Crete Township, Illinois — A woman from Indiana has been charged with the murders of her former partner and his parents following a series of violent attacks that left three dead in a residential community. Jenna Strouble, 30, is facing nine counts of first-degree murder in connection with the shooting deaths of Jacob Lambert, 32, and his parents, Stacy Forde, 54, and Patrick Forde, 55. Authorities apprehended her shortly after the bodies were discovered on March 23 during a welfare check initiated by concerned relatives.
Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the Lambert family home on East Norway Trail around 2 a.m. local time, where they found Lambert’s body in a vehicle outside and both parents deceased inside their residence. According to investigators, the killings were premeditated and stemmed from a tumultuous relationship characterized by conflict. Strouble and Lambert had been involved romantically on and off since 2020 and shared two young children.
During a court hearing, prosecutors presented a narrative that depicted a chilling sequence of events beginning with Strouble picking up Lambert late on March 22 for a drive. After attempting to access a location at Plum Creek Nature Preserve that was closed, Strouble parked on Burnham Road. While offering Lambert a back massage, she allegedly retrieved a handgun from under the seat and fired at him, an act she later described as intentional despite having considered aborting her plan.
Following the initial shooting, she reportedly drove to Lambert’s family home and attempted to enter using his keys. When Patrick Forde answered the door, Strouble opened fire from the porch, continuing to shoot as she entered the home. Both Patrick and Stacy Forde were struck multiple times before deputies arrived and discovered the grim scene.
After the shootings, Strouble drove back to her home in St. John, Indiana, where she contacted her sister to recount the events. This prompted her sister to call law enforcement, leading to Strouble’s arrest. Upon her apprehension, she handed police a bag containing a Glock 19 handgun fitted with a suppressor. Investigators later identified a vehicle registered to Lambert abandoned nearby, along with Strouble’s children and parents who were present at her home.
While the motive for the attack remains somewhat vague, prosecutors indicated that Strouble had ongoing grievances regarding Lambert’s parenting and perceived control by his family over their lives. In the days leading up to the incident, court documents revealed that Strouble had written a note listing potential caregivers for her children, indicating concerns about future arrangements. Additionally, she had purchased the firearm and a suppressor online, which prosecutors argue demonstrates a level of planning prior to the tragedy.
As the legal proceedings unfold, Strouble remains in custody following an initial court appearance. Her attorney’s obligations to another case delayed a detention hearing aimed at determining her bail status. Meanwhile, autopsies have been conducted, although the final cause and manner of death findings will await further investigative reports.
The unfolding case highlights severe domestic strife and raises questions about safety and intervention in the face of escalating tensions. With investigation ongoing, authorities stress that no broader public threat exists, but the series of events leading to this tragedy paints a stark picture of a domestic situation spiraled out of control.