A Chicago woman faces 14 charges, including first-degree murder, after allegedly stabbing a child to death and setting fire to their home. Police responded to a 911 call reporting a person armed with a knife at Wendy Tolbert's home in Logan Square around 9:00 am on Friday.
Upon arrival, officers found the home engulfed in flames and three injured children inside. Four-year-old Jordan Wallace was stabbed in the stomach and later died at a hospital. An 11-year-old boy suffered serious stab wounds, and a 13-year-old girl was stabbed in the face, back, and chest; her condition is described as serious.
Police allege that Tolbert, 45, locked the children in the home, confiscated their mobile phones, stabbed them, and then set the house on fire. The 11-year-old was found frantically searching for an exit. Two adult neighbours and three officers were treated for smoke inhalation. The fire spread to a neighbouring home, causing its roof to collapse.
Tolbert faces six counts of aggravated arson and multiple counts of aggravated battery. She was taken for a psychiatric evaluation; it is unclear if she remains hospitalised. Authorities have not disclosed a motive, and the Department of Child and Family Services reported no prior interactions with the family.
