The Chicago community is in mourning after the unthinkable happened to three children at the hands of their own mother. Wendy Tolbert, 45, remains in jail after her court appearance for reportedly stabbing her three children, one fatally, before setting their home on fire on the Fourth of July. The mother faces 14 felony charges, according to CBS News Chicago. The charges include aggravated arson, attempted murder, battery, and first-degree murder.
Prosecutors claim that on Friday, July 4, 2025, Tolbert’s 10-year-old son was playing video games with his 4-year-old brother when their mother came out of the kitchen wielding a knife. She reportedly stabbed the 10-year-old once in the arm, but he effectively pushed her away and ran. He turned around just in time to see the 4-year-old attempting run. But the mother allegedly followed, kicked him in the back down the stairs, and stabbed him 36 times in the face, chest, and neck.
The 10-year-old then reportedly informed his 13-year-old sister of what was happening after running into the room next to hers. She was able to call the police before her mother banged on her door. The kids hatched an escape plan, opening their doors simultaneously, but Tolbert was still reportedly able to stab her daughter several times in the face, chest, and neck. Police said that when they arrived they saw the mom with a paper towel on fire in one hand and a knife in the other.
The building was soon on fire. The police got the kids out of the burning building. Unfortunately, the fire spread to the neighboring building and ultimately displaced those residents.
Tolbert reportedly suffered from mental health issues and was recently diagnosed with cancer. Police say she told them she stabbed her kids because they were “possessed by the devil.”
Long-time family friend Anthony Dobbs was beside himself with the news. “She was scared of everything,” he told the outlet. “So, I couldn’t even understand. She didn’t even like knives or none of that. It’s just shocking.”
Sadly, the 4-year-old died from his injuries, while the 13-year-old remains in critical condition. The 10-year-old was discharged from the hospital.
