Overview

• On July 4, Chicago police responding to a ‘person with a knife’ call found Tolbert’s home ablaze in the 3600 block of West Palmer Street after she allegedly stabbed her three children and set the house on fire.
• Her 4-year-old son died at Stroger Hospital and her 10-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter remain hospitalized in serious and critical condition, respectively.
• The fire spread to a neighboring building, injuring a 31-year-old woman, a 34-year-old man and three officers who were treated for smoke inhalation.
• Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives joined the Chicago Police Department’s investigation, which has not disclosed any possible motive.
• Tolbert was formally charged with first-degree murder, multiple counts of attempted murder, aggravated arson and aggravated battery and is scheduled for a detention hearing Sunday at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse.