A Colorado man is in custody after authorities say the killing of his art teacher wife led investigators to uncover what they described as a hidden double life.
Patrick Theodore “Ted” Barnett, 40, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of first-degree murder, only hours after he summoned Lakewood police to the South Welch Circle home he shared with his wife, Lindsey Barnett, where officers found blood throughout the scene.
Barnett called authorities shortly after 6 a.m. and said he had discovered Lindsey unresponsive and not breathing in the shower, claiming it appeared she had cut her throat, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by the Denver Post.
When first responders entered the home, they found Lindsey’s body still in the shower with a deep wound across her neck and a five-inch knife lying nearby.
Investigators also reported finding a pool of blood on the bed and a trail leading into the bathroom, where officers noted there appeared to be noticeably less blood.
Barnett told police he had last seen his wife between 10 p.m. and 10.30 p.m. the previous night, after the couple argued over dinner.
He said the pair had been dealing with “relationship issues” for several months and had been sleeping apart, with him in the basement and Lindsey, 37, in the main bedroom.
“He also said they were working on their marriage and he was excited about the prospect of moving back upstairs,” investigators wrote in the affidavit.
But when he woke up at around 5.30am on Thursday and went to check on his wife and their two children, he said he made the gruesome discovery.
Patrick Theodore ‘Ted’ Barnett, 40, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder on Thursday, just hours after he called Lakewood police to their blood-stained house on South Welch Circle in Lakewood, Colorado
Authorities investigating Lindsey’s death said they found inconsistencies in his story
Barnett then claimed that Lindsey had been suffering from postpartum depression since the birth of their daughter in February, but he was unsure whether she was taking any medications.
As Barnett spoke about finding his wife’s body, police said he was ‘audibly sobbing’ but ‘there were no tears.’
Lindsey’s parents, though, have claimed she was not suicidal.
Her mother, Donna Ott, said Lindsey loved her children, was making plans for the school year and was stressed about returning to teach art at two neighborhood elementary schools this year, Westminster Window reports.
She went on to describe how the couple’s nearly five-year marriage was ‘troubled,’ telling detectives her son-in-law had anger issues and was verbally abusive and controlling toward her daughter – though she said he never physically abused her.
Ott also recounted how one night two to four months ago, Lindsey returned to her parents’ house alone because she needed to get away from him.
As cops then continued to investigate what may have happened to the art teacher, they said they received a call from a woman claiming to be Barnett’s girlfriend – even though he had claimed there was no infidelity by either him or his wife.
The unidentified mistress had sought to request a welfare check for Barnett, saying she was worried he had hurt himself because they hadn’t spoken since 11pm the night before, cops said.
Barnett had claimed he found his wife with her throat slashed in the shower
He claimed she had been suffering from postpartum depression following the birth of their daughter in February
The woman later told police she had met Barnett online three months ago, and that he had told her his wife was severely mentally ill, had been in a psychiatric unit, had attempted suicide and was living outside the home.
She also claimed that Barnett told her he was divorcing his wife – and she had no idea Lindsey was still involved in his life.
When authorities then questioned Barnett about the woman’s claims, he allegedly changed his story, saying his wife knew about the extramarital relationship and was fine with it, but they hadn’t told anyone else.
Yet police also noted that Barnett had several unexplained injuries, including a wound on his thumb and scratches across his arm and chest that were consistent with defensive wounds.
At first, the father-of-two allegedly tried to claim he had sustained the injuries during a July ultimate frisbee tournament.
But when he was asked again, police said Barnett claimed he didn’t know how he got the injuries and suggesting it could have been the result of a tournament on the weekend of August 8.
He later claimed his wife knew about his extramarital relationship and was fine with it
Investigators also said they spotted dried blood on Barnett’s neck and behind his ear, for which he had no explanation, and that his hands were clean of blood despite initially claiming he had moved Lindsey’s body in an attempt to save her life.
He later claimed he had only checked for a pulse.
Meanwhile, police noted Lindsey had unexplained bruises along her arms, legs, back, hips and hands.
Her clothes were not blood-soaked and most of her body was clear of blood, according to the affidavit.
When cops then suggested that ‘Lindsey died in bed and did not get to the shower on her own, Barnett repeated that was where he found her,’ police wrote in the affidavit.
‘He claimed to have no knowledge of what happened.’
Barnett is now being held without bond on suspicion of first-degree murder. He is due back in court on Thursday.
In the meantime, two Jefferson County schools are remembering Lindsey for her passion for teaching.
In a letter to parents, Hutchinson Elementary Principal DeAnn Hoffman said she had a ‘deep passion for teaching art, a sweet soul and an extraordinary dedication to our students,’ adding that Lindsey poured ‘her heart into the district art show for both of our school communities.’
‘This loss has shaken our entire community and our deepest sympathies, thoughts and care are with Lindsey’s family during this difficult time,’ Hoffman continued.
She then noted that the school’s mental health team and district support staff will be available to any student or staff member as the school year begins.
