An Illinois mother accused of killing her toddler son before attempting self-harm has been charged with first-degree murder following an incident that occurred at her home on September 1, according to court records. The victim, 2-year-old Barrett “Bear” Walsh, was found hanging from a rafter in the family basement after his body was discovered by neighbors who intervened when they encountered the mother in a bathtub filled with bloody water.
Police reported finding the toddler unresponsive at approximately 4 p.m. on September 1 and transporting him to a hospital where he died later that day. The Will County Coroner’s Office ruled his death resulted from “asphyxia due to ligature compression of the neck.” Walsh, 40, was taken to Silver Cross Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and subsequently detained at the Will County Adult Detention Facility.
Court documents indicate Walsh killed her son believing he was “the devil” and the “anti-Christ.” Her defense attorneys claim she suffered from a “brief psychotic disorder” during the incident, stating she was “severely mentally ill at the time of the incident and requires treatment.” Defense lawyer Robert Kerr noted his client’s condition was critical but described her as needing immediate inpatient medical care.
Walsh appeared in court on Tuesday, where prosecutors revealed that two children returned home from school to find the scene and asked a neighbor for assistance. The neighbor reported Walsh had dilated eyes, exhibited a “weird giggle,” and was actively attempting self-harm with a knife—details corroborated by witnesses who observed her injuries to the wrist and thighs.
Prosecutors stated Walsh also expressed intent to harm her husband upon his return home and claimed she believed she had already killed her other children. A judge ordered her detained pending further proceedings due to the risk posed to remaining family members.
Court records show Walsh became “very invested” in the high-profile Lindsay Clancy murder trial—a case involving a mother who killed three children before attempting self-harm—just hours before the discovery of this incident. Text messages obtained by WMAQ-TV reveal Walsh was actively discussing Clancy’s case via group chat until 12:30 p.m. on September 1, approximately three and a half hours prior to the scene being discovered.
Walsh’s defense team has rejected labeling her a “Lindsay Clancy copycat,” with Kerr stating such comparisons are “sickening.” Walsh is represented by attorney Andrea Lyon, who previously defended Casey Anthony in a 2011 murder trial. Her husband was out of state at the time of the alleged crime.
Walsh’s son was laid to rest while she awaits sentencing on September 24, with court documents noting that if convicted, her potential sentence could range from 60 to 100 years due to the victim’s age.
