Illinois mother Corie Walsh, 40, pleaded not guilty Thursday in the case over her 2-year-old son Barrett’s death. She is accused of strangling him Sept. 1; prosecutors also say she plotted to poison her husband. Her defense seeks release to a hospital for psychiatric treatment.
Walsh is accused of leaving Barrett hanging from a rafter after strangling him, then trying to kill herself on Sept. 1 during an alleged psychotic episode. Her attorney, Andrea Lyon, said Walsh’s family attended court in support and described her as psychotic and never violent.
A judge denied an earlier release request this month, saying release would be too dangerous after prosecutors said Walsh posed a threat to her husband and three surviving children. Prosecutors say the alleged poison plot occurred amid a fixation on the Lindsay Clancy trial. Lyon said the defense subpoenaed Walsh’s jail treatment records as it seeks hospital treatment.
