LAKEWOOD — Patrick Barnett, 40, of Lakewood, was charged with first-degree murder, tampering with a deceased body, and tampering with physical evidence. The charges follow the discovery of his wife, Lindsey Barnett, 37, with her throat slit in the shower stall of their Lakewood home on Aug. 13.

Barnett called 911 at 6:01 a.m. on Aug. 13 and indicated that his wife had cut herself and her throat. Police arrested Patrick Barnett at 7:10 p.m. on Aug. 13. He is being held without bond at the Jefferson County Jail and was assigned a public defender.

First responders found Lindsey Barnett in the shower with a 5- to 6-inch laceration across the front of her neck and a roughly 5-inch serrated knife beside her. Patrick Barnett told investigators he moved his wife's head before calling 911. He stated that he had slept in the basement the night before and went upstairs to apologize to his wife for a dispute when he found her body.

Investigators noted that there was a trail of blood from the bed to the bathroom, but very little blood in the bathroom itself, suggesting that Lindsey Barnett’s body may have been moved after she died. Blood patterns in the bathroom suggested that Lindsey Barnett's body had been repositioned. A plant next to the bed had been knocked over and some of the soil had been dragged into the bathroom. Investigators discovered a bloodied footprint, likely from a female, between the bed and the bathroom.

Police found Patrick Barnett had a new or fresh cut to his right thumb, fresh scratches on his right upper arm near his armpit extending to part of his chest, scratches to the bottom right side of his abdomen, and a fresh scratch mark just below his collar bone. Police concluded that Patrick Barnett's scratches were consistent with fingernail scratches and defensive wounds. The arrest affidavit revealed that Patrick Barnett had given three different accounts of how he sustained injuries on his body, including scratches and a cut to his thumb, which investigators found inconsistent with his story about finding his wife dead. Patrick Barnett attributed a fresh injury to his thumb to an ultimate Frisbee injury from July, stating that a scab had recently fallen off.

Lindsey Barnett taught art at Hutchinson and Westgate elementary schools, campuses of Jeffco Public Schools in suburban Denver. Hutchinson Principal DeAnn Hoffman issued a statement regarding the loss. "Lindsey was a joy to have in our school. She brought a deep passion for teaching art, a sweet soul, and an extraordinary dedication to our students," Hoffman said.

"Beyond her work in the classroom, she always put our kids first, helping organize special projects and pouring 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." Patrick Barnett's Facebook profile indicates he studied mechanical engineering at the University of Central Florida and worked at a gym in Dallas, Texas, before relocating to Colorado. Patrick Barnett is scheduled to appear before a Jefferson County judge on Friday.

Timeline

In February 2025, Lindsey Barnett gave birth to the couple's second child. On May 13, 2026, Patrick Barnett and the other woman met online three months earlier and bonded over their shared involvement in the Ultimate disc community. On Aug.

13, 2026, Lindsey Barnett, 37, was found with her throat slit in the shower stall of the couple’s Lakewood home. Also on Aug. 13, 2026, Patrick Barnett and Lindsey Barnett had two children, ages 3 and an infant, who were not injured. On that same date, Patrick Barnett admitted to police that he and Lindsey Barnett had been struggling in their marriage. Patrick Barnett told police that Lindsey Barnett had suffered from postpartum depression. Hours after Lindsey Barnett’s body was found, a woman claiming to be Patrick Barnett’s girlfriend called police asking for a welfare check. Patrick Barnett admitted he had a relationship outside of marriage but claimed Lindsey Barnett knew about it and was fine with it.

What's New

Additional reporting indicates that a forensic report indicated that Lindsey Barnett likely died on the bed, not in the shower, based on blood patterns and the location of blood clots, contradicting Patrick Barnett's initial claim that she had slit her own throat in the bathroom. Lindsey Barnett’s mother, Donna Ott, stated that her daughter had a history of postpartum depression but had not exhibited any recent symptoms or suicidal tendencies.

Lindsey Barnett gave birth to the couple's second child in February 2025. Patrick Barnett had previously been involved in a relationship with a woman he met through the Ultimate Frisbee community, which he claimed was not an affair but rather a 'friendship.' Patrick Barnett admitted to having an affair with a woman he met online three months prior, though he claimed that his wife was aware of the relationship and did not object.

How Sources Differ

Regarding whether Lindsey Barnett died in the shower, denvergazette.com reports that a forensic report indicated that Lindsey Barnett likely died on the bed, not in the shower, based on blood patterns and the location of blood clots, contradicting Patrick Barnett's initial claim that she had slit her own throat in the bathroom. The Arrest affidavit prepared by Detective Victoria Wagner states that Lindsey Barnett, 37, was found with her throat slit in the shower stall of the couple’s Lakewood home on Aug. 13. Regarding details of the scene, the Arrest affidavit prepared by Detective Victoria Wagner states that Lindsey Barnett, 37, was found with her throat slit in the shower stall of the couple’s Lakewood home on Aug. 13.

Why It Matters

The charges against Patrick Barnett stem from forensic evidence that contradicts his initial account of his wife's death as a suicide. The presence of defensive wounds on both the victim and the suspect, along with blood patterns indicating the body was moved, forms the basis of the first-degree murder and evidence tampering charges. The case involves the death of a local educator and leaves two young children without a mother.