Patrick Barnett has been charged with murder in Colorado after his 37-year-old wife Lindsey Barnett was found dead in their home on August 13. Authorities charged the 40-year-old husband following an investigation into the death of Lindsey Barnett, a mother of two who worked as a teacher.
According to local police, Lindsey Barnett was discovered inside the blood-filled bathroom of the couple's residence in the early morning hours, suffering from a deep wound to her neck.
Patrick Barnett called the 911 emergency line at around 6:00 a.m. in a panic, claiming that his wife had self-inflicted the neck injury. Emergency 911 services in the United States route urgent calls to local police and emergency medical responders.
Conflicting statements to emergency services
Patrick Barnett told police officers that he had slept in the basement the previous evening following an intense argument with his wife. He said that he went upstairs in the morning to apologize to her, at which point he found her dead in the bathroom.
The husband told investigators that his wife suffered from postpartum depression after giving birth to their second child in February 2025. Postpartum depression is a medical condition involving severe mood changes and emotional distress that can affect mothers following childbirth.
Police officers said the physical evidence at the scene did not match Patrick Barnett's claim that his wife had taken her own life.
Evidence discovered at the crime scene
Officers who examined Lindsey Barnett's body found numerous bruises across her arms and legs. According to court documents, several of the bruises appeared to be defensive wounds suffered while attempting to protect herself.
Investigators discovered a significant amount of blood on one side of the couple's bed, whereas only minimal traces of blood were found inside the bathroom where her body was located. According to a police affidavit, the blood stain patterns indicated that her body had been moved from its original location.
Law enforcement officers also noted that a houseplant next to the bed had been knocked over, leaving soil trails that extended into the bathroom. A small bloody footprint was also found on the floor between the bed and the bathroom.
Extramarital affair and secret plans
Investigators later learned that Patrick Barnett was involved in an extramarital affair with a woman he had met online three months prior. According to the police affidavit, the mistress contacted authorities on a Thursday afternoon to request a welfare check after he stopped communicating with her.
The woman told police that Patrick Barnett had mentioned plans to divorce his wife. She also told officers that he claimed Lindsey Barnett had been admitted to a psychiatric clinic and had attempted suicide the previous weekend.
Lindsey Barnett's mother, Donna Ott, disputed those statements to police. She said that while her daughter had suffered from depression in the past, she had shown no recent symptoms and had never attempted suicide.
Family response and ongoing court proceedings
Donna Ott told police that Patrick Barnett had previously subjected her daughter to verbal abuse. She expressed deep grief over the loss of her daughter, stating that Lindsey Barnett loved her children and had been eagerly anticipating the start of the upcoming school year.
According to the Lakewood Police Department, Patrick Barnett is being held without bail at the Jefferson County Jail. Lakewood is the largest city in Jefferson County, located directly west of Denver, Colorado.
His next court appearance is scheduled for today, according to a report by the New York Post.
