An Illinois mother accused of killing her 2-year-old son had been closely following the nationally watched Lindsay Clancy murder trial and discussing it with friends just hours before her child was found dead, according to prosecutors.

Corie Walsh, 40, is charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the death of her son, Barrett Walsh. Prosecutors allege the toddler was found hanging from basement rafters at the family’s home in Frankfort on September 1, while Walsh was later discovered injured in an upstairs bathtub.

Her attorneys say she was experiencing a severe psychotic episode and strongly reject suggestions that the killing was inspired by the Clancy case.

A Neighbor Found the 2-Year-Old in the Basement

The case unfolded on September 1 at the Walsh family’s home on Brookstone Court in Frankfort, a suburb southwest of Chicago.

According to prosecutors, two of Walsh’s school-age children returned home that afternoon.

A neighbor subsequently discovered 2-year-old Barrett in the basement and attempted CPR before calling 911.

The toddler was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Authorities said he died from asphyxia caused by ligature compression.

Walsh Was Found Injured in an Upstairs Bathtub

The neighbor who discovered Barrett also found Walsh elsewhere in the house.

Prosecutors said she was in an upstairs bathtub with injuries authorities believe were self-inflicted.

The neighbor took a kitchen knife from her hands and attempted to stop the bleeding from wounds to her wrists and thighs.

Walsh survived and was hospitalized.

An 8-month-old infant was also inside the home but was physically unharmed.

Walsh’s husband was out of town at the time.

Prosecutors Say She Called Her Son the “Devil”

Court proceedings later revealed disturbing allegations about what Walsh told investigators.

Prosecutors allege she said she killed Barrett because she believed the toddler was the “devil” and the “anti-Christ.”

Authorities also said that while hospitalized, Walsh described how she killed her son. Investigators said her account was consistent with evidence found inside the home.

Those alleged statements are expected to become important evidence as prosecutors attempt to establish her mental state and criminal responsibility.

She Had Been Following the Lindsay Clancy Trial

Another detail quickly drew national attention.

Witnesses told investigators that Walsh had become “very invested” in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, the Massachusetts mother accused of killing her three young children in 2023.

Clancy’s defense argued that she was suffering from postpartum psychosis and was not criminally responsible for the killings.

Her highly publicized trial was being livestreamed, and the jury was still deliberating on September 1 when Barrett died.

Walsh Was Discussing the Trial Hours Before Her Son Was Found

Prosecutors say Walsh wasn’t simply following news reports about Clancy.

She was actively discussing the case in a group text with other mothers.

Those conversations reportedly continued until around 12:30 p.m. on September 1.

Approximately three and a half hours later, the scene at Walsh’s home was discovered.

According to prosecutors, Walsh initially believed Clancy’s husband had killed the children but sent messages on the morning of Barrett’s death indicating that her opinion had changed.

Defense Attorneys Reject the “Copycat” Theory

The timing immediately raised questions about whether the Clancy trial had influenced Walsh.

Her attorneys strongly reject that suggestion.

Andrea Lyon, one of Walsh’s attorneys, described speculation that the case was a copycat killing as baseless.

The defense argues that Walsh was experiencing psychosis rather than consciously imitating another criminal case.

Prosecutors have also not established that the Clancy case directly caused or inspired Barrett’s death.

The significance of the text messages may instead become part of the larger legal battle over Walsh’s state of mind.

Her Lawyers Say She Was Psychotic

Walsh’s defense team says this should not be treated as an intentional first-degree murder committed by someone thinking rationally.

Attorney Andrea Lyon said Walsh was experiencing a psychotic episode.

Defense attorneys described behavior they say supports that argument, including hallucinations, disorganized statements and severe mental illness.

According to CBS Chicago, Walsh’s attorneys said she was at times incoherent around first responders and called out unrelated words. They have argued that her statements to investigators should be viewed in the context of her mental condition.

The Lindsay Clancy Case Creates an Unusual Parallel

The similarities between the two cases have inevitably attracted attention.

Clancy was accused of killing her three children before attempting to take her own life.

Her defense centered on severe mental illness and postpartum psychosis.

Walsh is accused of killing her 2-year-old son before being found with self-inflicted injuries, and her attorneys are similarly arguing that she was psychotic.

But there are major legal and factual differences between the cases.

Walsh’s attorneys emphasize that she has not been diagnosed with postpartum depression or postpartum psychosis, according to reporting from CBS Chicago.

And the existence of similarities does not establish that one case caused the other.

Prosecutors Allege Other Family Members Were Also Threatened

The allegations presented during Walsh’s detention hearing extended beyond Barrett’s death.

Prosecutors said Walsh made statements about harming her other children.

They also alleged that she intended to kill her husband when he returned from his out-of-state trip by giving him a poisoned drink.

Investigators reportedly discovered a drink and open bottles of prescription medication on a counter inside the home.

Her husband continues to support her despite those allegations, according to her defense attorneys.

Judge Orders Walsh Held Before Trial

Walsh appeared before a Will County judge on September 8.

Prosecutors asked the court to keep her in custody while the murder case proceeds.

Her attorneys argued for pretrial release and emphasized her need for psychiatric treatment.

The judge ultimately sided with prosecutors and ordered Walsh detained pending trial.

Her attorneys said they were disappointed with the ruling and could appeal or seek pretrial release again later.

Walsh is scheduled to return to court on September 24.

Mental State Could Become Central to the Case

The central legal fight is likely to focus heavily on Walsh’s mental condition at the time of Barrett’s death.

Her defense says she was psychotic.

Prosecutors, meanwhile, are expected to examine her behavior before and after the killing for evidence that she understood what she was doing.

The messages about the Clancy trial could become especially important for both sides.

Prosecutors may argue they provide insight into Walsh’s thinking immediately before the alleged crime. The defense may argue that focusing on those messages creates a misleading narrative around someone experiencing a serious psychiatric crisis.

Unlike in Massachusetts, Walsh’s defense in Illinois bears the burden of proving insanity.

A Family Tragedy Now Heads Toward a Murder Trial

Barrett Walsh was only 2 years old.

His mother now faces first-degree murder charges, while her attorneys argue that the events inside the family’s home resulted from severe psychosis rather than rational, intentional conduct.

The revelation that Walsh had been closely following Lindsay Clancy’s trial only hours earlier has added another extraordinary dimension to the case.

But whether those conversations ultimately matter legally — and whether Walsh can be held criminally responsible for her son’s death — will be questions for the courts.

For now, she remains in custody as the case moves toward its next hearing.