Court records say Corie Walsh called her toddler the “anti-Christ” and had closely followed another high-profile child murder trial.
FRANKFORT, IL — An Illinois mother has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the death of her 2-year-old son after prosecutors said she told investigators she believed the child was the “devil” and the “anti-Christ,” according to court records and police.
Corie A. Walsh is accused in the death of her son, Barrett Walsh, who was also known as “Bear.” Frankfort police were called to the family’s home in the 22700 block of Brook Stone Court shortly after 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, for a report of an injured and unresponsive child. A teenage neighbor was attempting CPR when officers arrived. Barrett was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Preliminary autopsy findings determined that Barrett died from asphyxia caused by compression of the neck, according to court records cited by local news organizations. Prosecutors said the neighbor had found the toddler suspended from a rafter in the basement before calling 911. Authorities have described the death as a domestic-related homicide.
Officers also found Walsh injured in an upstairs bathroom, according to court records. Authorities said her injuries appeared to be self-inflicted and were not considered life-threatening. An infant who was in the home was unharmed, prosecutors said. Two other school-age children returned home around the time police arrived and were also unharmed. Walsh’s husband was out of state at the time, according to the court filing.
Prosecutors said Walsh made statements to police about killing Barrett and described events that investigators said were consistent with evidence found at the home. The statements are allegations contained in court records and have not been tested at trial. Walsh has not been convicted of the charges.
The court filing also says witnesses told investigators that Walsh had become deeply interested in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, a Massachusetts mother whose case focused heavily on questions about mental health and criminal responsibility. Prosecutors said Walsh had been discussing the Clancy case in a group text with friends just hours before Barrett’s death. Clancy’s trial ended Friday, Sept. 4, in a mistrial after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict.
An attorney for Walsh said she was experiencing a psychotic episode at the time of her son’s death and described the case as a tragedy for the family. The defense position raises questions that are expected to become part of the criminal proceedings, but no court has made a finding about Walsh’s mental state at the time of the alleged offense.
Prosecutors are seeking to keep Walsh detained while the case proceeds. Court records cited in local reports say authorities are also conducting a forensic examination of a cellphone recovered during the investigation. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services told CBS News Chicago that it had no prior contact with the family before Tuesday and is now involved in the investigation.
Walsh was transferred Friday to the Will County Adult Detention Facility after receiving medical treatment, according to CBS News Chicago. Her first court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 8. The investigation remains ongoing, and the murder allegations will have to be proven in court.
Author note: Last updated September 5, 2026.