Corie Walsh: Mum allegedly murders two-year-old son hours after texting friends about Lindsay Clancy trial

WARNING: Graphic content.

A woman who became “very invested” in the blockbuster trial of Lindsay Clancy has been accused of killing her two-year-old son.

Corie Walsh was charged with first degree murder and is being held in custody while receiving medical treatment, CNN reported.

In Frankfort, Illinois — which is about 55 kilometres from Chicago — police were contacted around 4pm on Tuesday with reports of an unresponsive toddler.

The two-year-old, Barrett Walsh, was discovered hanging from the rafters by a neighbour in the basement of the home.

Court filings said the neighbour said the boy “was cold and had no pulse” after she lowered him to the ground and called 911, CNN reported.

He was given CPR and transported to hospital, where he was pronounced dead around 5pm.

The court documents revealed the child died from asphyxia due to ligature compression of the neck.

Ms Walsh was found in a bath upstairs with a knife and the neighbour said she was “actively harming herself”.

She was hospitalised with non-life-threatening injuries.

Ms Walsh’s husband, who lived in the house, was interstate at the time of the killing.

An infant was inside the house and two school-aged students returned home around the time the two-year-old was found, NBC Chicago reported.

All three were unharmed.

The court documents said the 40-year-old told the neighbour that “Bear”, the nickname for her son, was in the basement.

Prosecutors said Ms Walsh told police officers that her son was the “devil” and the “anti-Christ”.

In the hours before her son’s death, Ms Walsh was involved in a group text chain with friends discussing the trial of Ms Clancy as the jury deliberated.

Witnesses told officers she “had recently become very invested in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial” and was “actively discussing” the case with friends, according to prosecutors quoted by NBC Chicago.

Ms Clancy, 36, is accused of killing her three children — Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and eight-month-old Callan — at their home in January 2023.

She has pleaded not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility, with her defence arguing she was suffering severe post-partum psychosis.

After seven days of deliberations, the jury was deadlocked and unable to unanimously reach a verdict, prompting Judge Sullivan to formally declare a mistrial and discharge the jury.

Prosecutors now have to decide if they will retry Ms Clancy, negotiate a plea deal or drop the charges.

Ms Walsh’s attorney Andrea Lyon told CNN the 40-year-old was experiencing mental ill health.

“This is a tragedy, for the Walsh family all of whom are mourning the loss of this child,” she said.

“It is also a tragedy in that (Corie) herself was experiencing a psychotic episode at the time this happened.

“It is our hope that through a thorough presentation and investigation of the facts, that all of us will come to see this heartbreak for what it is.”

Frankfort resident Amiee Demarchi began a Facebook support group for mothers in the community in the wake of the toddler’s death.

“It’s unimaginable. You know, you don’t understand how it could possibly happen,” she told ABC7.

“We are a tight knit community, and so to hear it happen in your neighbourhood is even worse.”

Ms Demarchi said mental health therapists had offered their services in the Facebook group, and some mums offered to babysit others’ children “if somebody just needed a break”.

A nearby neighbour told NBC Chicago that it felt like a wake up call.

“This is just absolutely devastating, that this could be another Lindsay Clancy situation in our neighbourhood, in our community,” she said.

“You never think it’s going to hit so close to home... more people I think are struggling than we realize and so we just need to be there for one another.”

Investigations remain ongoing.

If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, phone 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the Crisis Care Helpline on 1800 199 008.

Lifeline: 13 11 14. Young people seeking support can phone beyondblue on 1300 22 4636 or go to headspace.org.au.