Crime
Corie Walsh Charged With First-Degree Murder in Death of 2-Year-Old Son Barrett Walsh
FRANKFORT, Ill. — New court documents have revealed disturbing details surrounding the death of 2-year-old Barrett “Bear” Walsh, whose mother, 38-year-old Corie A. Walsh, is facing three counts of first-degree murder in connection with his death.
According to prosecutors and newly filed court documents, Frankfort police officers were called shortly after 4 p.m. Tuesday, September 1, to a home in the 22700 block of Brook Stone Court for a report of an unresponsive child.
The Walsh family reportedly has four young children, including an 8-month-old infant. Court documents indicate that Corie Walsh had been home with Barrett and the infant while her husband, Michael Walsh, was out of town for work. The couple’s two older children had been at school.
According to the court filing, the family’s two older children returned from school at approximately 4 p.m. but found that their mother was not waiting for them at the bus stop. A neighbor reportedly accompanied the children to their home.
Authorities said the children soon ran back outside crying and screaming after discovering their 2-year-old brother in the basement.
An adult neighbor reportedly entered the residence, removed a ligature from Barrett’s neck and began performing CPR while calling 911. Prosecutors said Barrett had been found suspended in the basement from a device attached to a rafter, with his feet off the ground.
The neighbor told investigators that the toddler was cold and had no pulse. Police and emergency dispatch recordings reportedly described the child as unresponsive and indicated that he had bruising around his neck.
Barrett was transported to Silver Cross Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 4:48 p.m.
An autopsy was conducted Wednesday. According to prosecutors, preliminary findings indicated that Barrett died from asphyxia caused by ligature compression of the neck.
While first responders were treating Barrett, officers located Corie Walsh upstairs in the master bedroom. Court documents allege that she was lying in a bathtub containing bloody water and had injuries to her wrists and thighs.
A neighbor was reportedly applying pressure to one of Walsh’s injuries and told investigators that the neighbor had taken a knife from Walsh’s hand and placed it in a sink. Police later recovered the knife as evidence.
Walsh was transported to Silver Cross Hospital for treatment. Her injuries were described as non-life-threatening.
According to prosecutors, Walsh made several statements to police during the initial response and while receiving medical treatment.
Police audio reportedly captured Walsh saying that she had drowned a child somewhere else in the home, prompting officers to search the residence for another possible victim. The family’s other children and infant were subsequently accounted for and found physically unharmed.
Prosecutors later alleged that Walsh admitted killing Barrett and described the toddler as the “devil” and the “anti-Christ.” While hospitalized, she allegedly made additional statements describing how Barrett was killed.
Investigators said those statements were consistent with evidence recovered during the investigation. A neighbor also reportedly told police that Walsh referred to Barrett by his nickname, “Bear,” while she was in the bathtub.
Investigators also learned that Walsh had recently shown significant interest in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial in Massachusetts.
According to prosecutors, witnesses said Walsh had been discussing the case with friends in a group text message as recently as approximately 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, only a few hours before Barrett was discovered.
At the time, jurors in Clancy’s trial were reportedly deliberating in the case involving the Massachusetts mother accused of killing her three young children.
The court documents do not establish that Walsh’s interest in the Clancy case caused or motivated the events surrounding Barrett’s death.
Following an investigation by the Frankfort Police Department and the Will-Grundy Major Crimes Task Force, Walsh was charged with three counts of first-degree murder.
Prosecutors said the three counts are based on different legal theories concerning the same alleged killing. The allegations include that Walsh intended to kill Barrett, knew her actions would cause his death, and knew her conduct created a strong probability of death or great bodily harm.
Frankfort police initially described Barrett’s death as a domestic-related homicide.
As of Thursday, Walsh remained hospitalized at Silver Cross Hospital while prosecutors sought an arrest warrant and requested that a judge deny her pretrial release. Once medically cleared, she is expected to be transferred to the Will County Adult Detention Facility for a detention hearing.
The investigation remains ongoing. The allegations contained in court documents are not convictions, and Walsh is entitled to due process as the case moves through the court system.
Crime
Saylor Graham, 7, Fights to Recover After Silver Rail Elementary School Shooting as Teacher Becky Drury Faces Long Recovery
BEND, Oregon — Seven-year-old Saylor Graham is recovering from life-threatening injuries after being shot at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, on October 15, 2026. Meanwhile, 54-year-old teacher Becky Drury is beginning a lengthy recovery after suffering gunshot wounds to her left arm and right hand during the deadly school shooting.
The latest updates from the two families offer a glimpse of the difficult road ahead for survivors of a tragedy that claimed the lives of three children and a teacher, leaving families, classmates, and the wider Bend community grieving.
Saylor Graham, described by her family as a loving, feisty girl with a strong determination to thrive, was shot in the jaw during the shooting, according to the information shared by her family and supporters. She was airlifted from Bend for medical treatment.
Her family says the 7-year-old has already faced numerous medical challenges throughout her young life. Now, she is confronting another devastating ordeal, with her parents remaining by her side as she receives treatment and begins the recovery process.
Updates shared about Saylor’s condition have differed. An earlier account described her as being in critical condition, while a later update reported that she was in serious but stable condition. Her latest status should be confirmed with her family or an official source before publication.
For Saylor’s parents, the emotional strain is accompanied by significant financial uncertainty. Both parents are self-employed, and the demands of remaining at the hospital have sharply limited their ability to work. They must also manage medical expenses, transportation, lodging, household bills, and the needs of their other child.
A GoFundMe fundraiser has been organized to help Saylor’s family manage the financial pressures arising from her injuries and ongoing treatment.
The fundraiser describes Saylor as a daughter, sister, and niece whose determination has carried her through numerous medical challenges. It explains that the family is facing uncertainty as they remain close to her during recovery.
The appeal states that donations will help cover hospital bills, time away from work, lodging, transportation, and other urgent family expenses.
The fundraiser also asks supporters to keep Saylor and her loved ones in their thoughts and prayers, emphasizing that every contribution and act of kindness can make a difference during this difficult time.
Readers who wish to support Saylor’s recovery can find the fundraiser through the link shared by her family or the original organizer. The campaign details and donation link should be verified before being shared.
Becky Drury, 54, a teacher at Silver Rail Elementary School, was also wounded in the shooting. She suffered gunshot injuries to her left arm and right hand and has undergone surgery.
Her husband, Will, shared a hopeful update, saying the operation went well. However, the injuries to her left arm were extensive, and she is expected to require additional procedures and a prolonged recovery.
Despite the difficult road ahead, her husband’s message offered a moment of relief amid the grief surrounding the shooting.
“The good news is she will be ok and we all get to keep that magnificent woman we love so much in our lives,” he said.
His words reflect the gratitude of a family facing a frightening and uncertain recovery while knowing that Becky survived.
The shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School left three children and one teacher dead, according to the information provided in reports about the incident.
Five-year-old Rhoam Summer has been publicly identified among the children killed. Megan Lambert, 25, a teacher also known as “Coach Megan,” was identified as the adult victim. Two other children, ages 8 and 11, were also killed.
Their deaths have left four families facing an unimaginable loss. While Saylor and Becky continue their recoveries, the families of those who died are beginning a different and heartbreaking journey of grief.
The contrast between the survivors’ fight to recover and the families’ permanent loss has become one of the most painful realities of the tragedy.
For Saylor’s family, every update about her condition carries enormous significance. Her parents are navigating the uncertainty of their daughter’s recovery while trying to remain present for her and care for their family.
For Becky Drury’s loved ones, the successful surgery has brought relief, even as further treatment and rehabilitation lie ahead.
Their stories do not erase the devastating loss experienced by the families of the victims. Instead, they highlight the many ways the shooting has changed lives and the long road that survivors and loved ones must now face.
As Bend mourns the children and teacher who did not return home, the community continues to hope for Saylor’s recovery and for Becky to regain her health.
Saylor Graham and Becky Drury are among those still fighting their way forward after the Silver Rail Elementary School shooting. Their families are asking for support, compassion, and privacy as they face the difficult days ahead.