Judge William Sullivan has denied a motion filed by the defense to dismiss the murder charges against Lindsay Clancy, a Massachusetts mother accused of strangling her three young children. The ruling came after Clancy's lawyer, Kevin Reddington, sought to have the first-degree murder charges dropped following a mistrial in the case on September 4.
Reddington argued in court that the prosecution had not presented sufficient evidence to support the charges, claiming the case was based on speculation. However, Judge Sullivan stated in his decision that the evidence introduced during the six-week trial, both physical and circumstantial, was adequate for a rational jury to find the elements of murder beyond a reasonable doubt.
Prosecutors allege that Clancy intentionally planned and carried out the deaths of her children—Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months—in their Duxbury home on January 24, 2023. The defense, led by Reddington, sought a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, asserting that Clancy was suffering from extreme postpartum psychosis and heard voices commanding her to kill her children and herself.
Reddington had previously attempted to have the charges dismissed on three separate occasions during the trial, but each attempt was denied by Sullivan. The trial concluded earlier this month when the jury, composed of nine women and three men, repeatedly indicated they could not reach a unanimous verdict. Reports following the mistrial suggested that 11 jurors favored finding Clancy not criminally responsible, while one juror held out for a conviction.
Prosecutors have not yet announced their plans for proceeding with the case, and a new trial date has not been set. Clancy is scheduled to return to court on November 2. Reddington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.