The murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, accused of killing her three young children, has ended in a mistrial after the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict. Judge William Sullivan declared the mistrial Friday morning after the panel, comprising nine women and three men, indicated they were unable to agree on a decision after seven days of deliberations and over 37 hours of discussion.
The jury had sent notes to the judge on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday stating their deadlock. On Friday, their final note read: "It is with a heavy heart that we are unable to come to a unanimous decision and will not be able to." In serious criminal cases like Clancy's, the U.S. Supreme Court mandates unanimous jury verdicts. Without one, a mistrial is automatically declared.
Following the mistrial declaration, Judge Sullivan granted Clancy's attorney, Kevin Reddington, one hour to appeal the ruling to the Massachusetts Supreme Court. This appeal could potentially lead to the same jury being sent back to continue deliberations.
Clancy, 36, was on trial for the 2023 deaths of her children Cora, five, Dawson, three, and eight-month-old Callan, at their Duxbury, Massachusetts, home. She has admitted to killing them but pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, citing postpartum psychosis. Prosecutors argued that the killings were intentional and premeditated, not the actions of someone who had lost control.
The trial saw significant tension, particularly between Reddington and Judge Sullivan. On Thursday, Reddington accused the judge of providing a "soft" instruction to the jury regarding reasonable doubt. Later that day, in a highly unusual move, Clancy was wheeled to the judge's bench by her attorney to speak with him. The judge then individually interviewed each juror before bringing them back together and reiterating their duty to find Clancy guilty or not guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Before court adjourned on Thursday, Reddington requested the removal of a juror he claimed was "refusing to listen to the law," an argument prosecutors opposed, and the judge made no ruling.
A mistrial means the prosecution has the opportunity to retry Clancy. Under the Fifth Amendment, a retrial does not violate the prohibition against double jeopardy because the first trial did not result in a verdict of guilty or not guilty. The district attorney's office has not yet indicated whether it will pursue a second trial. Alternatively, prosecutors could offer Clancy a plea deal, or decide not to retry the case, potentially due to costs and the possibility of a similar outcome.
Clancy has been held at Tewksbury Hospital for the past three years, reportedly on suicide watch. She sustained paralyzing injuries after the incident and uses a wheelchair. Her ex-husband, Patrick Clancy, has publicly forgiven her and described her as a good mother who was ill. Both Patrick Clancy and Lindsay Clancy have filed lawsuits against medical providers, alleging overmedication contributed to her condition. The possibility of a retrial would require Patrick Clancy to testify again and could involve new witnesses for both the prosecution and defense.