeared in court for a bond hearing on Sunday, where prosecutors outlined the series of events leading up to the fatal attack and subsequent fire. The judge ordered Tolbert to remain in custody without bail pending her next hearing.
The surviving children are being treated for their injuries and are expected to recover physically. The investigation remains ongoing as officials work to piece together the full circumstances surrounding the deadly attack.