'Possessed by the devil': Mother allegedly went berserk and stabbed her 3 kids — killing 4-year-old — because she thought they were evil, then set their house on fire

A Chicago parent who allegedly believed her 3 children were "possessed by the devil" tried murdering them — sidesplitting one, property 4, aft plunging a weapon into the boy's thorax — earlier mounting the family's location connected fire, section officials say.

Wendy Tolbert, 45, is accused of fatally stabbing her 4-year-old son, Jordan Wallace, connected Friday greeting astatine their location successful Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood, according to section NBC affiliate WMAQ.

Prosecutors revealed details astir the greeting onslaught successful tribunal Sunday arsenic Tolbert appeared connected murder, attempted murder, arson and different charges.

Love existent crime? Sign up for our newsletter, The Law&Crime Docket, to get the latest real-life transgression stories delivered close to your inbox.

According to WMAQ, Tolbert allegedly targeted her 10-year-old lad archetypal portion helium was playing video games with the 4-year-old victim, stabbing him successful the close arm, prosecutors said. She allegedly acceptable her sights connected the 4-year-old adjacent and stabbed him much than 3 twelve times earlier going aft her 13-year-old girl arsenic she tried to telephone constabulary and escape, per prosecutors.

After allegedly attacking her 3 children, cops accidental Tolbert sparked a blaze and went outside. Police and firefighters reported uncovering the kids wrong the residence aft receiving reports astir the occurrence and responding.

"I got this kid yelling for assistance retired the basement window," an serviceman could beryllium heard saying successful an exigency effect call, according to ABC affiliate WLS. "We're trying to get her retired of the window. I bash spot blood."

3651 Palmer. Medical telephone turned into 2-11 fire. One vulnerability astatine 3653 pic.twitter.com/QDhrrzosx1

— Chicago Fire Media (@CFDMedia) July 4, 2025

Tolbert was recovered astatine the country and taken into custody, with her allegedly telling investigators she went aft her kids due to the fact that they were "possessed by the devil," according to WMAQ. She has been charged with 1 number of first-degree murder, 2 counts of attempted murder, six counts of felony aggravated arson, and aggregate counts of aggravated battery.

"It was devastating," neighbour Angie Perez told WLS.

"These lives are ruined," she said. "There's nary happiness from present connected for them."