Illinois Mother Accused of Killing Son During Psychotic Episode; Husband Stands By Her

An Illinois mother accused of strangling her 2-year-old son during what her attorney describes as a "psychotic episode" is receiving unwavering support from her husband, even as prosecutors allege she also plotted to poison him. Corie Walsh, 38, told authorities she believed her son, Barrett, was the "devil" and "anti-Christ" when she killed him on September 1. The toddler was found hanging from a rafter in the basement of their home.

A neighbor discovered Barrett and began CPR before calling 911. Court documents indicate the child was pronounced dead later that day at New Lenox Hospital. The cause of death was determined to be "asphyxia due to ligature compression of the neck." Walsh was treated for self-inflicted wounds to her wrists and thighs.

Andrea Lyon, a defense attorney for Walsh, stated that her client's actions were a result of mental illness. "This is a tragedy for the Walsh family, all of whom are mourning the loss of this child," Lyon said. "It is also a tragedy in that Corie herself was experiencing a psychotic episode at the time this happened."

Prosecutors have noted that Walsh had recently become deeply invested in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, who is accused of killing her three children while allegedly experiencing postpartum psychosis. Court documents state Walsh had been actively discussing the Clancy case via group text messages up to three and a half hours before her son's death was discovered.

Lyon, however, dismissed any connection between Walsh's alleged actions and the Clancy case, calling any suggestion of a copycat crime "baseless and cruel." She asserted that Walsh's interest in the Clancy trial was "accidental" and not correlated with the alleged killing.

Walsh's husband and mother were not present at her detention hearing on September 8, as it coincided with Barrett's funeral. Lyon previously served on Casey Anthony's defense team.

Eugene Roy, a retired Chief of Detectives for the Chicago Police Department, commented that psychiatric defenses are rarely successful in cases involving child fatalities. "Cases like this are, with children involved, because of the publicity and just the pain it causes the community are what we call heaters," Roy stated. "There's a lot of media focus on them. There's a lot of attention. There's a lot of demands to resolve the case promptly."