Mistrial declared in Lindsay Clancy murder trial over deaths of three children

Plymouth, United States. A judge declared a mistrial on Friday in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, who was accused of killing her three young children in Duxbury, Massachusetts, in January 2023.

The decision followed several notes from jurors indicating they were deadlocked after the nearly six-week televised trial.

Potential retrial

Judge William Sullivan’s ruling opened the possibility of a retrial, although Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz said his office had not decided whether to pursue one.

“Children were murdered, and it’s our job to seek justice,” Cruz told reporters.

Clancy, 36, would face a life sentence if she is retried and convicted of murder. If found not guilty by reason of insanity, she would be committed to a state psychiatric hospital for evaluation, with her commitment subject to regular court review.

Defence argument

No one disputed that Clancy strangled her children, Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and eight-month-old Callan, with exercise bands in the basement of their home.

She then cut herself with a knife and jumped from a second-story window in an attempt to take her own life, leaving her paralysed.

Her attorney, Kevin Reddington, argued that she should be found not guilty by reason of insanity, saying she was suffering from a psychotic episode linked to postpartum psychosis at the time of the killings.

Public attention

The trial revived debate in the United States over the treatment of postpartum mental health and the legal response to cases in which mothers kill their children.

President Donald Trump said he was aware of the case and assumed there would be another trial.

“It’s a horrible tragedy,” Trump said. “She did a horrible, horrible thing. Can’t be worse. But you’ll find out what the price to pay is. There’ll be a price.”

Clancy remains in custody at a state hospital and is due in court for a follow-up hearing on September 29.