Sue Clancy, the mother of Patrick Clancy, offered a distinct sign of support to her former daughter-in-law, Lindsay Clancy, as she concluded her testimony on Tuesday in the murder trial for the deaths of her three young children. As Lindsay Clancy walked off the stand, her former mother-in-law, Sue Clancy, met her gaze and nodded with intention.
Lindsay Clancy, 36, is accused of killing her children – Cora, five, Dawson, three, and eight-month-old Callan – in their Duxbury, Massachusetts, home in January 2023. She has admitted to the killings but pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, citing postpartum psychosis. The defense is seeking her commitment to a state mental health facility rather than a prison sentence. The prosecution has presented evidence suggesting frustration with her middle son, Dawson.
During her testimony as a defense witness, Sue Clancy described her former daughter-in-law as a loving and nurturing mother. When questioned by defense attorney Kevin Reddington, Sue stated, "She loved her children, all of them, very, very much." She rejected the idea that Clancy disliked Dawson, asserting, "She was very nurturing, very loving; she was a wonderful mother."
Sue Clancy also testified that Lindsay had been struggling with insomnia and depression in the fall of 2022 and had sought help. "She reached out to me in November and told me that she felt unwell," Sue recalled, adding that her daughter-in-law was experiencing anxiety and sadness and was "begging for help."
Assistant District Attorney Shanan Buckingham engaged in a tense exchange with Sue Clancy during cross-examination, asking if she was aware that "murder is considered a mortal sin," given her membership in the Catholic Church. The judge later struck the question from the record. Shortly after this exchange, Sue Clancy completed her testimony and offered the notable nod to her former daughter-in-law.
Sue Clancy has previously expressed empathy for Lindsay Clancy, acknowledging that "Lindsay has to pay for what she did," but also stated, "I don't hate her... I have empathy." She noted that Lindsay "hurt a lot of people." Patrick Clancy, the former husband of Lindsay and son of Sue, has publicly forgiven his ex-wife and defended her, characterizing her as a mother who became ill. Both Patrick and Lindsay Clancy have filed separate lawsuits against some of Lindsay's medical providers, alleging overmedication during treatment for postpartum mental health issues.