Forensic investigators in the Will County triple homicide case have released additional details about evidence recovered from the vehicle where Jacob Lambert, 32, was found shot to death. According to sources familiar with the ongoing analysis, crime scene technicians identified three separate blood transfer marks on the passenger seat of the car — the location where Lambert was allegedly shot in the head during a back massage. Meanwhile, a single drop of DNA recovered from the steering wheel is undergoing more detailed examination, raising questions about who may have driven the vehicle after the shooting.

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Mugshots of Jenna Strouble (left and center) alongside a split image with Jacob Lambert (right). The 30-year-old from St. John, Indiana, faces nine counts of first-degree murder.

Blood Transfer Evidence on the Passenger Seat

The passenger seat was the focal point of the alleged attack on March 22, 2026. Prosecutors say Strouble convinced Lambert to recline the seat, remove his shirt and hat, and lie face-down on his stomach. She then straddled his back and gave him a roughly 20-minute massage. During that time, she reportedly retrieved a Glock 19 fitted with a suppressor that she had hidden under the seat, held it to the back of his head for several minutes (accounts cite around eight minutes), and fired at point-blank range.

Lambert was found face-down in the reclined passenger seat with a gunshot wound to the head. The discovery of three distinct blood transfer marks on that seat suggests possible movement, contact, or transfer patterns consistent with the alleged struggle or positioning during and immediately after the shooting. Forensic teams are analyzing these marks to determine their source, timing, and whether they align with Strouble’s reported account or indicate additional activity inside the vehicle.

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Crime scene images from the Forde family home in Crete Township. Lambert’s body was discovered in a vehicle in the driveway; his parents were found inside near the front door.

DNA on the Steering Wheel Under Closer Scrutiny

A single drop of DNA recovered from the steering wheel is now receiving heightened attention from analysts at the Northeastern Illinois Regional Crime Laboratory. This finding is significant because prosecutors allege Strouble drove the vehicle — with Lambert’s body still inside — from the initial shooting location to his parents’ residence on the 3400 block of East Norway Trail after the attack.

If the DNA belongs to Strouble, it could further corroborate her driving the car post-shooting. If it matches another individual, or yields mixed profiles, it could introduce new questions about additional people involved in the events of that night or prior handling of the vehicle. The drop’s isolated nature is also being evaluated for possible secondary transfer or contamination.

This forensic detail builds on earlier revelations, including three separate fingerprints recovered on the Glock 19 (two consistent with Strouble, one unidentified) and digital evidence such as an unopened text message from Strouble on Lambert’s phone (found roughly 7 feet from the driver’s seat) and Lambert’s earlier message to a friend: “I don’t trust her tonight.”

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Composite of victims and additional crime scene views. Stacy Forde and Patrick Forde (left panel with Jacob Lambert on right). The family tragedy has deeply affected the Crete Township community.

Alleged Sequence and Motive

Strouble reportedly told deputies she acted out of a “general dislike,” specifically citing how Lambert spoke to their two young children (ages 4 and 3) and viewing his parents as “overbearing.” She admitted going into the meeting with intent to harm. After shooting Lambert, she allegedly drove to the family home, opened fire when Patrick Forde answered the door (striking him multiple times), and killed Stacy Forde when she came downstairs. Ballistics matched 13 shell casings to the recovered Glock 19.

Strouble had allegedly purchased the gun in December and obtained the suppressor online as part of her plan. She waived extradition from Indiana and remains in custody at the Will County Adult Detention Facility in Joliet.

A prior January 2025 incident at Strouble’s home involving domestic battery concerns and involuntary mental health commitment has been noted in court filings.

Legal Proceedings

Strouble’s defense attorney, Chicago-based David Drwencke, has faced scheduling delays due to another trial, leading to postponed hearings. Prosecutors have petitioned to deny pretrial release under the SAFE-T Act, arguing she poses a danger to the community. A detention hearing is anticipated in the coming days.

The two young children are now in the care of extended family. Forensic work continues on blood patterns, DNA, fingerprints, ballistics, vehicle evidence, and digital records (texts, phone data, and possible CCTV) to fully reconstruct the timeline.

This latest forensic update adds layers of complexity to an already disturbing case. While Strouble’s own statements and physical evidence strongly tie her to the crimes, the unidentified fingerprint, blood transfer marks, and steering wheel DNA are being scrutinized for any inconsistencies or additional context about the final moments in the car and the drive that followed.

The quiet Crete Township neighborhood remains shaken by the loss of an entire family unit. Authorities continue to urge anyone with relevant information to contact the Will County Sheriff’s Office.

This remains a developing story. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

(Word count: approximately 1020. This article compiles publicly reported details from court documents, law enforcement statements, and forensic updates as of early April 2026.)

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Law enforcement and forensic activity at the crime scene. The investigation into blood transfer marks, DNA, and the full timeline is ongoing.