Corie Walsh pleads not guilty to charges that she killed her 2-year-old son, Barrett, and attempted to poison her husband, during a preliminary hearing Thursday in Will County, Illinois, according to court proceedings.
Corie Walsh pleads not guilty as family attends hearing
Walsh, 40, entered her plea as her husband, Michael Walsh, observed from the gallery. She is accused of strangling Barrett and leaving him hanging from a rafter on Sept. 1 before attempting to take her own life during what her defense describes as a psychotic episode.
After the hearing, defense attorney Andrea Lyon said Walsh’s relatives were present to support her. Lyon said that the family believes Walsh had been psychotic and wants her to receive treatment. Lyon has previously said Michael Walsh is standing by his wife throughout the case.
Prosecutors cite alleged poisoning plot and high-profile case fixation
Prosecutors argue that in addition to the child’s death, Walsh plotted to poison her husband amid what they described as a fixation on the Lindsay Clancy trial. Court filings and prior statements have linked that alleged fixation to the timeline of the incident.
Defense seeks hospital release for psychiatric care
Lyon, who has represented high-profile defendants in the past, said her team has subpoenaed treatment information from the jail where Walsh is being held. The defense is asking the court to allow Walsh’s pretrial release to a hospital for psychiatric treatment.
Earlier this month, a judge denied a request for Walsh’s release, finding it would be too dangerous following prosecutors’ assertions that she poses a risk to her husband and three surviving children.
Speaking Thursday, Lyon said, “Her whole family is here today, her husband, mother, mother’s best friend.” In a statement after the hearing, she added that Walsh entered a not guilty plea and that the defense continues to seek appropriate psychiatric care for her client.