PLYMOUTH, Mass. – A judge on Friday announced his intention to declare a mistrial in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, following the jury's inability to reach a unanimous verdict after seven days of deliberations. However, Clancy's defense attorney was granted one hour to file an emergency appeal against the ruling.
The 12-person jury informed Judge William Sullivan that they were deadlocked on whether to convict Clancy, 36, on three counts of first-degree murder. "It is with a heavy heart that we will not be able to come to unanimous decision," Sullivan stated, reading the panel's third note indicating their impasse.
Despite a nearly five-week trial that included testimony from approximately 85 witnesses, Sullivan indicated he had "no choice but to declare a mistrial" if no appeal was filed. Clancy's lawyer, Kevin Reddington, then requested a stay of the ruling to pursue an emergency appeal.
The jury had previously signaled an impasse on the fourth day of deliberations, but the judge instructed them to continue. A subsequent note indicated a unanimous decision remained unattainable, prompting the judge to read the Tuey-Rodriguez charge, urging further deliberation.
On Thursday, a note from the jury foreperson revealed that a single juror was allegedly refusing to follow the judge's instructions on reasonable doubt. Reddington's request to question the juror individually and remove them was denied by Sullivan.
If a mistrial is declared, Clancy, who is currently held at Tewksbury Hospital, will remain in custody. The Plymouth County District Attorney's Office will then decide the next steps, which could include retrying the case, pursuing a plea deal, or dropping the charges. Reddington has suggested that if a retrial occurs, prosecutors might consider downgrading the charges to second-degree murder, which would allow Clancy to opt for a bench trial instead of a jury trial.
The trial centered on Clancy's state of mind during the January 24, 2023, incident in Duxbury, where she is accused of strangling her children, Cora, 5; Dawson, 3; and 8-month-old Callan, with exercise bands before attempting suicide. Reddington argued that Clancy was experiencing postpartum psychosis, exacerbated by prescribed medications, and was influenced by auditory hallucinations. Prosecutors contended that she was of sound mind and had meticulously planned the killings.
During the trial, testimony from Clancy's ex-husband, Patrick Clancy, detailed her worsening mental state and repeated attempts to seek help in the months leading up to the deaths. He testified that she had expressed thoughts of harming the children and struggled with severe insomnia, depression, and anxiety following their youngest child's birth.
Evidence presented included Clancy's suicide attempt, the exercise bands used in the killings, and prescription pill bottles. The jury also requested to view the knife Clancy used in her suicide attempt. Experts offered conflicting evaluations of Clancy's mental state, with defense witnesses asserting she acted under a "command voice" and prosecution experts arguing her actions demonstrated awareness of wrongdoing and methodical planning.
The case drew national attention to issues of maternal mental health and postpartum experiences. Supporters of Clancy, many wearing pink, attended court, advocating for her to be found not criminally liable, while others held signs demanding justice for the children.