CHICAGO — A Chicago mother is facing murder, attempted murder, and arson charges after allegedly stabbing her three children — killing her 4-year-old son — and setting their home on fire because she believed they were “possessed by the devil,” authorities said.
Wendy Tolbert, 45, is accused of fatally stabbing her son, Jordan Wallace, early Friday morning inside their home in the Logan Square neighborhood, according to prosecutors who outlined the horrific details in court Sunday.
The violent attack began when Tolbert allegedly approached her 10-year-old son as he played video games with Jordan and stabbed him in the right arm, prosecutors said. She then turned on Jordan, stabbing him more than 30 times in the chest, authorities stated.
Her 13-year-old daughter tried to flee and call for help, but Tolbert allegedly attacked her as well.
After stabbing her children, Tolbert reportedly set the family’s residence on fire before going outside. Responding police and firefighters discovered the wounded children inside the burning home after neighbors reported the blaze.
“I got this child yelling for help out the basement window,” an officer could be heard saying in emergency radio calls obtained by WLS-TV. “We’re trying to get her out of the window. I do see blood.”
Tolbert was arrested at the scene. She allegedly confessed to targeting her children because she believed they were possessed, local NBC affiliate WMAQ reported.
She now faces charges including first-degree murder, two counts of attempted murder, six counts of felony aggravated arson, and multiple counts of aggravated battery.
“It was devastating,” neighbor Angie Perez told WLS-TV. “These lives are ruined. There’s no happiness from here on for them.”
