Who Is Patrick Theodore “Ted” Barnett? Colorado Murder Case

Patrick Theodore “Ted” Barnett is a 40-year-old Lakewood, Colorado, man who has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of his wife, 37-year-old elementary school art teacher Lindsey Barnett. Lindsey was found with a severe neck wound inside the shower of the couple’s home on August 13, 2026, after Barnett called 911 and initially claimed she had harmed herself. Investigators allege physical evidence inside the home contradicted his account. Barnett also faces charges of tampering with a deceased human body and tampering with physical evidence.

Patrick “Ted” Barnett Murder Allegations

Barnett Called 911 And Claimed His Wife Had Cut Her Own Throat. Barnett called emergency dispatchers shortly after 6 a.m. and reported that Lindsey had cut herself and was no longer breathing. He told authorities that he had been sleeping in the basement, went upstairs in the morning and discovered her in the shower with the water running. [CBS Colorado]

Police Found Lindsey Barnett Dead In Shower With Serrated Knife Beside Her. First responders found Lindsey with a large wound across the front of her neck and a roughly five-inch serrated knife lying beside her. Attempts to save her were unsuccessful and she was pronounced dead at the scene. [Fox News]

Investigators Say Large Amount Of Blood In Bedroom Contradicted Barnett’s Account. Detectives documented significant blood on the bed, sheets and pillows in the primary bedroom, as well as blood on a windowsill and a knocked-over plant. A blood trail led from the bed toward the bathroom, while investigators reported comparatively little blood where Lindsey was found in the shower. [Law & Crime]

Police Say Forensic Evidence Indicated Lindsey’s Body Had Been Moved. Investigators concluded that the physical evidence indicated Lindsey suffered the fatal injury in or near the bed and did not independently move into the shower afterward. Detectives said Barnett could not explain how she would have reached the bathroom if his account were accurate. [Fox News]

Lindsey Barnett Had Bruises And Injuries Investigators Considered Suspicious. The arrest affidavit describes bruising on Lindsey’s arms, legs, back, hips and hands, along with fresh injuries to her knee and shoulder. Investigators also documented a fresh cut on one of her fingers that they considered potentially consistent with a defensive injury. [Law & Crime]

Detectives Found Fresh Scratches And A Cut On Barnett. Crime-scene investigators photographed a fresh cut on Barnett’s right thumb and scratches on his arm, chest, abdomen and near his collarbone. Police said some of the scratches appeared consistent with fingernail marks that could have resulted from defensive actions. Barnett attributed injuries to playing ultimate Frisbee. [NBC News]

Investigators Found Blood On Barnett’s Face, Beard And Behind His Ear. Police reported finding apparent blood on Barnett, including around his neck and beard and behind an ear. Barnett said blood on the couple’s bed came from sitting there after checking Lindsey’s pulse, but investigators said that did not explain all of the blood they observed on him. [Law & Crime]

Patrick “Ted” Barnett Marriage And Affair

Barnett Told Police He And Lindsey Had Been Having Marital Problems. Barnett told investigators the couple had been experiencing difficulties involving communication, parenting, intimacy and Lindsey’s depression. He said he had been sleeping separately in the basement but claimed they were working on their relationship and had recently traveled to Scotland in an effort to reconnect. [CBS Colorado]

Barnett Initially Denied Infidelity Before Girlfriend Contacted Police. During his first police interview, Barnett denied that either spouse had been unfaithful. Later that afternoon, however, a woman identifying herself as Barnett’s girlfriend contacted authorities because she had not heard from him since the previous night and said the two ordinarily communicated frequently. [NBC News]

Barnett Later Admitted Having An Outside Relationship. After investigators confronted him with information from the other woman, Barnett acknowledged that he had been seeing her after the two met online through their involvement in ultimate Frisbee. He allegedly told detectives that Lindsey knew about the relationship and was fine with it. [CBS Colorado]

Girlfriend Said Barnett Had Told Her He Was Getting Divorced. According to the arrest affidavit, the woman told authorities that Barnett had portrayed his marriage as ending and had also told her that Lindsey had recently experienced serious mental-health problems. Investigators incorporated the relationship and Barnett’s differing statements into their assessment of his account. [People]

Lindsey Barnett Depression Claims

Barnett Told Police Lindsey Had Experienced Postpartum Depression. Barnett told detectives his wife had suffered from depression associated with pregnancy and childbirth and raised her mental health while explaining why he believed she had taken her own life. [Fox News]

Lindsey’s Mother Told Police She Had Never Attempted Suicide. Lindsey’s mother, Donna Ott, acknowledged that her daughter had previously experienced depression but told investigators she had never expressed suicidal thoughts or attempted suicide. She said Lindsey loved her children and had been making plans for the upcoming school year. [NBC News]

Patrick “Ted” Barnett Arrest And Charges

Police Arrested Barnett Hours After Lindsey Was Found Dead. Lakewood police arrested Barnett during a traffic stop shortly after 7 p.m. on August 13, approximately 13 hours after his initial 911 call. He was taken back to the police station for another interview before being booked into the Jefferson County jail. [CBS Colorado]

Barnett Charged With Murder And Evidence Tampering Offenses. The First Judicial District Attorney’s Office charged Barnett with first-degree murder, tampering with a deceased human body and tampering with physical evidence. He remained jailed without bond as the case proceeded. The allegations have not been proven in court. [NBC News]

Lindsey Barnett Background

Lindsey Barnett Was An Elementary School Art Teacher. Lindsey taught art at Hutchinson and Westgate elementary schools in Jeffco Public Schools. Hutchinson Elementary principal DeAnn Hoffman described her as deeply dedicated to her students and said she helped organize special projects and the district art show. [Denver7]

Couple’s Two Young Children Were Home When Lindsey Died. Investigators said the Barnetts’ two children, ages 1 and 3, were inside the Lakewood residence when Lindsey died. Neither child was physically injured. [CBS Colorado]