Newly disclosed evidence in the Will County triple homicide investigation has revealed that Jenna Strouble, 30, of St. John, Indiana, and Jacob Q. Lambert, 32, exchanged at least 12 text messages in the week leading up to the March 22, 2026, killings. According to court documents and prosecutor statements, those messages centered on practical but contentious topics: money, property division, and arrangements for visiting their two young children. Investigators are now scrutinizing the final messages sent just minutes before Strouble picked up Lambert, seeking clues into the rapid escalation that ended in three deaths.

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Strouble faces nine counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Lambert, his mother Stacy J. Forde, 54, and his stepfather Patrick J. Forde, 55. The victims were found shot in and around their home in the 3400 block of East Norway Trail in unincorporated Crete Township, Illinois.

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The Text Exchange: Money, Property, and Parenting Logistics

Court filings indicate the 12 messages spanned several days and reflected the ongoing co-parenting and separation-related strains between the pair. Topics included financial obligations, division of shared property from their on-again, off-again relationship (which began around 2020), and scheduling for visits with their 4-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son.

Prosecutors have described the overall communication as limited and often reduced to “small talk,” despite occasional intimate encounters alongside parenting duties. The messages appear to have been logistical in nature but occurred against a backdrop of pending disputes over child custody and property, which had contributed to mounting tensions. Strouble had voluntarily turned the children over to Lambert and his parents earlier, only regaining access relatively recently — a shift that reportedly added friction.

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Investigators are paying particular attention to the final messages exchanged minutes before the fatal meeting. These late texts followed Strouble’s earlier invitation to “hang out and go for a drive.” While the exact wording of the last exchanges has not been fully publicized, sources familiar with the case suggest they continued the pattern of discussing practical matters, potentially heightening emotional strain in the moments leading to the encounter.

The Alleged Sequence: From Texts to Tragedy

Around 11 p.m. on March 22, Strouble picked up Lambert. They drove toward Plum Creek Nature Preserve but pulled over along Burnham Road when it was closed. There, she offered him a “surprise” back massage, citing his complaints about back pain and her desire to “do more” for him. Lambert reportedly reclined face-down in the passenger seat of her vehicle.

According to Strouble’s statements to deputies, she retrieved a Glock 19 handgun fitted with a suppressor (purchased months earlier specifically in connection with her plan; the gun was bought in December 2025 in Crown Point, and the suppressor online for around $589). She held the weapon to the back of his head for approximately eight minutes while continuing the massage before firing a single shot. Lambert’s body was later found in a 2014 Ford Fusion near the family home.

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Strouble then drove to the Forde residence. Patrick Forde answered the door and was shot multiple times (approximately 17 wounds reported in the home). Stacy Forde was found shot on the stairs near the front door (three wounds). Spent shell casings were recovered at the scene.

When questioned about her motives, Strouble allegedly cited a “general dislike,” dissatisfaction with how Lambert spoke to the children, and her perception that his parents were overbearing. She reportedly responded “yeah, pretty much” when asked if concerns over custody played a role in targeting the parents. She also mentioned considering harm to her own parents but did not act on it.

Broader Context: Turbulent Relationship and Prior Incidents

The pair’s relationship was marked by instability. In January 2025, deputies responded to a domestic battery call at their shared residence, leading to Strouble’s involuntary mental health commitment. Lambert was described by family as a devoted father working on sobriety and stability. Strouble expressed frustrations in post-arrest interviews about parenting styles and family dynamics.

She wrote a note the night before the incident naming individuals to care for her children and later called her sister to confess, prompting authorities to be contacted. After returning home, she handed deputies a bag containing the loaded Glock 19 with suppressor and waived her rights, providing detailed statements that form a significant part of the prosecution’s evidence.

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Investigation Focus and Legal Proceedings

Digital forensic teams are analyzing the full text thread, phone logs, and any associated data to reconstruct the timeline and emotional context of the final messages. The content involving money, property, and visiting schedules is being viewed in light of the pending custody and property disputes, though prosecutors have not identified a single message as the definitive trigger.

Strouble is being held in the Will County Adult Detention Facility in Joliet. Her detention hearing has faced scheduling delays due to her attorney’s commitments in another trial, with proceedings expected to address pretrial detention under the SAFE-T Act. Prosecutors are highlighting elements of premeditation, including the weapon purchases and her admissions about intent.

The two young children have suffered an unimaginable loss, with extended family stepping in to provide care and support.

Community Mourning

The quiet Crete Township neighborhood remains shaken. Neighbors reported hearing gunfire, and the welfare check around 2 a.m. on March 23 revealed the devastating scene. Tributes at wakes and vigils have remembered Lambert as a loving father striving for betterment, and his parents as dedicated grandparents and community pillars.

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This case continues to underscore the potential dangers in high-conflict co-parenting and separation situations involving financial, property, and custody issues. Authorities urge anyone with additional information about the communications or events of March 22 to contact the Will County Sheriff’s Office.

As more forensic details from the text messages and other digital evidence emerge in court, further insight into the final hours may clarify the sequence that led from routine logistical exchanges to tragedy.