A TRAIL of blood leading from a bedroom to a shower was among a string of chilling red flags that cops say blew apart a husband’s claim that his wife had taken her own life.

Patrick “Ted” Barnett, 40, allegedly told 911 dispatchers that he had found his wife Lindsey Barnett with her throat cut, but investigators say the bloody scene and his changing story pointed elsewhere.

Patrick “Ted” Barnett, 40 has been arrested for allegedly killing his wife Lindsey Barnett

Ted told police that he found 37-year-old Lindsey with her throat cut in the shower

Police rushed to the couple’s home in Lakewood, Colorado, shortly after 6 am Thursday, where 37-year-old Lindsey was found unresponsive in the shower.

The mom-of-two had a large gash across her neck, while a five-inch knife was lying nearby, according to an arrest affidavit.

But detectives quickly spotted evidence that appeared to clash with Ted’s account of what had happened.

A large amount of blood was found in the couple’s main bedroom, including on the bed, pillows and windowsill, the affidavit states.

Investigators then traced blood from the bed toward the bathroom – where they found far less of it, Denver Post reported.

A small bloody footprint, described in the affidavit as “dainty,” was also among evidence cops said did not fit Ted’s version of events.

Detectives later confronted Ted with their belief that Lindsey had died in the bed and had not made it to the shower by herself, Denver 7 reported.

But he allegedly continued to insist that the shower was where he had found her and claimed he did not know what happened.

There were also red flags on Ted’s own body, police said.

Investigators documented a wound on his thumb and scratches across his arm and chest, which they believed were consistent with defensive injuries, according to the affidavit.

Ted was later arrested after the investigators found inconsistencies in his statement

Ted told detectives he had last seen Lindsey between 10pm and 10:30pm the night before after the pair argued over dinner

They also allegedly found dried blood on his neck and behind one ear.

Ted initially told cops he had moved Lindsey while trying to save her, according to the affidavit.

Yet his hands were clean of blood – and he later changed his account to say he had only checked her pulse.

He also allegedly could not explain how blood had ended up behind his ear.

Detectives noted another detail as Ted described finding his wife dead.

He was “audibly sobbing,” according to the affidavit, but investigators said they saw “no tears.”

Lindsey herself had unexplained bruising on her arms, legs, back, hips and hands, police said.

Investigators also found that her clothes were not soaked in blood and much of her body appeared clean, despite the severe wound.

Ted told detectives he had last seen Lindsey between 10pm and 10:30pm the night before after the pair argued over dinner.

He said the couple had been sleeping in separate bedrooms for months because of problems in their marriage, with him staying in the basement while Lindsey slept upstairs.

Ted claimed he woke around 5:30 am and went upstairs to check on Lindsey and their two children before making the grisly discovery.

He also told investigators that Lindsey had suffered from postpartum depression, but said he did not know whether she was taking medication.

Lindsey’s parents, however, described the marriage as “troubled” to investigators, according to the affidavit.

Her mother claimed Ted was “verbally abusive and controlling” and struggled with anger, while telling police her daughter had never spoken about suicide or previously attempted to take her own life.

Another twist came hours after Lindsey’s body was found when a woman contacted police asking them to check on Ted.

The woman identified herself as his girlfriend and said she feared he may have harmed himself because she had not heard from him since about 11pm the night before.

She told investigators the pair met online around three months earlier and claimed Ted had told her he was divorcing his wife.

The woman said she had no idea Lindsey was still part of his life.

Ted had initially denied that either he or Lindsey was having an affair, according to the affidavit.

After police learned about the girlfriend, he allegedly changed his story and claimed Lindsey knew about the relationship and was fine with it, but that they had kept the arrangement secret.

Ted was arrested later that day on suspicion of first-degree murder as detectives concluded evidence inside the house did not match his account.

Denver7 reported Tuesday that he now faces a first-degree murder charge and remains in the Jefferson County Detention Center.

Lindsey was an art teacher at Hutchinson and Westgate elementary schools, where colleagues have been left reeling by her death.

Hutchinson’s principal remembered her as a “sweet soul” who showed “extraordinary dedication” to her students.

School officials said Lindsey had a deep passion for teaching art and “always put our kids first,” including helping with special projects and the district art show.

Mental health and district support staff are being made available to students and employees as the schools begin the new academic year.

Ted is due back in court on August 20 at 10 am, according to Denver7.

Source: https://www.the-sun.com/news/16859421/colorado-man-arrested-killing-wife-lindsey-barnett/