The family of 2-year-old Barrett Walsh spoke out for the first time about his death in his obituary after he was allegedly killed by his mother, Corie Walsh, who became “invested” in Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial.
In the online obituary posted on Wednesday, September 23, Barrett was remembered as “joyful, funny, entertaining, [and] rambunctious.”
He “loved singing and dancing to Super Simple Songs and Miss Rachel, learning his colors with Pingfong and Hogi, kicking a soccer ball with his friends and counting out loud to 5 Little Duckies,” according to the obituary. “He loved animals, bedtime stories, doing the good-bye dance with joyous perfection, feeding Oscar too many treats and really enjoyed playing his favorite game Ready, Set, Go with Grady and Anna.”
The family concluded that Barrett, whom they affectionately called Bear, “will forever be missed by all who knew him, especially the way his smiling face would light up a room and fill it with joy, wonder and awe.”
After Barrett was found dead in his family’s home on September 1, Corie, 40, was arrested and charged with his murder.
The killing took place just hours after Corie allegedly sent frantic texts in a group chat about Clancy’s trial. “It was manslaughter, please help I’m really freaking out,” she reportedly told her friends of the case, per NBC Chicago.
Meanwhile, witnesses told police that she had become “very invested” in the trial as it played out on a national scale, according to the court petition viewed by People.
At the time, the jury was deliberating on whether Clancy, 36, should be found criminally responsible for killing her three kids amid her postpartum psychosis. A mistrial was declared on September 4 when the jury was unable to come to a unanimous verdict, with 11-1 finding her not guilty by reason of insanity.
One day after Barrett’s obituary was posted, Corie appeared in court on Thursday, September 24, and entered not guilty pleas to three charges of murder.
Several of her family members, including her husband and mother, attended the hearing to show their support, according to NBC Chicago.
“They all support her,” Corie’s attorney, Andrea Lyon, told reporters, according to the outlet. “They all know this is not about who she is.”
Following her arrest, Corie’s defense team said that she was experiencing a “brief psychotic disorder” at the time Barrett was killed.
Corie is scheduled to return to court in October.
If you or someone you know is pregnant or just had a baby and is in crisis, help is available. Call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline for free, confidential support 24/7 in English and Spanish at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262).
