FRANKFORT, Ill. (WLS) — A Will County judge ruled Tuesday that Corie Walsh will remain jailed while awaiting trial on first-degree murder charges connected to the death of her 2-year-old son, Barrett.
Walsh, 40, appeared in court restrained in handcuffs and shackles, lowering her head at moments during the proceeding. Defense attorneys urged the judge not to view the case as first-degree murder, arguing that Walsh was in the midst of a psychotic episode when the child died.
Warning: The details of the story may be disturbing to some viewers.
In court, prosecutors outlined disturbing allegations surrounding Barrett’s Sept. 1 death at the family’s Brookstone Court home in Frankfort. They said the toddler was discovered hanging from basement rafters after his siblings came home from school. A neighbor found the child, began CPR and called 911, but Barrett was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Prosecutors also alleged that Walsh’s 8-month-old infant was left unattended on a carpeted area in another part of the house while Walsh was upstairs in a bathtub, allegedly trying to harm herself. According to prosecutors, the same neighbor found Walsh, removed a kitchen knife from her hands and used a towel to apply pressure to wounds on her wrists and thighs.
Prosecutors further alleged that “the defendant told officers she did this to her baby because he was the ‘devil’ and the ‘anti-Christ.'”
They also alleged Walsh threatened to kill her husband upon his return from an out-of-state trip using a poisoned drink. Prosecutors said a drink and open bottles of prescribed medication were found on a counter at the home. The couple’s three other children were not harmed, though prosecutors alleged Walsh also threatened to kill them.
The hearing also included discussion of the Lindsay Clancy murder trial. Prosecutors said, “Witnesses informed the officers that the defendant had recently become very invested in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial; at the time of this occurrence, the jury was still deliberating on the matter.”
According to prosecutors, Walsh participated in a group chat with other mothers in which she believed Clancy’s husband had killed their children but allegedly texted on the morning of the incident that she had changed her view.
Gil Soffer, ABC7’s chief legal analyst, said prosecutors are likely to focus on evidence they believe shows Walsh understood her actions.
“What actions did she take that might show that this is someone who did appreciate that what she was doing was wrong? That’s going to be the thrust of the prosecution’s case,” Soffer said.
Walsh is represented by Casey Anthony’s former attorney Andrea Lyon and Anthony Kerr, who rejected any connection between Walsh’s case and the Clancy trial.
“The speculation that this has anything to do with copycat or anything like that is baseless and cruel,” Lyon said.
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Soffer said the defense views the Clancy references as potentially harmful to its case.
The defense also challenged the first-degree murder charges, arguing that statements Walsh allegedly made that day were disorganized and unreliable because she was experiencing psychosis.
“She was psychotic, and this was not a first-degree murder,” Lyon said.
“We feel very strongly about what Corie needs, the attention she needs, and we’re going to continue fighting for that. This is not a case of first degree murder, it’s anything but that,” Kerr said.
Unlike the Clancy case in Massachusetts, the defense in Illinois bears the burden of proving insanity.
“It’s a harder road to here than it is for the defense in Massachusetts,” Soffer said.
Members of Walsh’s family attended the hearing in support of her. Defense attorneys said Walsh’s husband and mother were unable to attend because Barrett’s funeral was being held Tuesday but wanted to express their “unwavering support of Corie.”
They said Walsh’s husband continues to support her despite the alleged threats against his life.
Walsh’s attorneys said they are considering an appeal of the judge’s detention ruling and may seek pretrial release at a future hearing. Walsh is scheduled to return to court Sept. 24.
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