The courtroom was visibly shaken on Wednesday when a Massachusetts State Police detective admitted that investigators had considered a theory that a psychologist hired by the defense may have coached Lindsay Clancy on what to say about hearing voices after the killings of her three young children.
During the 12th day of Clancy's trial, Sgt. Dan Lawlor testified that investigators discussed a "theory" that forensic psychologist Dr. Paul Zeizel had planted the idea of hearing voices in Clancy's mind. Clancy, a former labor and delivery nurse, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to three counts of first-degree murder in the January 24, 2023, deaths of her children, Cora, five, Dawson, three, and Callan, eight months. She claims she was suffering from severe postpartum depression and psychosis and heard a voice commanding her to kill her children and herself.
Dr. Zeizel visited Clancy at Brigham Women's Hospital a few days after the killings. During this visit, Clancy used his cell phone to call her husband, Patrick, for the first time since the incident. In that call, she told him she had heard voices on the day of the murders. Defense attorney Kevin Reddington pressed Sgt. Lawlor on the witness stand, suggesting that the prosecution believed Dr. Zeizel had told Clancy to claim she heard voices to aid her defense.
Reddington highlighted that access to Clancy in the hospital was restricted, with officers stationed outside her room. He noted that even Clancy's parents and her previous attorney were not allowed to see her, and a court order was required for Dr. Zeizel's visit. When Reddington asked the officer if he knew the prosecutor was suggesting his doctor told her to call Patrick and say she heard voices, Assistant District Attorney Shanan Buckingham objected, and Judge William Sullivan called for a sidebar.
For approximately 10 minutes, the defense and prosecution debated the matter at the judge's bench while the jury was temporarily removed from the courtroom. Sgt. Lawlor testified that he saw Dr. Zeizel enter Clancy's hospital room but could not confirm if the door was open or closed, nor could he hear any of the conversation. He admitted to working with the prosecution and discussing theories, including the one about the psychologist planting the idea of hearing voices. When pressed, he acknowledged that it was a "theory" and that there was no investigative basis for it, calling it speculation.
Prosecutors have attempted to undermine Clancy's defense by questioning her claims of postpartum psychosis. They have raised doubts about her being alone with Dr. Zeizel in the hospital, suggesting this was the first time she mentioned hearing voices. Friends, family, and medical professionals have testified that Clancy never told them she heard voices prior to the killings. However, the defense's strategy to expose the unsubstantiated theory during Sgt. Lawlor's testimony may have weakened the state's case by demonstrating to the jury that investigators found no evidence to support the allegation.
The trial is ongoing.