Jurors at the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy were presented with text messages exchanged between Clancy and her husband on the day she killed their three children, along with video footage of a family trip to a science museum weeks before the tragedy. Clancy, 36, is accused of murdering her children, Cora, five, Dawson, three, and eight-month-old Callan, at their Duxbury, Massachusetts, home on January 24, 2023.
She has admitted to killing the children but has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, citing postpartum psychosis. Her defense has also filed a lawsuit against former healthcare providers, alleging medical malpractice and negligence.
On Thursday, Massachusetts State Police trooper Timothy Chiappini testified that Clancy sent casual text messages to her then-husband, Patrick, approximately one hour before the children were discovered deceased. In one exchange, Clancy asked Patrick about ordering takeout from a local restaurant. He responded affirmatively, and they proceeded to discuss menu options and Patrick's errands.
Patrick Clancy previously described in court how he returned home to find his wife on the lawn, paralyzed, and his children strangled with exercise bands in the basement. He testified that he found Cora first, then baby Callan, and finally Dawson, recognizing that all three were gone. The exercise bands were described as being similar to untied shoelaces.
Jurors also viewed surveillance video from January 8, 2023, showing the Clancy family at the Museum of Science in Boston. The video depicted Patrick lifting Dawson from a stroller, while Clancy was with Cora and infant Callan. Clancy was seen interacting with an exhibit alongside Cora, while Patrick and Dawson observed before joining them. The footage appeared to cause Clancy emotional distress, leading her to put her head in her hands.
Text messages revealed that on the morning of the killings, Patrick had praised his wife as a "good mama" after asking about their daughter Cora's doctor's appointment.
Investigators uncovered concerning Google searches made by Clancy in the days and weeks leading up to the children's deaths. These included searches on January 20, four days prior to the killings, such as "can you treat a sociopath?" Other searches included "how to slit your throat to die," "where is the carotid artery," and "how to turn airbags off on Kia Sorento."
A note found on Clancy's phone, dated October 25, 2022, detailed her resentment towards her two older children, stating they prevented her from treating her youngest son, Cal, with the same attention she gave him as her first baby. She expressed fear of something happening to her children or negatively impacting their development, and sadness over not being able to parent Cal like her first child. The note also mentioned a desire for more children and a conflict about potentially having another child while still figuring out how to better connect with all of them.
The trial is scheduled to continue on Monday morning.