Illinois mother accused of killing son had intended to poison husband, prosecutors say

People in a group chat with Corie Walsh said her messages before the killing were “out of character,” attorneys said, and the neighbor who found her said she had dilated eyes and a “weird giggle.”

The mother accused of killing her young son in a horrifying scene that unfolded inside a suburban Chicago home also made statements about harming her husband, prosecutors said during her first court appearance Tuesday.

A wave of new details were revealed before a judge as prosecutors sought to keep Corie Walsh, 40, behind bars pretrial, while her attorneys argued for inpatient medical care, saying the Frankfort mother was suffering from a psychotic episode at the time of her son’s killing.

“She was severely mentally ill at the time of incident and requires treatment,” defense attorney Robert Kerr said in court, adding that doctors who treated Walsh following the alleged murder and her attempts of self-harm recommended “immediate” care.

Prosecutors argued that Walsh intended to do more than kill her 2-year-old son, Barrett “Bear” Walsh, but also discussed planning to poison her husband.

A judge has ordered her detained, saying she poses a risk to her remaining children and husband.