Killing of the Clancy children

Killing of the Clancy children
Cora, Dawson, and Callan Clancy
LocationDuxbury, Massachusetts, U.S.
DateJanuary 24, 2023 (2023-01-24)
Attack type
Child homicide by strangulation
Deaths3
AccusedLindsay Clancy
ChargesFirst-degree murder (3 counts), strangulation (3 counts)

On January 24, 2023, Cora, Dawson, and Callan Clancy were strangled by their mother, Lindsay, who was later found unconscious outside the family's home in Duxbury, Massachusetts, after a suicide attempt. She was charged with their murders and pleaded not guilty, with her defense acknowledging the killings but arguing that she should not be held criminally responsible because her actions resulted from a severe postpartum mental health crisis.

Background

Family

Lindsay Clancy (born August 11, 1990)[1][2] grew up in Wallingford, Connecticut, and studied at Quinnipiac University.[3][4] She met her husband, Patrick, in 2013 through her college roommate. They married in 2016 and later settled in Duxbury, Massachusetts, where she worked as a labor and delivery nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital.[5] She began working part-time after their first child, Cora, was born on December 4, 2017.[6] Their second child, Dawson, was born on September 30, 2019, and their youngest child, Callan, was born May 26, 2022.[7]

After Callan's birth, Clancy took 18 weeks of maternity leave. Patrick took 12 weeks of paternity leave before returning to his work-from-home job in the technology sector.[7][6] The family hired a nanny who worked three days a week from September 2022 to early December 2022.[8] Clancy's parents also visited frequently, staying for days at a time, to help with childcare.[6]

Events preceding the deaths

Clancy reported experiencing postpartum anxiety after the births of her first two children.[5] Following the birth of her second child, she briefly tried talk therapy and took Zoloft.[6][9] She said her symptoms returned and worsened after the birth of her third child, particularly toward the end of her maternity leave.[6][7] Patrick testified that she planned to ask about resuming Zoloft to help with anxiety and returning to work.[10]

In September 2022, Clancy began seeing psychiatrist Jennifer Tufts. Tufts diagnosed her with generalized anxiety disorder, recommended talk therapy, and prescribed the Zoloft. She also completed a form necessary to extend Clancy's maternity leave.[11] Clancy discontinued Zoloft after reporting insomnia, a common side effect. Tufts prescribed Ativan on October 21.[12] At a follow-up appointment on October 26, Clancy said Ativan reduced her anxiety but not her sleeplessness and that she was using Benadryl as a sleep aid. Tufts prescribed Buspar, but Clancy was afraid to try a new medication and did not take it.[12] Tufts warned Clancy that Ativan may be addictive and reduced the dosage on November 2.[12][13]

According to Patrick, Clancy's condition worsened in November 2022. He testified that she lost her appetite, withdrew socially, and experienced episodes of intense fear.[6] On November 8, Clancy posted in a Facebook support group for postpartum depression and anxiety. She said that although Ativan had helped her feel normal again, she was concerned about becoming addicted and asked for alternatives.[6] On November 15, she sought treatment at an emergency room after reportedly going two days without sleep.[6] A physician prescribed Trazodone,[13] but Clancy found it ineffective.[6]

On November 20, Clancy's mother-in-law, a nurse, contacted Julie Paul, a psychiatric nurse practitioner at her hospital's perinatal clinic. Paul called Clancy later that day.[14] On November 21, Paul prescribed Prozac. On November 25, she added Ambien, Remeron, and Klonopin.[13] When Paul left the hospital in December 2022, Clancy's case was transferred to nurse practitioner Rebecca Jollotta.[14] Jollota prescribed Seroquel, an anti-psychotic, on November 29.[13]

At the beginning of December, Clancy told both Tufts and Jollota that she believed Remeron was causing intrusive thoughts.[12][14] In messages to Jollota, Clancy described "horribly intrusive thoughts wanting it to be all over" and feeling "concerningly numb right now, like I have no emotion whatsoever." Jollota testified that she did not interpret the messages as suicidal ideation and believed Clancy's symptoms were more consistent with postpartum depression than medication side effects.[14][15] Tufts testified that Clancy "denied having suicidal ideation" but "was close to it" and "feeling very hopeless".[12] Around the same time, Clancy reported hallucinations and contacted two suicide hotlines. Neither hotline intervened because she did not have a plan to harm herself.[16]

On December 6, Jollota suggested Clancy had bipolar disorder and recommended hospitalization.[14] On December 15, Clancy went to the emergency room at Massachusetts General Hospital but declined inpatient treatment.[17][12] On December 20, she admitted herself to a day program for postpartum depression at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island. The hospital quickly discharged her, believing her issues were "more likely related to overmedication and misdiagnosis" than postpartum depression.[16] The hospital advised her to stop taking Seroquel. Although the recommendation concerned Jollota, she agreed to help Clancy taper off.[18]

On December 31, 2022, Clancy went to the emergency room again. The next morning, she voluntarily began inpatient treatment at McLean Hospital, a highly ranked psychiatric institution.[6] McLean diagnosed her with "major depressive disorder, severe without psychotic features." Psychiatrist Alia Goodheart testified that Clancy was depressed and suffering significant sleep problems but did not display psychosis. Goodheart described her as future-oriented, invested in her children, and having substantial family support.[19] Clancy left McLean on January 5, 2023, with prescriptions for Ativan and Trazodone.[12] She met with Tufts on January 6; Tufts described her as "deteriorating" and began discussing medication changes.[12] On January 16, Tufts prescribed Amitriptyline.[13]

On January 23, the day before the killings, Clancy had a virtual appointment with Tufts. Tufts testified that Clancy looked depressed and said she had to force herself to get out of bed, but she denied suicidal and homicidal thoughts and Tufts did not observe psychosis.[20][21]

Killings

January 24, 2023

According to Patrick, on the morning of January 24, 2023, Clancy told him that she had slept "pretty well" and was feeling "good". She had become preoccupied with their daughter Cora's stomachache, concerned that it was caused by a liver issue, and took her to a pediatrician appointment.[6] In the afternoon, she built a snowman and did art projects with the children.[22] Throughout the day, she exchanged routine texts with Patrick, who was working from home.[23]

At 5:15 p.m., Clancy called a restaurant to place a takeout order.[7] At her request, Patrick left their residence to pick up the food and to buy medication for Cora. At 5:32 p.m., he stopped at the drugstore. Surveillance video showed him calling Clancy about which medication to buy.[7][6] Clancy did not pick up immediately but called back a minute later. Patrick later testified that she seemed busy.[6] He arrived at the restaurant at 5:54 p.m.,[7] and returned home shortly after 6:00 p.m.[6]

While her husband was gone, Clancy strangled their three children one by one with exercise bands in the basement. She then attempted suicide by cutting her wrists and neck and jumping from a second-story window. [24][22] Clancy sustained spinal cord injuries from the fall and was hospitalized; she remains paralyzed from the waist down as of 2026.[25][26]

In a later lawsuit, Clancy said that she heard a male voice directing her to commit the acts.[27][22] She claimed she woke up with suicidal thoughts. In the afternoon, she said a voice began to tell her to harm the children. After Patrick left to pick up the food, she said the voice became loud, demanding, and repeatedly telling her, "This is your last chance. You have to kill the kids so you can kill yourself." Clancy claimed that a force took over her and that she "felt an overwhelming, irresistible compulsion to comply".[22]

Emergency response

After returning home around 6:08–6:09 p.m., Patrick discovered the upstairs bedroom bloodied and the window open. He ran outside and found Clancy lying on the ground, injured and semi‑conscious.[28] He called 911, and police responded to the call at 6:11 p.m.[7]

While still on the phone with 911, Patrick entered the house to look for the children. He went to the basement and discovered all three; each was unconscious and in medical distress. Responders attempted resuscitation.[28] The children were taken to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital – Plymouth, where Cora (age 5) and Dawson (age 3) were pronounced dead.[7][29] The youngest, Callan (8 months), arrived at the hospital in cardiac arrest.[30] He was flown by medical helicopter to Boston Children's Hospital, where he required a ventilator.[7] He died three days later, on January 27, 2023.[29]

Clancy was transported to South Shore Hospital.[7]

At a remote arraignment on February 7, 2023, Clancy pleaded not guilty to charges including murder, strangulation, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.[31] The prosecution argued that the killings were deliberately premeditated, with Clancy intentionally giving her husband errands to get him out of the house so she could kill the children.[32][31] Her defense team admitted to the killings but raised the insanity defense,[29][33] arguing that she was not responsible for her actions due to severe postpartum mental illness.[34] The case went to trial on July 27, 2026, in Plymouth County Superior Court in Plymouth, Massachusetts.[24][35][36][37]

If Clancy is convicted of murder, she will receive a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. If she is found not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility, she would be committed to a state psychiatric facility.[38]

2026 trial

Patrick testified during the first week of the trial about Clancy's mental health in the months preceding the killings and the events of January 24, 2023. The jury was played the 911 call he made after returning home and discovering her outside the house and the children in the basement. Patrick testified that Clancy had appeared to be doing well on the day of the killings and that he had not been concerned about leaving her alone with the children.[39]

Prosecutors introduced Clancy's journals and electronic records as evidence. Entries documented insomnia, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and what she described as "brain fog" during the months before the killings. The prosecution also presented evidence concerning her internet searches and activity on electronic devices. Prosecutors argued that her actions before the killings, including asking Patrick to leave the house to collect food and medication, showed planning and that she understood the nature of her actions.[40]

The prosecution also claimed that Clancy's suicide was faked, bringing witnesses from the emergency department who said her wounds were not bleeding and were superficial. The defense argued that the lack of bleeding may have been due to the cold temperature outside that night.[41] Clancy was also in a wheelchair due to a spinal cord injury from the attempt.[42]

The prosecution rested its case on August 17 after several weeks of testimony from witnesses including Patrick, first responders, investigators, medical professionals, and digital-forensics specialists. Prosecutors argued that Clancy was not psychotic when she killed the children and was capable of understanding that her actions were wrong.[43]

The defense began presenting its case after the prosecution rested. Clancy's mother and sister testified about changes they had observed in her mental health during the months before the killings. Musgrove testified that Clancy had become increasingly anxious and fearful and had expressed suicidal thoughts, while Ozga described conversations in which Clancy discussed suicidal ideation and concerns about her mental health.[44]

Patrick's mother subsequently testified that Clancy had repeatedly sought help as her mental health deteriorated and had become fearful about taking her prescribed medications. She recalled Clancy telling her shortly before the killings that she needed help and was concerned about her condition.[45] Upon cross‑examination, a prosecutor asked if she was aware murder is a mortal sin. The jurors were instructed to disregard the question. Legal experts, including Mark Eiglarsh, viewed the question as "... such a cheap shot. It's irrelevant."[46]

A psychologist who evaluated Clancy after the killings also testified for the defense about her account of the events. According to the testimony, Clancy reported hearing a male voice directing her to kill the children and herself. The defense argued that she was experiencing postpartum psychosis and was unable to appreciate the wrongfulness of her actions. Prosecutors disputed that explanation, arguing that her behavior surrounding the killings demonstrated planning and awareness of what she was doing.[47][48]

Reactions and aftermath

Shortly after the deaths of the children, Patrick released a statement expressing support for his wife and urging the public to forgive her.[25] The case led to widespread discussion of postpartum mental health on social media.[49] It was also the subject of TikTok conspiracy theories alleging that Patrick killed the children and framed Clancy.[50][51][52][53]

In January 2026, Clancy and Patrick filed separate civil lawsuits against several of her former healthcare providers, alleging malpractice and negligence.[54] Patrick filed for divorce and remarried in April 2026.[55][56]

References

  1. ↑ "Mom and sister testify about Lindsay Clancy's declining mental state before she killed her children". NBC News. August 18, 2026. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  2. ↑ Allen, Bailey (August 11, 2026). "Lindsay Clancy marks birthday during murder trial of her three kids". Archived from the original on August 12, 2026. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
  3. ↑ Backus, Lisa (July 26, 2026). "Lindsay Clancy's life began in Connecticut. Now a jury will decide her fate". CT Insider. Archived from the original on August 5, 2026. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  4. ↑ Zaretsky, Mark (January 27, 2023). "On the quiet CT street where Lindsay Clancy grew up, neighbors are heartbroken". New Haven Register. Archived from the original on August 5, 2026. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  5. 1 2 Russell, Jenna (July 20, 2026). "A Mother Strangled Her Children. Was It Mental Illness, or Murder?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Orbey, Eren (October 14, 2024). "A Husband in the Aftermath of His Wife's Unfathomable Act". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on August 5, 2026. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Blandino, Peter (July 29, 2026). "Patrick Clancy testimony starts Lindsay Clancy trial | Day 5 court recap". The Patriot Ledger. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Lindsay Clancy's family nanny testifies at murder trial: "A wonderful mom who loved her kids" - CBS Boston". www.cbsnews.com. August 6, 2026. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
  9. ↑ Breslin, Ryan (August 10, 2026). "Psychiatrist explains decision to prescribe Zoloft to Lindsay Clancy". Boston 25 News. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Lindsay Clancy 'deliberately and meticulously killed' her 3 children, prosecutor tells jury". FOX News. July 27, 2026. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
  11. ↑ Levenson, Eric; Babineau, Andi; Brown, Nicki (August 8, 2026). "What we learned this week at Lindsay Clancy's trial | CNN". CNN. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Lindsay Clancy trial testimony moves to psychiatrists who treated her before murders - CBS Boston". www.cbsnews.com. August 7, 2026. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 Rahal, Sarah (July 27, 2026). "Timeline: Lindsay Clancy was prescribed 13 different medications for symptoms including depression and psychosis". The Boston Globe. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 "Lindsay Clancy trial day 11 recap: Rebecca Jolllotta on the stand". The Patriot Ledger. August 11, 2026. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
  15. ↑ Levenson, Eric (August 11, 2026). "Lindsay Clancy repeatedly asked to change medications, psychiatric nurse says | CNN". CNN. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  16. 1 2 Yankowski, Peter (August 14, 2026). "A timeline of Lindsay Clancy's treatment before the killings". Connecticut Post. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Lindsay Clancy trial focuses on psychiatric care she received before killing children - CBS Boston". www.cbsnews.com. August 11, 2026. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Lindsay Clancy trial focus turns to medications prescribed before she killed her 3 children". ABC7 San Francisco. August 12, 2026. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  19. ↑ Charalambous, Peter (August 7, 2026). "Psychiatrists testify that Lindsay Clancy did not show signs of psychosis". ABC News. Archived from the original on August 8, 2026. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
  20. ↑ Charalambous, Peter; Leib, Mason (August 7, 2026). "Psychiatrists testify that Lindsay Clancy did not show signs of psychosis". ABC News. Archived from the original on August 8, 2026. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Lindsay Clancy murder trial; investigator says mom searched 'can you treat a sociopath'". ABC7 Los Angeles. August 13, 2026. Retrieved August 14, 2026.
  22. 1 2 3 4 Conlin, Lauren (August 7, 2026). "Lindsay Clancy Lawsuit: Inside the Claims and Timeline". LAmag. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Lindsay Clancy's Final Texts to Husband Before Kids' Deaths Revealed in Murder Trial". E! Online. August 14, 2026. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  24. 1 2 Russell, Jenna (July 20, 2026). "A Mother Strangled Her Children. Was It Mental Illness, or Murder?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
  25. 1 2 Russell, Jenna (July 27, 2026). "What We Know About Lindsay Clancy's Trial for the Deaths of Her Children". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Lindsay Clancy's diary chronicled desperation and 'brain fog' before she killed her 3 kids". AP News. August 3, 2026. Archived from the original on August 6, 2026. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
  27. ↑ Mathias, Christopher (August 17, 2026). "How 'forensic fandom' in Lindsay Clancy trial threaten postpartum psychosis awareness". The Guardian. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  28. 1 2 Michael Casey. "Lindsay Clancy's diary chronicled desperation and 'brain fog' before she killed her 3 kids". AP News. Archived from the original on August 6, 2026. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
  29. 1 2 3 Casey, Michael (July 20, 2026). "Trial begins for Massachusetts mom who says postpartum issues led her to kill 3 children". AP News. Archived from the original on August 6, 2026. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
  30. ↑ Casey, Michael (August 4, 2026). "Lindsay Clancy chronicled her desperation and 'brain fog' in her diary before the killings". www.pbs.org. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  31. 1 2 "Prosecution: Woman planned the killings of her 3 children". AP News. February 8, 2023. Archived from the original on August 7, 2026. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
  32. ↑ Barry, Ellen (February 8, 2023). "A Troubled Mother Faces Murder Charges in Her Young Children's Deaths". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on March 2, 2023. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
  33. ↑ Levenson, Eric (August 3, 2026). "Lindsay Clancy was 'calm and cooperative' days after killing children, psychiatrist says | CNN". CNN. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  34. ↑ Russell, Jenna (July 27, 2026). "Lindsay Clancy's Ex-Husband Testifies on Her Mental State Before Killings". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  35. ↑ Press, Associated (July 29, 2026). "Lindsay Clancy's ex-husband testifies about day she killed their three children". The Guardian. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  36. ↑ Orbey, Eren (October 14, 2024). "A Husband in the Aftermath of His Wife's Unfathomable Act". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on August 5, 2026. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  37. ↑ "Lindsay Clancy on Trial for Killing Her Three Kids: Inside the Shocking Cas". People.com. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  38. ↑ Casey, Michael (August 13, 2026). "Before killing her kids, Lindsay Clancy searched about hallucinations, psychosis and ways to die". ABC News. Retrieved August 19, 2026.
  39. ↑ Becker, Deborah (July 29, 2026). "Courtroom hears harrowing 911 call in Lindsay Clancy case, as ex-husband recalls the day of children's killings". WBUR. Retrieved August 19, 2026.
  40. ↑ Casey, Michael (July 20, 2026). "Trial begins for Massachusetts mom who says postpartum issues led her to kill 3 children". Associated Press. Retrieved August 19, 2026.
  41. ↑ Rex, Christina (July 31, 2026). "Prosecutors trying to show Lindsay Clancy faked suicide attempt, legal expert says". CBS. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  42. ↑ Allen, Bailey (August 18, 2026). "Why is Lindsay Clancy in a wheelchair? Duxbury mom charged with killing children". The Patriot Ledger. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  43. ↑ Becker, Deborah (August 17, 2026). "Prosecution rests in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy". WBUR. Retrieved August 19, 2026.
  44. ↑ Casey, Michael (August 17, 2026). "Family says Massachusetts mother who killed children struggled with mental illness". Reuters. Retrieved August 19, 2026.
  45. ↑ Casey, Michael (August 18, 2026). "Lindsay Clancy was 'begging for help' before killing her children, former mother-in-law testifies". Associated Press. Retrieved August 19, 2026.
  46. ↑ Cuomo, Chris; Vargas, Elizabeth; Ramsey, Micheal (August 19, 2026). "Lindsay Clancy trial: 'Mortal sin' question a 'cheap shot,' attorney says". News Nation. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  47. ↑ Casey, Michael (August 18, 2026). "Lindsay Clancy was 'begging for help' before killing her children, former mother-in-law testifies". Associated Press. Retrieved August 19, 2026.
  48. ↑ "Hundreds demonstrate outside Lindsay Clancy trial: 'She's not alone'". Boston Herald. August 20, 2026. Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  49. ↑ Ryu, Jenna. "A mom is accused of killing her 3 kids. It sparked a national conversation about postpartum psychosis". USA TODAY. Archived from the original on March 2, 2023. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
  50. ↑ García, Marcela (August 21, 2026). "Turn the cameras away from the Clancy trial". The Boston Globe. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
  51. ↑ Dickson, Ej (August 21, 2026). "The Patrick Clancy Conspiracy Theories Are Rooted in the Harsh Realities of Motherhood". Wired. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
  52. ↑ Dewan, Shaila (August 22, 2026). "Why the Lindsay Clancy Case Is Dividing Americans". The New York Times. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  53. ↑ Winter, Jessica (August 22, 2026). "Why People Want to Believe the Lindsay Clancy Conspiracy Theories". The New Yorker. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  54. ↑ Spatz, Emily (August 4, 2026). "Lindsay and Patrick Clancy's civil suits: Here's what to know". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on August 6, 2026. Retrieved August 8, 2026.
  55. ↑ "Patrick Clancy Married Fertility Doctor After Divorcing Lindsay Clancy, Who's on Trial for Murdering Their 3 Children". People.com. Retrieved August 9, 2026.
  56. ↑ Helmore, Edward (August 9, 2026). "'America's saddest murder trial': mental health in focus in Lindsay Clancy case". The Guardian. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
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