The final prosecution witness testified Tuesday in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, as the case moves towards a jury verdict after five weeks of testimony. Dr. Gregory Saathoff, an FBI forensic psychiatrist, took the stand to present his findings based on interviews with Clancy.
Clancy, 36, is accused of killing her three children—Cora, five, Dawson, three, and eight-month-old Callan—at their Duxbury, Massachusetts, home in January 2023. She has admitted to the killings but has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, citing postpartum psychosis. Her defense seeks to have her committed to a mental health facility rather than face a prison sentence.
Dr. Saathoff's testimony aimed to cast doubt on Clancy's narrative of the events leading to the children's deaths. He testified that Clancy provided differing accounts of when she heard a commanding voice that she claims instructed her to kill her children. In interviews with Dr. Saathoff, Clancy stated she heard the voice while standing at the refrigerator after her husband, Patrick Clancy, had called. However, she had previously told other experts that the voice began almost immediately after her husband left the home. "One of them is not correct in their statement," Dr. Saathoff said regarding the differing accounts.
He also noted that Clancy's description of the voice's persistence and timing did not align with typical patterns of psychosis. Clancy described the voice as constant and originating outside her head, which he stated is not typical for someone experiencing psychosis, who would more commonly hear intermittent voices.
Further inconsistencies were highlighted regarding the order and timing of events on the day of the killings. Dr. Saathoff testified that Clancy researched a restaurant and its route before inquiring about takeout, contradicting her account of asking her husband if they should order food. He also noted that Clancy added an errand—picking up Miralax for Cora—just before her husband left, which extended his time away from the home. According to Clancy's account to Dr. Saathoff, she took Dawson downstairs to her husband's office to strangle him after she returned Patrick's call, leaving the other two children upstairs. She then went to the basement to kill Cora and subsequently returned upstairs for Callan.
Dr. Saathoff also presented evidence that countered Clancy's assertion that the children would suffer if she did not kill them. He cited footage from a water park and a museum showing the children to be active, in contrast to Clancy's defense that they were not active and could be seen as puppets.
Clancy, who was left paralyzed and in a wheelchair after allegedly attempting suicide following the killings, has admitted to the acts but is pursuing an insanity defense. Her defense team has argued that she was suffering from postpartum psychosis, a severe mental health condition, at the time.
Judge William Sullivan indicated that evidence presentation is expected to conclude on Wednesday. He plans to meet with attorneys, with closing arguments anticipated for Thursday, after which the jury will begin deliberations.
