Corie Walsh defense claims psychotic episode in toddler's death

During a court hearing in Will County, defense attorney Robert Kerr revealed that Corie Walsh had been planning a Disney World vacation for her family, specifically for her 2-year-old son Barrett, just hours before his death. Kerr argued that Walsh was experiencing a “psychotic episode” at the time of the incident.

Prosecutors allege that Walsh, 40, became “very invested” in the high-profile murder trial of Lindsay Clancy before “knowingly and intentionally” killing Barrett. The toddler was allegedly found suspended by a ligature in the basement of the family home in Frankfort, Illinois, on September 1. An autopsy confirmed the cause of death as “asphyxia due to ligature compression of the neck.”

Walsh’s defense maintains that the planning of the trip, which included flights and park passes for the extended family, demonstrates her state of mind prior to the alleged event. Prosecutors, however, continue to pursue charges based on the intentional nature of the act.