Illinois mother accused of killing son had intended to poison husband, prosecutors say

The mother accused of killing her young son in a horrifying scene that unfolded inside a suburban Chicago home also made statements about harming her husband, prosecutors said during her first court appearance Tuesday. A wave of new details were revealed before a judge as prosecutors sought to keep Corie Walsh, 40, behind bars pretrial, while her attorneys argued for inpatient medical care, saying the Frankfort mother was suffering from a psychotic episode at the time of her son’s killing. “She was severely mentally ill at the time of incident and requires treatment,” defense attorney Robert Kerr said in court, adding that doctors who treated Walsh following the alleged murder and her attempts of self-harm recommended “immediate” care. Prosecutors argued that Walsh intended to do more than kill her 2-year-old son, Barrett “Bear” Walsh, but also discussed planning to poison her husband. A judge has ordered her detained, saying she poses a risk to her remaining children and husband. New details revealed in court Prosecutors had previously filed documents detailing what they say happened the day Walsh was found in a bloody bathtub and her 2-year-old son dead in her basement, hanging from a rafter. In court Tuesday, they revealed that two other children who live in the home came back from school, saw the situation unfolding and ran to a neighbor for help. The neighbor quickly pulled Barrett down and attempted CPR but said he had no pulse. He was later pronounced dead at an area hospital. The Will County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled his cause of death as asphyxia. An 8-month-old was also in the home at the time and had been left on the floor of an upstairs room unsupervised, prosecutors said. Walsh was ultimately found by the neighbor fully clothed, in a bathtub with bloody water, having injuries to her wrist and thighs, prosecutors said. She told authorities at the time she killed her son because “he was the devil” and “anti Christ,” the court docs showed. She later made statements saying she intended to harm her husband when he arrived home, saying she would “poison him with a drink,” prosecutors said, noting that she also believed she had killed her other children as well. She had drinks at home and a number of prescription bottles, they added. Defense attorneys argued, however, that she was in a state of psychosis when she attempted to take her own life and when she made statements to law enforcement and hospital staff. Friends say they noticed ‘shift’ in Walsh’s texts hours before son’s death Prosecutors, citing witnesses, had previously said Walsh had “recently become very invested in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial,” in which the mother killed her three children before trying to kill herself. The trial generated intense interest for more than a month, deeply dividing the public and drawing attention to issues around maternal mental health after childbirth. Clancy’s attorney said she was suffering from a rare condition called postpartum psychosis. Prosecutors conceded that Clancy had severe mental illness but insisted she was able to understand and control her actions. A judge last week declared a mistrial. According to the court documents, Walsh “had been actively discussing the case via group text message with her friends” up until just hours before the tragic discovery was made inside her home. But on Tuesday, defense attorneys said those witnesses noted some unusual behavior from Walsh hours before the incident unfolded. Members of the group chat described her messages as “confusing” and “out of character.” They said she believed Clancy’s husband killed his children, writing “it was manslaughter, please help I’m really freaking out.” The neighbor who found Walsh also acknowledged she was unlike herself, saying she had dilated eyes and a “weird giggle.” A firefighter and first responder told detectives she was “incoherent” in the ambulance, as well. Defense attorneys noted that Walsh saw a counselor recently and had never previously displayed any signs of abuse toward her children, according to family and friends. Defense attorney calls allegations of a Lindsay Clancy copycat ‘sickening’ Despite similarities and text messages surrounding the Lindsay Clancy case, defense attorneys said mentions of Walsh being a “Lindsay Clancy copycat” are “sickening.” “Describing Corie to a copied Lindsay is to take an easy bait,” Kerr said. Mother was diagnosed with ‘brief psychotic disorder,’ attorney says Kerr said Walsh was “severely mentally ill” at the time of incident and requires treatment. He told a judge she was diagnosed with “brief psychotic disorder.” They argued her mental health was assessed at the hospital, where doctors said she required treatment. Prosecutors argued she would be able to receive treatment while being detained. Funeral held for Barrett Walsh While his mother appeared in court, Barrett was laid to rest Tuesday in a funeral. Walsh’s husband and her mother were not in court, but officials said her husband cooperated with police and social workers. Defense attorneys said the husband and mother “have unwavering love and support” for Walsh. Walsh’s next court appearance is set for Sept. 24. If you or someone you know is struggling or in emotional distress, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. For additional resources, visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.