Inset: Patrick "Ted" Barnett (Lakewood Police Department). Background: Patrick "Ted" Barnett and his wife Lindsey Barnett (Facebook).
A Colorado man allegedly called 911 and told police he found his wife dead in the shower with her throat cut and a knife nearby — claiming she took her own life. Cops, however, say the husband is responsible.
Patrick Theodore Barnett, who goes by "Ted," is facing a charge of first-degree murder for the death of his 37-year-old wife, Lindsey Barnett, at their home in Lakewood, according to court records.
An arrest affidavit obtained by Law&Crime says evidence found at the scene contradicts Ted Barnett's story, including a "large amount of blood" found in the main bedroom, a "knocked over plant" in the same room, and "unexplainable injuries" found on Lindsey Barnett's body.
"A trail of blood was running from the right side of the bed to the bathroom," the affidavit says. "There was not a lot of blood in the bathroom."
The other injuries found on Lindsey Barnett's body include bruises all over her arms, legs, back, hips and hands; a "new and fresh injury" to her left knee; a "new and fresh" scratch across her right shoulder; and a "new and fresh" cut on her finger consistent with being a defensive wound.
"Her clothes were not blood soaked and most of her body was clean of blood," the affidavit says.
During police interviews, Ted Barnett told detectives that the couple had "marital issues" and were sleeping in separate rooms, per the affidavit.
"He described sleeping in the basement while she slept on the main level," the affidavit states. "He said they were working on their marriage and he was excited about the prospect of moving back upstairs."
Ted Barnett, 40, allegedly described their problems as "revolving around their communication, their parenting styles, and her depression and lack of intimacy." He was asked about infidelity by either him or Lindsey Barnett, and Ted Barnett claimed there was no infidelity, according to police.
The couple had taken a trip to Scotland in early July, and Ted Barnett told investigators that the trip "was for them to better their relationship," per the affidavit. "They brought their friend … who acted as a 'translator' or relationship assistant," the affidavit says.
Ted Barnett allegedly claimed he last saw his wife the night before discovering her in the shower. He told police she seemed "aloof" and did not want to talk to him after Ted Barnett brought up how he was unhappy with the dinner they had with their two kids, described as a toddler and an infant, because it was fish sticks and "he did not agree with fried foods," per the affidavit.
"[Ted Barnett] talked about waking up in the morning before 6 a.m. and he heard the shower running," the affidavit explains. "He went in the bedroom to let [Lindsey Barnett] know he was sorry and he saw the plant and soil on the ground. He looked for her and she was bleeding in the shower. He moved her head and called 911. As Ted was talking about finding Lindsey, he was audibly sobbing loudly, however there were no tears."
According to cops, Ted Barnett "sounded frantic" on the phone with a 911 dispatcher and indicated that Lindsey Barnett "cut herself and her throat."
Officers with the Lakewood Police Department arrived at the couple's home and pronounced Lindsey Barnett dead at the scene. Ted Barnett was arrested following "a comprehensive initial investigation," an LPD Facebook post says.
According to the affidavit, police learned during the investigation that Ted Barnett had been involved in a relationship with another woman. The woman contacted police after she became concerned that she could not reach him.
"She said Patrick was her boyfriend and she was worried he hurt himself because she hadn't heard from him since 11 p.m. the night before," the affidavit states. "She met him online three months ago."
The woman allegedly told investigators that she believed Ted Barnett and Lindsey Barnett were separated. She said that he had described his wife as struggling with mental health issues, according to the affidavit.
"Patrick said he was in the process of divorcing Lindsey for the last year," the affidavit recounts, citing statements made by the other woman. "She believed Lindsey was living outside of the home. Patrick requested Lindsey move her belongings out of the house and that Lindsey's mother helped with the move. [The other woman] was told that Lindsey had significant mental instability, was in a psychiatric unit in the past, and had attempted suicide by overdosing on melatonin while he was camping the weekend prior."
The other woman allegedly admitted to police that she believed Ted Barnett "wasn't telling her the truth." Lindsey Barnett's mother was interviewed by police and said that while Lindsey struggled with depression she "never expressed suicidal thoughts and never had suicide attempts," according to the affidavit.
"She stated Lindsey loved her children and was making plans for the school year," the affidavit notes. "[The mom] stated Lindsey came to their residence alone one night approximately two to four months ago because she needed to get away from Patrick."
On one occasion, Lindsey Barnett's mom said, she heard the couple arguing and Ted Barnett "was yelling but Lindsey was being very calm," per the affidavit.
Photos and posts that Ted Barnett uploaded to Facebook last year show the couple in the hospital after Lindsey Barnett gave birth to their second child.
"Our family is now 4," Ted Barnett said.
During a second interview with police, Ted Barnett was confronted with "some inconsistencies in his previous stories," according to the affidavit. He allegedly admitted he had a relationship with the other woman and claimed Lindsey Barnett knew about it and "was fine with it."
Ted Barnett was asked about scratches on his body and an injury to his hand, which he allegedly claimed was from playing ultimate Frisbee. He told police during the second interview that blood found on the couple's bed was from him sitting down on it during his 911 call after checking Lindsey Barnett's pulse, according to the affidavit.
Blood was also allegedly found on Ted Barnett's face and behind his ear.
"He had no explanation to why he had blood on his neck within his beard or why he would have blood behind his ear if he only checked her pulse," the affidavit says. "When told Lindsey died in the bed and did not get to the shower on her own, Ted repeated that was where he found her. He claimed to have no knowledge of what happened. He stated he did not leave the house that night and has no answers for how she got in the shower."
Asked about the other injuries that Lindsey Barnett had, Ted Barnett "could not explain" how they happened and said he did not notice them.
"Patrick constantly made inconsistent statements throughout the investigation and no articulation to how Lindsey's body was moved to the shower from the bed by herself, when forensic evidence shows otherwise," the affidavit concludes.
Ted Barnett was booked in the Jefferson County Jail and is being held without bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 21.