Three years after strangling her three young children, Lindsay Clancy remains a patient at Tewksbury State Hospital, a pre-Civil War psychiatric facility. Confined to a wheelchair and receiving round-the-clock care, Clancy is being treated for what her defense has described as severe postpartum psychosis and depression.
Her ex-husband, Patrick Clancy, has not visited her. He has since relocated to New York City, remarried, and publicly expressed compassion for Lindsay, describing her as a loving mother, though the tragedy fractured their marriage. The couple's three children—Cora, five, Dawson, three, and baby Callan—died on January 24, 2023, after Clancy strangled them with exercise bands at their Duxbury, Massachusetts, home. She then attempted to take her own life.
A Pastor's Weekly Visits
Father Bob Deehan, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Duxbury, has visited Clancy weekly at Tewksbury for the past three-and-a-half years. He told the Daily Mail that Clancy frequently thinks about her children and is doing "as well as can be expected under the circumstances." He noted that she appears to be "no longer in a state of psychological crisis" and seems "fairly stable in her mental condition," though she remains devastated by the loss.
Father Bob has been working with Clancy on her faith, helping her to believe that her children are with the Lord. He has observed marked progress in her mental state compared to the immediate aftermath of the killings. During his visits, they often speak about the children, and Clancy feels she has maintained a spiritual connection with them.
Clancy's parents, Mike and Paula Musgrove, have relocated from Connecticut to live in hotels near the hospital to remain close to their daughter. A childhood friend, Amy Bevins, reportedly visited once for a 30-minute session of board games, but the killings were not discussed.
Courtroom Testimony and Emotional Distress
Throughout her trial in Plymouth, Massachusetts, Clancy has appeared lucid, conferring with her defense team. However, she has become inconsolable when testimony turns to her children's fatal injuries. During the revelation of autopsy details for Cora and Dawson, Clancy reportedly broke down in uncontrollable wails, with Father Bob being called to comfort her.
The prosecution team sought information about Father Bob and access to logs of Clancy's visitors, which her defense attorney characterized as unusual. Father Bob has attended some court days to support Clancy and her parents. He previously baptized Dawson and Callan and officiated holidays for the family, recalling them as a "typical happy family" before the tragedy.
Legal Proceedings and Future Prospects
The outcome of Clancy's trial will determine her future confinement. If convicted of murder, she faces a potential life sentence. If found not guilty by reason of insanity, she would be committed to psychiatric care indefinitely, with the possibility of release only if deemed no longer a danger.
Clancy continues to travel daily between the courthouse and Tewksbury Hospital. She also receives mail and cards from people offering support, which Father Bob says she deeply appreciates, particularly from mothers who may have experienced mental health challenges after childbirth. A suicide and crisis lifeline is available by calling or texting 988 in the US, with online chat also available at 988lifeline.org.