Barrett Walsh was found deceased by a neighbor in the Frankfort, Ill., home on Sept. 1
Credit: Will County Sheriff’s Office; Corie Walsh/Facebook
NEED TO KNOW
- Barrett Walsh was found with a ligature around his neck and his feet off the ground, a neighbor told police
- His mother Corie Walsh has been arrested on murder charges
- Corie allegedly wrote frantic text messages in a group chat about the Lindsay Clancy trial just hours before the killing
Authorities have determined what caused the death of a toddler whose body was found in the basement of his family’s home nearly two weeks ago.
The child, 2-year-old Barrett Walsh, was found by a neighbor in the Frankfort, Ill., home on Sept. 1, when his mother, Corie Walsh, was also found in the house in a gruesome scene.
Corie, 40, was found trying to harm herself with a knife and has since been arrested in connection with her son’s death.
According to a criminal complaint reviewed by PEOPLE, authorities determined Barrett’s death was caused by asphyxia “due to ligature compression of the neck.”
The neighbor told police she found the boy “hanging in the basement on a device from a rafter,” according to a court petition reviewed by PEOPLE. Barrett had a ligature around his neck and his feet were off the ground when his body was found.
The neighbor tried to administer CPR as she called 911, but he had no pulse and was cold, police noted in a petition to deny pretrial release filed by prosecutors.
Corie’s two oldest children, who are school age, returned home around the time Barrett was found, according to the petition.
The investigation revealed Corie had been “invested” in the trial of Lindsay Clancy, the Massachusetts mom whose murder trial brought the issue of postpartum psychosis to the national spotlight.
Corie’s lawyer, Robert Kerr, said at a court appearance last week that Corie was severely mentally ill and had a “brief psychotic disorder” at the time of Barrett’s death, NBC Chicago reported. When contacted by PEOPLE, Kerr declined additional comment.
Kerr also said witnesses claimed Corie was behaving “out of character” hours before the killing when she sent frantic messages in a group chat regarding the Clancy case, per the outlet.
“It was manslaughter, please help I’m really freaking out,” Corie allegedly wrote, according to witness accounts shared in court, as reported by NBC Chicago. Corie also believed Clancy’s husband killed the couple’s children, seemingly referring to conspiracy theories that have been heavily denounced and debunked by Clancy’s own lawyer.
Credit: Corie Walsh/Facebook
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Barrett, known lovingly as “Bear,” was the third of Corie’s four children, her social media shows. Her infant was also in the house, unharmed, when Barrett was found dead, police said.
Corie has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder, according to her online court records, which did not indicate plea information as of the afternoon of Monday, Sept. 14.
Her next court appearance has been scheduled for Sept. 24.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.
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