Updated: St. John Woman Charged with Nine Counts of Murder in Crete Township Triple Homicide

Article Summary: Jenna Strouble, 30, of St. John, Indiana, has been charged with nine counts of first-degree murder following the shooting deaths of her former partner, Jacob Lambert, and his parents, Stacy and Patrick Forde, at their Crete Township home.

Crete Township Triple Homicide Key Points:

• The victims have been identified as 32-year-old Jacob Lambert, 54-year-old Stacy Forde, and 55-year-old Patrick Forde.

• Investigators recovered a firearm that matches the weapon used in the killings and obtained incriminating statements from the suspect.

• Strouble is currently being held in Lake County, Indiana, awaiting extradition to Will County to face charges.

• The incident is being investigated as a targeted domestic violence attack involving a former relationship.

The Will County Sheriff’s Office announced on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, that a 30-year-old Indiana woman has been officially charged in connection with a triple homicide that occurred in unincorporated Crete Township. Jenna Strouble, a resident of St. John, Indiana, faces nine counts of first-degree murder after an arrest warrant was obtained by detectives following an intensive 24-hour investigation.

The investigation began in the early morning hours of Monday, March 23, 2026. At approximately 2 a.m., Will County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence in the 3400 block of E. Norway Trail to conduct a welfare check. The request was made by a concerned family member who had grown worried about the occupants of the home.

Upon arriving at the scene, deputies made a grim discovery. Jacob Lambert, 32, was found deceased inside a vehicle parked in the driveway of the residence. Inside the home, deputies located the bodies of Lambert’s parents, 54-year-old Stacy Forde and 55-year-old Patrick Forde. According to the Sheriff’s Office, both parents were found on the first floor of the home, near the front door. All three victims were residents of the E. Norway Trail address.

According to Sheriff Mike Kelley, the preliminary investigation indicates that the attack was a targeted incident stemming from a domestic relationship. Strouble reportedly had an “on-and-off” relationship with Lambert, and the two shared children together.

Following the homicides, Strouble allegedly fled the scene and returned to her residence in St. John, Indiana. Through coordinated efforts between multiple law enforcement agencies, the St. John Police Department located Strouble and took her into custody on Monday. During subsequent interviews with Will County detectives, Strouble reportedly provided incriminating statements regarding the events at the Crete Township home.

A critical piece of evidence was secured when investigators recovered a firearm during the course of their search. Forensic analysis confirmed that the weapon recovered matched the firearm used in the triple homicide.

Sheriff Kelley expressed his gratitude to the assisting agencies that facilitated the swift arrest. “The Will County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the St. John 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 Sheriff’s Office stated in a release Tuesday.

Strouble remains in the custody of the Lake County, Indiana jail. She will be held there until the extradition process is completed, at which point she will be transported back to Will County, Illinois, to face the nine counts of first-degree murder. Under Illinois law, charges are merely accusations, and Strouble is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The Sheriff’s Office used the announcement of the charges to highlight the ongoing issue of domestic violence and urged those in similar situations to seek help before disputes escalate into violence. They provided several resources for individuals facing domestic abuse, including the Groundworks Domestic Violence Hotline (815-729-1228), the Illinois Domestic Violence Helpline (877-863-6338), and the National Domestic Violence Hotline (800-787-SAFE).

The Will County Coroner’s Office is continuing its work on the case, and further details regarding the autopsies and official causes of death are expected to be released as the legal proceedings move forward.