An Illinois woman facing charges in connection with the death of her two-year-old son had a keen interest in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy from Massachusetts, according to prosecutors. The woman, identified as Corie Walsh, 40, is accused of three counts of first-degree murder after her son, Barrett, was discovered deceased in the basement of their suburban Chicago residence on September 1, as per court documents obtained by NBC Chicago.
Prosecutors revealed that Walsh had shown significant interest in Clancy’s widely followed trial and had been discussing it with acquaintances until around 12:30 p.m. on the same day her son was found. A neighbor found Barrett less than four hours later.
Walsh was located elsewhere in the house with self-inflicted injuries, according to authorities. She reportedly confessed to investigators that she committed the act because she believed her son was the “devil” and the “anti-Christ.” Her attorney, Andrea Lyon, described Walsh as experiencing a psychotic episode and characterized the child’s death as a tragedy for the entire family.
Law enforcement responded to Walsh’s residence in Frankfort, situated approximately 56 kilometers southwest of Chicago, shortly before 4 p.m. after a neighbor made the grim discovery in the basement, based on the prosecutors’ request to detain Walsh pending trial.
The neighbor initiated CPR on the boy and alerted 911, with Barrett later pronounced dead upon arrival at a hospital. An autopsy determined that the cause of death was asphyxia resulting from neck compression with a ligature.
During a search of the property, authorities found Walsh fully clothed in a bathtub filled with bloody water, sustaining cuts to her wrists and thighs. She was then transported to a hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
The revelation that Walsh had been closely monitoring Clancy’s trial emerged following a mistrial declaration in the Massachusetts case, where jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict.
Lindsay Clancy, a former labor and delivery nurse, had been accused of murdering her three young children in 2023. Her defense asserted she was legally insane due to postpartum psychosis, while prosecutors argued Clancy was aware of her actions and their consequences.
Officials in Illinois have not suggested a direct link between Clancy’s trial and the death of Walsh’s son, with no publicly disclosed evidence establishing a connection beyond Walsh’s interest in the case.
As of Monday, authorities from Frankfort police and Will County prosecutors had not responded to requests for comments.