Husband Supports Mom Accused of Killing 2-Year-Old Son
Corie Walsh pleaded not guilty in a harrowing case that prosecutors are investigating for potential links to a high-profile trial.
The husband of Corie Walsh, a mother accused of hanging her 2-year-old son, appeared in court Thursday to support her as she pleaded not guilty. Walsh, 40, faces first-degree murder charges in the death of her son, Barrett Walsh.
Prosecutors allege that Walsh left her toddler's lifeless body dangling from a rafter in their Frankfort, Illinois, home on September 1 before attempting to end her own life. Barrett's two older siblings discovered him and ran to a neighbor's house for help. The neighbor called 911 and attempted CPR, but the child had no pulse and was pronounced dead at the scene.
An autopsy confirmed Barrett died of "asphyxia due to ligature compression of the neck." Police found Walsh in a bathtub filled with bloodied water, having apparently cut her wrists and thighs with a kitchen knife.
According to court documents, Walsh allegedly confessed to killing the child, stating he was the "anti-Christ" and the "devil." She was reportedly found fully clothed in the bathtub.
During a custody hearing earlier this month, prosecutors suggested Walsh was fixated on the trial of Lindsay Clancy, a Massachusetts mother accused of strangling her three young children. Clancy's defense team argued she was insane due to postpartum psychosis.
Walsh's defense attorney, Robert Kerr, acknowledged that his client had exchanged texts about Clancy's trial with friends. However, Kerr refuted the notion that Walsh was a "copycat" and called the accusation "sickening." He argued that Walsh was severely mentally ill and experiencing a psychotic episode during the incident, mirroring arguments made in Clancy's case.
An obituary released for Barrett described him as a joyful, funny, and rambunctious toddler who enjoyed singing, dancing, and playing games with his siblings. He is survived by his brothers, Grady and Anna, and his infant brother, Cormick.
Walsh's defense attorney has stated his client was in the throes of a "psychotic episode" during the incident. The case is ongoing.