Inset: Wendy Tolbert (Chicago Police Department). Background: The home of Wendy Tolbert in Chicago, Illinois, which she allegedly set on fire with her children inside (Chicago Fire Department).
A Chicago mother, allegedly convinced her three children were “possessed by the devil,” attempted to murder them — resulting in the death of one, age 4, after stabbing him in the chest — before setting their house ablaze, local officials report.
Wendy Tolbert, 45, is charged with the fatal stabbing of her 4-year-old son, Jordan Wallace, on Friday morning at their residence in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood, according to local NBC affiliate WMAQ.
Prosecutors revealed details about the morning attack in court Sunday as Tolbert appeared on murder, attempted murder, arson and other charges.
Love true crime? Sign up for our newsletter, The Law&Crime Docket, to get the latest real-life crime stories delivered right to your inbox.
According to WMAQ, Tolbert allegedly targeted her 10-year-old son first while he was playing video games with the 4-year-old victim, stabbing him in the right arm, prosecutors said. She allegedly set her sights on the 4-year-old next and stabbed him more than three dozen times before going after her 13-year-old daughter as she tried to call police and escape, per prosecutors.
After allegedly attacking her three children, cops say Tolbert sparked a blaze and went outside. Police and firefighters reported finding the kids inside the residence after receiving reports about the fire and responding.
“I got this child yelling for help out the basement window,” an officer could be heard saying in an emergency response call, according to ABC affiliate WLS. “We’re trying to get her out of the window. I do see blood.”
3651 Palmer. Medical call turned into 2-11 fire. One exposure at 3653 pic.twitter.com/QDhrrzosx1
— Chicago Fire Media (@CFDMedia) July 4, 2025
Tolbert was found at the scene and taken into custody, with her allegedly telling investigators she went after her kids because they were “possessed by the devil,” according to WMAQ. She has been charged with one count of 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.
“These lives are ruined,” she said. “There’s no happiness from here on for them.”
