The three children killed by their mother, Lindsay Clancy, have been largely overlooked as public attention and support have focused on the defendant and her defense against murder charges, according to writer Bethany Mandel.
Clancy, 36, is on trial for the January 2023 strangulation deaths of her children, Cora, Dawson, and Callan, all under the age of 6, at their Duxbury, Massachusetts, home. As the prosecution concluded its case and the defense began presenting arguments centered on postpartum psychosis, crowds have gathered outside the Plymouth Superior Court in support of Clancy. Mandel, a mother of six and conservative columnist, told Fox News Digital that these demonstrations have amplified Clancy's name while her victims remain largely unknown.
"We all know her name," Mandel stated, referring to Lindsay Clancy. "Very few people know the names of her children."
Mandel expressed dismay at the hundreds of people who appeared in court to support Clancy, many wearing pink to advocate for maternal mental health awareness. She observed that no one in these crowds appeared to be wearing buttons with the faces of the three deceased children, and that interviews with supporters rarely mentioned the victims.
Jonathan Hatami, a deputy district attorney with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, echoed Mandel's concerns. He told Fox News Digital that the trial has become a "show about her" rather than focusing on the victims and what the defendant did to them. Hatami emphasized the importance of remembering that the children matter and that they died, a sentiment he feels has been lost in the public discourse surrounding the case.
Expert testimony has focused on Clancy's mental state at the time of the killings. Dr. Phillip Resnick, a forensic psychiatrist, testified that Clancy appeared to be functioning normally for much of the day she killed her children, even building a snowman with them. However, he stated she later experienced a hallucination and a "delusion of influence," feeling her body was no longer under her control.
In contrast, Dr. Avram Mack, a child and forensic psychiatrist who testified for the prosecution, stated that Clancy's actions on the day of the murders were methodical and organized. Mack concluded that she retained the capacity for criminal responsibility for her actions, directly countering the defense's argument.
If found not guilty by reason of insanity, Clancy would be committed to a state psychiatric hospital, subject to periodic reviews, rather than released.
Clancy's ex-husband, Patrick Clancy, had previously asked for forgiveness for Lindsay, stating on a GoFundMe page shortly after the deaths that "The real Lindsay was generously loving and caring towards everyone." Closing arguments in the trial were anticipated to begin soon after the notes were compiled.