Woman, 30, Charged In Crete Township Triple Slaying: Sheriff

CRETE TOWNSHIP, IL — An Indiana woman has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of three people found slain inside a Crete Township home early Monday.

Detectives with the Will County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday obtained an arrest warrant on nine counts of first-degree murder for Jenna Strouble, 30, of St. John. Strouble is charged in the slayings of Jacob Lambert, 32, his mother, Stacy Forde, 54, and her husband, Patrick Forde, 55.

A preliminary investigation shows the killings were a targeted incident, according to police. During an interview with detectives, Strouble made incriminating statements, the Will County Sheriff's Office said.

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Though a cause of death has not been disclosed by the Will County Coroner's Office, the sheriff's office said investigators recovered a firearm and were able to determine it matched the one used in the homicides.

At 2 a.m. Monday, sheriff's police were called for a welfare check at a home in the 3400 block of Norway Trail in Crete Township, police said.

Deputies at the scene found the bodies of three adults: two men and one woman, now identified as Lambert, Stacy Forde and Patrick Forde.

Lambert was found dead in a car in the driveway, and his parents were found dead inside the home on the first floor, near the front door, the sheriff's office said.

Police said Strouble had an on/off relationship with Lambert, and they had children together. A church group the family was involved in identified the children as 3-year-old Rhett and 4-year-old Ella.

Police said a preliminary investigation shows that Strouble fled the scene to her home in St. John, Indiana, where St. John’s police took her into custody.

"The Will County Sheriff's Office would like to thank the St. John’s police department and the Lake County, Indiana Sheriff’s Office for their quick response and full assistance during this investigation and for their commitment in bringing justice to this case," the Will County Sheriff's Office said.

Strouble is still being held at the Lake County, Indiana jail and will be in their custody until she’s extradited back to Illinois.

"Tragic events like this can be avoided for those wishing to seek help and assistance regarding domestic violence," the sheriff's office said. "If you, or someone you know is facing a domestic violence situation, please call the Groundworks Domestic Violence Hotline at 815-729-1228, the Illinois Domestic Violence Helpline at 877-863-6338, or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-787-SAFE (7233) or online at www.thehotline.org."