Howard Cooper, an attorney representing Patrick Clancy, has called for an immediate halt to what he described as a "relentless, escalating and destructive defamation campaign" targeting his client. The statement comes after a mistrial was declared in the murder case of Lindsay Clancy, Patrick Clancy's ex-wife, who is accused of killing their three young children.
Jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict in the nearly six-week trial of Lindsay Clancy, leading a Massachusetts judge to declare a mistrial. Prosecutors had accused Lindsay Clancy of strangling the couple's children, Cora, Dawson, and Callan, in their home on January 24, 2023, before she allegedly attempted to take her own life. She had pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder.
Cooper stated that the "spread of blatant and baseless falsehoods must stop" and that those responsible for promoting conspiracy theories, particularly on social media, will face legal consequences. He indicated that law enforcement has been notified of these developments.
"This campaign of misinformation has been launched and promoted by minor celebrities, so-called influencers and outright conspiracy theorists who appear intent on boosting their own social media profiles and potential profit by publishing what they know to be outright falsehoods that Patrick was somehow involved in the death of his young children and other vile claims," Cooper said in his statement.
He added that the intense media coverage has resulted in threats to Patrick Clancy's "reputation, livelihood, and life." Patrick Clancy's other attorney, David Meier, had previously stated that the prospect of reliving the tragedy through another trial is "extraordinarily painful."
The defense in the trial argued that Lindsay Clancy was suffering from postpartum psychosis at the time of the killings, while prosecutors maintained she was criminally responsible. The case has reignited national conversations surrounding postpartum mental illness, including postpartum psychosis, a severe condition that can alter a person's perception of reality.
Lindsay Clancy had garnered a segment of public support during the trial, with some women and mothers rallying around her online and at the courthouse, citing concerns about maternal mental health services available after childbirth. Cooper indicated that Patrick Clancy's focus remains on "preserving the memory of Cora, Dawson and Callan Clancy and supporting other women facing perinatal mental health challenges."