Convinced her children were possessed by the devil, a Logan Square woman allegedly fatally stabbed her 4-year-old son 36 times and critically wounded her two other children before setting fire to their home Friday morning, Cook County prosecutors said.
Wendy Tolbert, 46, was charged with 14 felony counts, including first-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery and arson. Cook County Judge James Murphy ordered Tolbert held until trial.
Tolbert also allegedly stabbed her 10-year-old son in the arm and her 13-year-old daughter several times in the face, chest and back, prosecutors said. The boy has since been released from the hospital. The girl underwent several surgeries and remains intubated in critical condition, prosecutors said.
Tolbert was distraught throughout Sunday’s hearing.
“This is a dream. This is not real,” she said as prosecutors outlined the case. She held her hands over her ears, sobbed several times and could be heard saying the word “no” repeatedly. Several relatives were in court, some gasping and crying as details were recounted.
Wendy Tolbert allegedly used lighter fluid and rubbing alcohol to set fire to her home Friday in the 3600 block of West Palmer Street. Flames spread to a neighboring home, where the roof collapsed. Two residents in the neighboring home and a police officer who rescued Tolbert’s kids were treated for smoke inhalation.
Chicago Fire Department
On Friday morning, Tolbert’s 10-year-old son was playing video games at their Logan Square home in the 3600 block of West Palmer Street, prosecutors said. His 4-year-old brother, Jordan Walker, was asleep next to him on the couch.
Prosecutors say Tolbert came up from behind the boys, holding a knife in one hand and a metal blade in the other and stabbed the older child in the arm. The boy got up and ran to the basement. Jordan, now awake, tried to follow his brother.
Tolbert followed and kicked Jordan down the basement stairs, prosecutors said. She then stabbed Jordan 36 times in the face, chest and back. Tolbert also attacked her daughter, stabbing her several times.
At some point, prosecutors said the girl and boy were able to get to their bedrooms. They communicated through the wall to try to figure out how to escape. The girl also called 911 twice, telling dispatchers that her mom was trying to kill her and her brothers.
When police arrived, they found Tolbert covered in blood and carrying a knife in one hand and a flaming paper towel in the other, prosecutors said.
Officers heard her son calling for help from inside and saw smoke coming from the home. They had to break several windows to get into the apartment. They found Jordan and the girl unresponsive. All three kids were taken to Stroger Hospital, where Jordan was pronounced dead.
Tolbert admitted to cops that she attacked her children, telling them she believed they were possessed by the devil, prosecutors said. After she was arrested, she was taken to Community First Medical Center for a psychiatric evaluation.
The two youngest childrens’ grandparents, Julius and Debra Davis, told the Sun-Times on Sunday that Tolbert had taken away the kids’ phones before attacking them. The Davises said they never imagined Tolbert could harm her children. Her daughter remains unconscious in the ICU, Julius Davis said.
Tolbert “finally realized what she’s done,” Julius Davis said after being told of Tolbert’s remarks in court. “She shouldn’t see the light of day again. What she did was heinous. … There are many relatives who would’ve taken those children instead of putting them through this foolishness.”
Not only have the children lost their younger brother and mother, but the fire destroyed everything inside their home. The grandparents are reaching out to the Red Cross to get the kids clothing, and they have started a GoFundMe to pay for burial services for Jordan, which has raised $1,255 as of Sunday evening.
“We’re all still reeling, we’re trying to figure out how to move forward,” Julius Davis said. “We’re trying to figure out how to put our lives together, but more importantly, put the kids’ lives back together.”
Debra Davis added: “Our baby is gone. It’s just too painful.”
Prosecutors on Sunday said Tolbert has a history of mental illness and was recently diagnosed with cancer, but they did not share any specifics. She doesn’t have a job and depends on food stamps and supplemental security income, her public defender said.
Tolbert allegedly set three separate fires in the home using lighter fluid and rubbing alcohol, prosecutors said.
A Chicago Fire Department ladder truck douses flames on an upper floor of a Logan Square residence Friday morning. Authorities say a woman who stabbed her three children in the brick home next door set fire to her home, and the flames spread to a neighboring home. Two residents in the second home were treated for smoke inhalation.
Edgar Espada/Provided
The fire spread to her upstairs’ neighbors apartment and to the house next door, where the roof collapsed. A 31-year-old woman and a 34-year-old man in the neighboring home were treated for smoke inhalation and taken to Stroger in fair condition; a GoFundMe was also started for them and has raised more than $6,800 of the $7,500 goal.
One of the officers who rescued the children was also hospitalized in fair condition for smoke inhalation.
“This is pure violence,” the judge said. “Not only are you a danger to your children, but to the other residents in that building, your neighbors and the police officers responding.”
Tolbert’s next court date is Monday.
Contributing: Mariah Rush