A mother from Illinois, who showed a strong interest in the Lindsay Clancy case, is accused of murdering her young child and then attempting to harm herself while experiencing what is reported as a “brief psychotic disorder.”
The Frankfort Police Department responded to calls about an unresponsive child around 4 p.m. on September 1.
Upon arrival, police found a 2-year-old boy at the house who was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
The Will County Coroner’s Office determined the cause of death as “asphyxia due to ligature compression of the neck,” according to reports.
Additionally, three other children were present in the home but were unharmed.
Corie A. Walsh, the 40-year-old mother, was taken to Silver Cross Hospital for her injuries, which were not life-threatening, then moved to the Will County Adult Detention Facility.
Walsh faces a first-degree murder charge as court documents indicate that she could be sentenced between 60 to 100 years if found guilty, given the age of her child.
According to obtained court documents, Walsh’s son, Barrett “Bear” Walsh, was discovered hanging from a rafter in the family home’s basement.
On the day of the incident, two of her other children arrived home from school to the alarming scene and sought assistance from a neighbor.
The neighbor attempted life-saving measures but unfortunately found that the child did not have a pulse. Meanwhile, an 8-month-old baby was found unattended in an upstairs room.
Upon discovering Walsh, the neighbor saw her fully clothed in a bathtub filled with bloody water, exhibiting injuries to her wrist and thighs.
Court filings reveal that the neighbor reported witnessing Walsh “actively harming herself” with a knife, indicating she was in a dire state.
The neighbor further described Walsh as having dilated pupils and behaving oddly, such as giggling inappropriately.
Court documents suggest that Walsh believed her son was the devil and the “anti-Christ,” a belief her attorney attributes to her mental state at the time.
Walsh’s attorney argued she was experiencing severe mental illness during the incident and emphasized the need for treatment.
However, prosecutors countered, suggesting that Walsh had intentions to harm other family members as well, indicating she had even planned to poison her husband and believed she might have harmed her other children.
In light of these statements, a judge ordered her incarceration due to concerns for the safety of her surviving children and husband.
Prosecutors mentioned that Walsh had become recently engrossed in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial, wherein Clancy was accused of killing her children before attempting to take her life.
Court documents also stated that Walsh had been discussing the case in a group text just hours before the incident.
People involved in the chat described her messages as “confusing” and not typical of her usual behavior.
While Walsh’s defense team argued against labeling her as a “copycat,” they expressed that the tragedy should be viewed in context of her mental health struggles.
Walsh is represented by Andrea Lyon, who previously defended Casey Anthony, known for a highly publicized murder trial.
Lyon remarked on the situation, saying it’s a tragedy for the Walsh family and related to the severe psychological episode Walsh was experiencing.
At the time of the alleged act, Walsh’s husband was out of town, and both he and her mother have expressed their unwavering support.
During Walsh’s court appearance, her son was being laid to rest.
Walsh is set to appear in court again on September 24.
