An Illinois mother has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of her two-year-old son, Barrett 'Bear' Walsh, who was found hanged in their family home on Tuesday. Prosecutors revealed that Corie Walsh, 40, had been actively discussing the trial of Lindsay Clancy, a Massachusetts mother accused of killing her three children, in group text messages hours before her son's death.
According to court documents, Walsh told police she killed her son because he was "the devil" and "the antichrist." Responding officers found the toddler in the basement of the home, suspended by a ligature around his neck. A neighbor had found the child and was attempting to perform CPR when authorities arrived.
Walsh was discovered upstairs in a bathtub, fully clothed and surrounded by bloody water, after an alleged attempt to harm herself with a knife. Documents state she was transported to a hospital and subsequently admitted to killing her son. The infant unharmed in the home and two school-aged children were found safe.
The court filing highlighted Walsh's alleged investment in the Clancy case, noting discussions via group text messages up until hours before the incident. The Clancy trial, which involved the deaths of her three children and Clancy's subsequent attempt to end her own life, recently ended in a mistrial when jurors could not reach a verdict. Clancy's defense had argued she was suffering from postpartum psychosis.
Walsh's lawyer stated that her client was experiencing a "psychotic episode" at the time of the incident. "This is a tragedy for the Walsh family, all of whom are mourning the loss of this child," the lawyer said. "It is also a tragedy in that Corie herself was experiencing a psychotic episode at the time this happened. It is our hope, through a thorough presentation and investigation of the facts, that all of us will come to see this heartbreak for what it is."
Neighbors expressed shock and noted eerie similarities between the two cases. Frankfort Police Chief Leanne Chelepis stated, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, their loved ones, and everyone affected by this heartbreaking tragedy."
Walsh was booked into the Will County Adult Detention Facility on Friday afternoon. An investigation into the incident is ongoing. Her husband was out of state at the time of the event.