The murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, accused of killing her three young children, is approaching its conclusion after five weeks of testimony focused on her mental state. The proceedings are set to conclude with final witness testimonies after a prosecution psychologist's remarks about "mortal sin" prompted a near mistrial.
Dr. Kirk Heilbrun, a forensic psychologist, is scheduled to resume his direct testimony on Tuesday. He previously testified that he evaluated Clancy earlier this year and concluded she was severely suicidal, not psychotic, when she killed her children. Heilbrun suggested Clancy believed her children would suffer without her and that she would be reunited with them in heaven. This assessment contrasts with defense experts who argue Clancy suffered from postpartum psychosis and should not be held criminally responsible.
Clancy's attorney, Kevin Reddington, moved for a mistrial on Monday following Heilbrun's testimony. The psychologist recounted asking Clancy, whom he noted was Catholic, if she was aware that suicide is considered a "mortal sin." Reddington accused the prosecution of intentional misconduct, arguing the line of questioning was inappropriate. This was the second instance of religion being brought up during the prosecution's case. Judge William Sullivan denied the mistrial motion but instructed the jury to disregard Heilbrun's comment and cautioned the prosecution to confer with their witness.
Clancy, 36, faces charges of first-degree murder for the deaths of her children Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and eight-month-old Callan in their Duxbury, Massachusetts, home in 2023. She is alleged to have strangled the children with exercise bands before attempting to end her own life, an act that left her paralyzed and in a wheelchair. Clancy has admitted to killing her children but entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, citing postpartum psychosis. Her defense is seeking her commitment to a state mental health facility rather than a prison sentence.
During his testimony, Heilbrun described Clancy's suicide attempt as "very serious" but maintained she was not in psychosis at the time of the killings. He characterized an "auditory command hallucination" Clancy reportedly experienced as singular and highly unusual. Heilbrun also suggested the phrase Clancy allegedly spoke to her children as she killed them, "Go to God, baby," indicated altruistic filicide – the killing of children out of a misguided sense of love and a belief they would be better off dead.
Following Heilbrun's continued testimony and cross-examination by the defense, a third state rebuttal witness is expected to take the stand. This afternoon, Judge Sullivan is scheduled to hold a hearing regarding the charges. The jury could consider lesser charges than first-degree murder, with the defense advocating for involuntary manslaughter and second-degree murder to be included. Closing arguments are anticipated to begin on Wednesday.
In 2023, Clancy's husband, Patrick Clancy, made a 911 call reporting that his wife had taken their children. Crime correspondent Rachel Sharp recounted the details of this call, which was played in court.