Horrifying details have emerged in the tragic death of a 2-year-old child in Frankfort, Illinois, as court documents reveal the chilling circumstances surrounding the incident.
The community was left in shock after a neighbor discovered the toddler, Barrett Walsh—affectionately known as “Bear”—unresponsive inside the family home on Tuesday afternoon. According to prosecutors, the neighbor rushed to the scene and found the toddler hanging from a rafter in the basement. She immediately removed the ligature, lowered the child, and attempted CPR while calling 911, but sadly, the toddler was already cold and had no pulse.
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The child’s mother, 38-year-old Corie A. Walsh, was found inside the home at the time, reportedly attempting to harm herself. She was transported to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, while Barrett was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at an area hospital. An autopsy determined the preliminary cause of death to be “asphyxia due to ligature compression of the neck.”
Court documents filed Friday reveal that Walsh allegedly confessed to the crime while speaking with officers, claiming she killed her son because he was the “devil” and the “anti-Christ.” Police stated that her admission aligned with the evidence discovered at the scene.
Walsh has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder. She remains in custody, where she is being held for medical treatment as prosecutors work to ensure she remains detained pretrial. At least three other children were reportedly inside the home at the time of the tragedy.