What to Know
Lindsay Clancy had a quiet life with her husband, Patrick Clancy, and their three young children. On January 24, 2023, she allegedly strangled her 5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson, and 8-month-old Callan with exercise bands inside their home.
Patrick Clancy left to get dinner for the family and returned to the horrific scene. Their two oldest children passed away at the scene, but the baby survived just a few days before his death.
Now, more than three years later, Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial is set to take place, and the gruesome details of her alleged crimes will be shared with a jury.
What do we know about Lindsay Clancy?
Lindsay Clancy was a 32-year-old labor and delivery nurse living in Duxbury, Massachusetts, with her husband and children prior to the grisly murders. According to the Boston Globe, Lindsay Clancy suffered from postpartum anxiety following Dawson’s birth. She reportedly took multiple medications to treat her symptoms, and some fear she was overmedicated.
After strangling her children, she reportedly jumped out of a second-story window in an apparent suicide attempt. She survived but became paralyzed from the waist down and now uses a wheelchair. Though Lindsay Clancy allegedly alluded to her postpartum struggles on Facebook, the murders reportedly shocked her family.
“It’s a pretty shocking thing, and it is heartbreaking,” the children’s great-grandmother, Rita Musgrove, told NBC Boston at the time. “They were just beautiful, beautiful children. Well cared for — they were just beautiful, that’s it. They had a beautiful life,” Musgrove added.
Patrick Clancy forgave his wife.
Following the death of their three children, Patrick Clancy’s loved ones created a GoFundMe that generated more than $1 million in donations. Following the death of his son Dawson, Patrick Clancy made a public plea for prayers and forgiveness for his wife.
“I want to ask all of you that you find it deep within yourselves to forgive Lindsay, as I have. The real Lindsay was generously loving and caring towards everyone – me, our kids, family, friends, and her patients. The very fibers of her soul are loving. All I wish for her now is that she can somehow find peace,” Patrick Clancy shared.
“I promise I’ll put all my energy into healing and rediscovering my purpose. I owe that to all of you, Duxbury fire and police, our compassionate healthcare workers, our local faith leaders, the Microsoft community, and especially Cora, Dawson, and Callan. I don’t know how or when I’ll be able to do it, but your love and generosity will help me get started. I know that love always wins,” he added.
Patrick Clancy wants justice for his kids.
Per NBC Boston, Patrick Clancy filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Lindsay Clancy’s doctors following their children’s deaths.
“Defendants’ negligent treatment of Lindsay, including their complete failure to recognize and address the radical erosion of her mental health, resulted in tragedy, namely, allegations that Lindsay took the lives of her children,” the lawsuit reads.
“If Defendants had not acted negligently, and rather had provided adequate care, it is more likely than not that Patrick and Lindsay’s children would still be alive today.”
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Lindsay Clancy pleaded not guilty.
Boston 25 reported many expect Lindsay Clancy’s attorney, Kevin Reddington, to argue she is not criminally liable in her children’s deaths due to overmedication and postpartum psychosis.
“I’m still looking into whether I can have her not even be in the courtroom during that,” Reddington told reporters. He added that due to the graphic nature of the evidence in the case, Lindsay Clancy may ask to leave the courtroom during certain parts of the case.
“I don’t even like to be there in murder cases and look at half the stuff you look at. I don’t understand how she’ll have the strength to go through that,” he said.
Jury selection begins July 20th.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.
