An Illinois mother has been charged with murder following the death of her 2-year-old son in what police described as a domestic homicide at the family’s home. Neighbors expressed fears that there was a Lindsay Clancy story in their area, and indeed it was revealed that she was an avid follower of the Lindsay Clancy case.
Corie A. Walsh, 38, faces three counts of first-degree murder in connection with the death of her son, Barrett Walsh, at the family’s Frankfort, Illinois home on Tuesday. The property is valued at approximately $1 million, according to the Daily Mail.
An autopsy performed Wednesday determined that the child died of asphyxia caused by ligature compression of the neck, according to prosecutors. Fox 32 reported that when officers arrived at the home, a neighbor was attempting CPR on the boy.
The neighbor told investigators that she discovered the child suspended from a rafter in the basement by a ligature, with his feet off the ground. She removed the ligature, lowered him, began CPR, and called 911. The child was pronounced dead Tuesday.
Police found Walsh in a bathtub, fully clothed and surrounded by bloody water, prosecutors said. A neighbor was holding a towel against Walsh’s left inner thigh and told responding officers that she had taken a knife from Walsh and thrown it into a sink. Walsh had also suffered cuts to her wrists.
Prosecutors alleged that Walsh told officers she killed her son because she believed he was the “devil” and the “anti-Christ.” Witnesses also told investigators that Walsh had developed an interest in the Lindsay Clancy case, in which Clancy admitted to killing her three children before attempting suicide.
Walsh remains hospitalized after police found her allegedly attempting to harm herself. She is expected to be transferred to the Will County Adult Detention Facility after she is released from medical care. Three other children who were inside the home at the time were not harmed. Walsh’s husband was reportedly out of state when the incident occurred.
Frankfort Police Chief Leanne Chelepis said, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, their loved ones, and everyone affected by this heartbreaking tragedy. We ask our community to keep them in their thoughts and prayers and to respect their privacy as they navigate this profoundly difficult time.”
Neighbors told NBC Chicago that the circumstances reminded them of the Clancy case. Resident Carolyn Pappas said, “This is just absolutely devastating, that this could be another Lindsay Clancy situation in our neighborhood, in our community. You never think it’s going to hit so close to home. That absolutely makes us think of that.”
