Illinois Mother Faces 3 Murder Counts as Psychosis Claim Collides With Poison Plot Allegation
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 10
Illinois Mother Faces 3 Murder Counts as Psychosis Claim Collides With Poison Plot Allegation
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 10
Summary
Corie A. Walsh, 38, is fighting three first-degree murder charges in the death of her 2-year-old son as her lawyer says she was in a psychotic episode when she killed him.
Prosecutors are pushing to keep Walsh jailed, citing allegations she also planned to poison her husband and a petition saying she told police she killed the boy because she believed he was the "devil."
Illinois law makes Walsh's mental state the central issue: legal experts say a diagnosis alone does not establish insanity, which requires proof she could not appreciate the criminality of her conduct.
Defense lawyers say Silver Cross Hospital recommended 24/7 psychiatric care after treating Walsh for self-inflicted wounds, and they accuse the Will County jail of not providing her prescribed medication.
A conviction could bring 60 to 100 years in prison because the victim was 2, while the case is likely to turn on records of Walsh's mental health history and treatment.