Chicago Woman Accused of Stabbing Three Kids at Home

It’s hard to even process what happened in Chicago’s Logan Square on the Fourth of July. A mother, Wendy Tolbert, was arrested that morning after allegedly stabbing her three children inside their home—and setting the house on fire while they were still inside.

According to police and court statements, the attack began without warning. Her 10-year-old son was playing video games on the floor when Tolbert suddenly came out of the kitchen with a knife. She stabbed him in the arm, and he ran. But before he could fully escape, he saw her go after his younger brother—4-year-old Jordan Wallace—who was lying nearby.

Jordan tried to run too, but she chased him, stabbed him repeatedly, and even kicked him down the stairs. Prosecutors say she stabbed him 36 times—in the face, neck, and chest. By the time officers arrived, one child was dead, two others were badly wounded, and Tolbert was holding a burning paper towel in one hand and a knife in the other.

This wasn’t just a stabbing. It became a full-scale emergency. Firefighters had to rescue the children from the burning home. One officer was treated for smoke inhalation. The fire even spread to a neighboring building, displacing several other families.

When you hear something like this, it doesn’t feel real. But for the people who lived on that street—and for the kids who survived—it was a nightmare that unfolded in seconds.

What’s your reaction to this story? Does it raise questions for you about mental health, parenting, or neighborhood safety? Let me know what’s on your mind in the comments.

Inside the Home: How the Attack Unfolded

If you’re wondering how something like this even begins—how a mother could turn on her own children—you’re not alone.

Fox 32 Chicago reported that it all started when the 10-year-old was sitting on the floor, gaming, with Jordan lying next to him. Out of nowhere, their mom came out of the kitchen with a knife and stabbed the boy in the arm. No argument. No warning. Just violence.

The boy ran, but before he could get far, he looked back and saw his 4-year-old brother trying to flee. That’s when things got even worse. Tolbert chased Jordan, stabbed him repeatedly, then kicked him down the stairs. She didn’t stop—prosecutors said she stabbed him over and over as he lay at the bottom of those steps.

Meanwhile, the 13-year-old daughter was in her room. She heard the screams, called 911, and tried to protect herself while her mom banged on her door. The two siblings opened their doors together, trying to fight back, but she too was stabbed in the face, chest, and neck.

Let that sink in. This wasn’t a moment of rage—it was methodical, targeted, and terrifying.

The Victims: Lives Forever Changed

If you’re a parent reading this, it’s nearly impossible not to imagine your own kids when hearing what happened. Three children were inside that Logan Square home—and none of them walked away unchanged.

CBS News confirmed that 4-year-old Jordan Wallace was stabbed 36 times. Thirty-six. He died before help could arrive. He was the youngest of the three siblings, and according to the Cook County Medical Examiner, the injuries were so brutal that even first responders were shaken.

His 10-year-old brother, who had been playing video games on the floor, was stabbed too—just as the chaos started. Thankfully, he managed to run and survived. He’s since been released from the hospital, but let’s be honest: surviving something like this doesn’t mean it’s over for him. The trauma will stay.

The children’s 13-year-old sister was also stabbed, multiple times. She’s still in the hospital, in critical condition. No one knows yet what long-term damage she’ll face—physically or emotionally.

This wasn’t just a crime scene. It was a family torn apart from the inside.

The Fire: Impact Beyond the Family

What happened next could have taken even more lives.

When officers arrived at the house, they didn’t just find the kids bleeding. They found Tolbert still inside, holding a knife in one hand—and in the other, a paper towel set on fire. She’d set the house ablaze while her children were still inside.

And this wasn’t just about one home. The fire spread to the neighboring building, leaving other families displaced. One officer had to be treated for smoke inhalation after helping rescue the children. Think about that for a second—this became bigger than just one family. The entire block felt it.

I don’t know if you’ve ever seen a house fire up close, but it’s chaos. Add children, violence, and an armed suspect to that picture—and now you’re dealing with trauma that spreads far beyond the walls of that house.

In fact, we’ve also reported on situations like the Nevada home invasion where residents were caught off guard inside their own homes.

The Mother: Wendy Tolbert’s Past and Mental Health History

Now here’s the part that leaves a lot of people struggling to make sense of it all.

Wendy Tolbert, the 45-year-old mother accused in this case, had no criminal record. According to a friend quoted in the media, she didn’t even like knives. He said she was scared of almost everything—and that’s why this whole thing feels so impossible to people who knew her.

But there’s more. In court, her public defender revealed that Tolbert has been battling cancer and is living with serious mental health issues. The signs were there, just not loud enough to trigger intervention.

She told police that she believed her children were “possessed by the devil.” That’s what led her to attack them. It wasn’t just anger or stress—it sounds like a full-blown psychotic break.

You and I both know mental health doesn’t excuse violence. But it does remind us how fragile the line is between coping and collapsing—especially when someone is alone, sick, and untreated.

Just like the recent Hanford shooting case in California, this tragedy reminds us how quickly violence can erupt—often without warning.

What Prosecutors and Police Revealed in Court?

In court, things got even more haunting.

Tolbert appeared visibly shaken as prosecutors read the charges. And there were a lot: 14 felony counts in total, including first-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery, and arson. The courtroom fell silent when the assistant state’s attorney described the stabbing—36 times.

Police say she made a full confession, telling them that her children were possessed and she had to “get the devil out of them.” She was holding the burning paper towel when officers arrived. That part isn’t speculation—it’s in the official record.

The judge didn’t hold back either. He said her actions were “pure evil” and ruled that she poses a serious threat to everyone around her—family, neighbors, even emergency responders. She’s not getting out. She’ll remain in jail as the case moves forward.

And as much as it hurts to read all this, we have to face it head-on. Because if we avoid the hard parts, we miss the chance to understand what leads to them—and how we might prevent it next time.

And in Fort Worth, even secured apartment complexes weren’t immune—multiple burglaries at Cooper Apartments show how vulnerable communities can be when warning signs are missed.

How the Community is Reacting?

When something this dark happens, people around the neighborhood don’t just move on—they carry it with them. And if you’ve ever lived on a close-knit block, you know how fast word spreads when police and fire trucks show up, especially on a holiday.

Neighbors described the scene as horrifying. One man, Anthony Dobbs—someone who says he knew Tolbert his whole life—told reporters that everyone was in shock. You could feel it in his words. He couldn’t understand how a woman he grew up with could do something so brutal. He said, “She didn’t even like knives. It’s just shocking.”

The entire block is shaken. People had to evacuate their homes. Some lost their belongings in the fire. Others are now living with the fear that something like this could happen again, without warning.

This isn’t just a family’s tragedy—it’s a neighborhood’s trauma. And the healing, for everyone, will take time.

These stories often spread quietly in communities—through word of mouth, neighborhood chats, or local updates. Many people now follow real-time alerts and case updates through WhatsApp channels that share verified local news without the noise.

Legal Proceedings and What’s Next

From the moment Tolbert appeared in court, it was clear this case wasn’t going to be simple.

She’s facing 14 felony charges. The most serious—first-degree murder—could carry a life sentence. But what complicates everything is the role her mental health may play. Her defense has already indicated she’s battling serious issues, including cancer and a psychological condition that’s not fully understood yet.

The judge didn’t mince words. He said she’s a danger to the public and denied her bond, meaning she’ll remain behind bars as the case moves forward. That decision wasn’t just based on what happened—it was based on the possibility it could happen again.

You might be wondering: could her mental state become part of the defense? Yes. It’s possible the court will order a psychological evaluation, and depending on those results, the charges—or how they’re handled—could shift.

But make no mistake, even with a mental health defense, this case is serious. And it’s far from over.

Could This Have Been Prevented?

That’s the question we keep coming back to, isn’t it?

According to officials, Tolbert’s family had never been in contact with DCFS—the Department of Children and Family Services. No prior reports. No investigations. No known red flags. On paper, it looked like a normal home.

But clearly, something was unraveling behind closed doors.

We can’t go back and change what happened. But you and I can ask hard questions: Could the system have caught this sooner? Should neighbors, doctors, or even friends have noticed signs of distress? And most importantly—what can be done differently the next time someone starts slipping?

Mental health doesn’t always scream for help. Sometimes it whispers. And if we’re not paying attention, we miss it.

What Families Can Learn from This Tragedy?

There’s no way to undo what’s been done. But if you’re reading this as a parent, neighbor, or even just a concerned friend—you can take something away from it.

If someone around you seems off—withdrawn, paranoid, overwhelmed, or fearful—don’t brush it off. Ask questions. Offer help. And if you think there’s real danger, don’t hesitate to call a crisis line or involve support services.

Here are a few resources worth keeping:

• National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988
• NAMI Chicago (Mental Health Help): namichicago.org
• Illinois DCFS Hotline: 1-800-25-ABUSE

These aren’t just numbers. They’re lifelines—for families, kids, and maybe someone you know.

Because sometimes, asking one hard question at the right time can stop something like this before it starts.

Final Thoughts

Stories like this don’t leave your mind easily—and maybe they shouldn’t. What happened in that Logan Square home is a brutal reminder that some people suffer silently until everything falls apart.

If there’s one takeaway, it’s this: we need to notice more, speak up sooner, and support the families who are just barely holding on.

We’ve covered other real-life neighborhood safety cases you might want to look at—especially if you care about staying alert where you live. Visit our website Build Like New.

Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available information from verified news sources and court records as of the publishing date. Details may evolve as the legal process continues and new facts emerge. We aim to report responsibly while prioritizing accuracy, context, and compassion.