Allegations have emerged that jurors in the trial of Lindsay Clancy, accused of strangling her three young children, may have violated court orders by using their cellphones to research the case during deliberations. These claims come from a spokesperson for Michael P. Desronvil, the sole juror who did not vote to acquit Clancy, leading to a mistrial.
Jurors are instructed to base their decisions solely on evidence presented in court, and external research is strictly prohibited as it can taint impartiality. The defense attorney for Clancy, Kevin Reddington, has filed a motion requesting the judge to examine Desronvil's phone metadata from the deliberation period. The motion also seeks to question Desronvil about his statements during jury selection and any potential use of outside information.
Clancy's legal team argued that she was suffering from postpartum psychosis at the time of her children's deaths in January 2023. Prosecutors, however, contended that she was aware of her actions. This divergence in arguments led to 11 of the 12 jurors agreeing on a not-guilty-by-reason-of-insanity verdict, while Desronvil reportedly sided with the prosecution, believing Clancy was guilty. The deadlock resulted in a mistrial, leaving the case unresolved.
Other jurors have reportedly described Desronvil as resistant to engaging with their deliberations, with one juror, Paula Devlin, telling the Daily Mail that he appeared more focused on managing the discussion's tone than on the case's substance. Devlin also suggested Desronvil spent time on his phone during breaks, communicating with his wife.
The motion filed by Clancy's attorney specifies that any inquiry into Desronvil's phone would not delve into the substance of the jury's deliberations. It remains unclear if or how these allegations might affect future proceedings in the case.