Suburban Mother Charged in Triple Homicide Following Alleged Confession

New details have emerged regarding the case of a 30-year-old Indiana woman accused of fatally shooting her ex-partner and his parents in an Illinois suburb earlier this month. Jenna Strouble is currently facing nine counts of first-degree murder.

The victims include 32-year-old Jacob Lambert, the father of her children, and his parents, Patrick and Stacy Forde. The tragic events occurred on March 22 in the Chicago area, according to reports from FOX 32.

The Fatal 'Hang Out' Invitation

Court documents indicate that Strouble initiated contact with Lambert on the day of the murders, texting him to ask if he wanted to "hang out." She later admitted to investigators that she went to the meeting with the explicit "intention" to cause him harm.

Prosecutors allege that Strouble drove to the Plum Creek Nature Preserve, but rerouted to Burnham Road in Sauk Village when the first location was unavailable. She then offered Lambert a back massage while he lay face down.

Shooting and Subsequent Murders

The massage reportedly lasted about 20 minutes. Court documents reveal that after Lambert criticized her technique, Strouble retrieved a Glock handgun hidden under the passenger seat. She allegedly held the weapon to the back of his head for several minutes before firing the shot.

Immediately following Lambert's death, Strouble allegedly drove to the Fordes' residence in nearby Crete Township. She attempted to use Lambert's keys to enter the home before Patrick Forde opened the door.

As Patrick Forde opened the door, Strouble allegedly began shooting upon entering, striking him 17 times in the chest and abdomen. When Stacy Forde came downstairs, Strouble reportedly shot her three times in the chest and abdomen.

Confession and Arrest

When questioned about visiting the parents' home, Strouble allegedly told investigators, "Yeah, pretty much," confirming she went there to complete her plan. Shortly after the alleged murders, Strouble returned to her St. John, Indiana, residence.

She reportedly called her sister to confess the actions, leading her sister to notify the police. Deputies discovered Patrick Forde deceased in the dining room and Stacy Forde on the stairs around 2 a.m. on March 23.

Lambert’s body was found face down in the passenger seat of a 2014 Ford Fusion Titanium located in a nearby cul-de-sac. When officers arrived at Strouble's home, she exited and surrendered a loaded Glock 19 fitted with a suppressor.

Motive and Background Revealed

Court records show Strouble purchased the handgun in December 2025 and bought the suppressor online for approximately $589. The night before the killings, she allegedly wrote a note listing three of her children and requesting care for them.

Prosecutors suggest tension over parenting and custody issues served as a motive, as Strouble and Lambert co-parented two young children. Strouble admitted to having little relationship with her children and had recently regained custody after previously yielding it to Lambert and his family.

Strouble allegedly told investigators she considered killing her own parents, believing her children would not be safe in their care. When asked if eliminating Lambert’s parents was related to custody concerns, she allegedly confirmed, "that’s some of the reasons."

Investigators also uncovered past incidents, including Strouble allegedly taking her father’s rifle and admitting she considered killing Lambert previously. Reports also noted her history of depression and suicidal ideation, including an incident where she contemplated jumping from a window with her children.

Strouble is scheduled for a court appearance Tuesday to determine if she will be held in custody pending trial. If convicted, she faces a potential sentence of life in prison.