30-Year-Old Indiana Woman Arrested on Nine Counts of First-Degree Murder in Illinois Triple Homicide

In a shocking case that has rocked a quiet suburban community in Will County, Illinois, 30-year-old Jenna Strouble has been arrested and charged with the brutal killings of her children’s father and his parents in what authorities describe as a targeted triple homicide.

Strouble, a resident of St. John, Indiana, faces nine counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of 32-year-old Jacob Lambert, his mother Stacy Forde, 54, and his father Patrick Forde, 55. The victims were discovered early Monday morning, March 23, 2026, at a home in the 3400 block of East Norway Trail in unincorporated Crete Township.

According to the Will County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the residence around 2 a.m. following a welfare check requested by a concerned family member. They found Jacob Lambert shot dead inside a car in the driveway. Inside the home, near the front door on the first floor, officers discovered the bodies of his parents, Stacy and Patrick Forde, who had also been fatally shot.

The investigation quickly focused on Strouble, described as Lambert’s on-and-off romantic partner and the mother of his children. Authorities say she fled the scene after the shootings and returned to her home across the state line in St. John, Indiana. She was arrested shortly afterward at her residence. A firearm recovered during her arrest was confirmed to match the weapon used in the killings.

Strouble was charged on Tuesday, March 24, and later waived extradition from Indiana. She has since been transferred to the Will County Adult Detention Facility in Joliet, Illinois, where she remains in custody. She is scheduled to appear in court in Will County on Monday, March 30.

The Will County Sheriff’s Office has emphasized that the attack appears to have been deliberate and targeted at the family. Officials have not released a specific motive, but reports indicate Strouble and Lambert had a turbulent relationship. Some accounts mention prior troubling behavior by Strouble, including statements to family members about harming Lambert and past mental health concerns.

This triple homicide has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit Crete Township community, an area known for its peaceful, rural-suburban character. Neighbors described the victims as ordinary family members whose lives were suddenly and violently cut short in their own home.

Jacob Lambert, 32, was the father of Strouble’s young children. His parents, Stacy and Patrick Forde, were reportedly inside the house when the shootings occurred. The discovery of one victim in a vehicle outside and the other two near the front door suggests a rapid and chaotic sequence of violence.

As the case moves forward through the judicial system, prosecutors are expected to present evidence linking Strouble directly to the crime scene, including the matching firearm and any forensic or digital evidence collected during the investigation.

The tragedy leaves behind two young children who have now lost both their father and grandparents in a single horrifying incident. Family members on both sides are undoubtedly grappling with immense grief and confusion as they try to process what happened.

This case highlights the devastating impact of domestic conflicts that escalate into lethal violence. Authorities urge anyone experiencing domestic issues to seek help through local resources and hotlines before situations spiral out of control.

The investigation remains active, and additional charges could potentially be filed as more details emerge. Strouble is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Sentencing, if convicted on the multiple first-degree murder counts, could result in life in prison under Illinois law.

The quiet streets of Crete Township are now marked by mourning, yellow police tape memories, and a community searching for answers in the wake of an unthinkable family tragedy.