An Illinois mother charged with murdering her two-year-old son displayed erratic behavior and made nonsensical statements to investigators following the discovery of her son's death, a court heard.
Corie Walsh, 40, faces a first-degree murder charge in connection with the death of her son, Barrett 'Bear' Walsh, who was found hanged in the basement of their Frankfort home on September 1. Walsh was discovered in an upstairs bathtub with a kitchen knife, attempting to harm herself, according to court documents.
Walsh's attorneys argued at her detention hearing that she was experiencing a "psychotic episode" at the time of her son's death. They described her as having "fixed, dilated eyes," a "weird giggle," and being "unlike her normal self" when a neighbor found her. Her legal team stated she was unaware of her surroundings and provided contradictory accounts to investigators.
During questioning, Walsh reportedly told detectives she had gone to McDonald's for a breakfast sandwich, despite the chain no longer serving breakfast items at that time of day. Her attorney also stated that she began singing "Follow the Yellow Brick Road" from "The Wizard of Oz." She was taken to Silver Cross Hospital for treatment, where paramedics noted she was "in and out of consciousness" and her statements were incoherent.
Prosecutors contend that Walsh was actively discussing the case of Lindsay Clancy, another mother accused of killing her children, in a neighborhood group chat on the day her son died. Clancy had admitted to strangling her three children in January 2023, pleading not guilty by reason of insanity, citing postpartum psychosis.
Prosecutors claim Walsh told police she killed her son because he was "the devil" and "the Antichrist," and that she had intended to poison her husband. However, her defense team questioned the reliability of these statements, asserting they should not be taken as truth. They argued that Walsh's claims of drowning her children were false, as no child was found in water except for Barrett.
Walsh's defense team, which includes Andrea Lyon, who represented Casey Anthony, rejected the notion of a "copycat theory," suggesting that media attention surrounding the Clancy trial merely coincided with Walsh's alleged psychosis.
Walsh's family members were not present at the recent hearing as Barrett was being laid to rest. Her husband, Michael Walsh, and their families have expressed their "unwavering support" for her. The defense requested Walsh be released to her mother for psychiatric treatment, but the judge ruled she would be held in jail. The State Attorney's Office has been ordered to ensure she receives proper medical care.
Walsh's next court appearance is scheduled for September 24. She has not yet entered a plea. Prosecutors stated that the group chat Walsh participated in discussed conspiracy theories about Clancy's husband. On the day of her son's death, Walsh allegedly texted friends: "It's manslaughter. Please help. I'm really freaking out."