WARNING: Graphic content An Illinois woman accused of killing her two-year-old-son last week will be in court Tuesday morning to face three counts of first-degree murder. Corie Walsh, 40, of Frankfort – an Illinois village southwest of Chicago – is accused of strangling her son Barrett to death, according to court documents obtained by CNN affiliate WLS. Witnesses told police Walsh “had recently become very invested in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial,” talking about it regularly in a group chat with friends almost until the moment her son was found unresponsive. Clancy was charged with three counts of murder for the 2023 deaths of her three children in Massachusetts. Clancy acknowledged killing them but her defence said she had been suffering from post-partum psychosis that was not properly treated. Clancy had also told witnesses after the killings she had heard a male voice telling her to kill her children and herself. In the Illinois case, police discovered Barrett Walsh in the basement of the family’s home the afternoon of Sept. 1. A neighbour told police she found him with a cord around his neck, according to a court document. Walsh was discovered upstairs, bloodied after apparently cutting herself with a knife, responding officers reported. She told them Barrett was the “devil” and “anti-Christ,” according to police. An infant was in the home at the time and two school-aged children returned home shortly after. They were all unharmed and later evaluated at the hospital as a precaution. Walsh’s husband was out of state at the time, according to investigators. Corie Walsh was treated at a local hospital for three days before being transferred to the Will County Adult Detention Facility, where she is being held without bond. “The defendant poses a specific, real, and present threat to her husband and her living three children,” prosecutors said in their request to deny bond. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services told CNN it had never been previously called to the Walsh home. An autopsy was conducted on the child last week. “Final cause and manner will be determined following Autopsy, Police and Toxicological reports,” the Will County Coroner’s Office said. Although Barrett Walsh was the only victim, prosecutors filed three first-degree murder counts against Corie Walsh under three different legal theories. Under the first theory, prosecutors must prove she killed her son “with the intent to kill or do great bodily harm.” Under the second theory, prosecutors must prove she killed her son “knowing that such an act would cause death” to her son. Under the third theory, prosecutors must prove she killed her son “knowing such act created a strong probability of death or great bodily harm” to her son. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, their loved ones, and everyone affected by this heartbreaking tragedy,” the Frankfort Police Department said in a statement last week. Walsh’s attorney called the death a “heartbreak.” “This is a tragedy, for the Walsh family all of whom are mourning the loss of this child,” Andrea Lyon said in a statement to CNN. “It is also a tragedy in that (Corie) herself was experiencing a psychotic episode at the time this happened.” The Clancy case, which sparked a passionate public debate about maternal mental health, ended in a mistrial Friday when one holdout deadlocked the jury. Prosecutors in that case – who argued Clancy killed her children “intentionally, rationally and swiftly” – have not yet announced whether they plan to pursue a second trial. If you or someone you know is in crisis, here are some resources that are available: Canada Suicide Crisis Helpline (Call or text 988) Crisis Services Canada (1-833-456-4566 or text 45645) Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868) If you need immediate assistance, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital.
