What mistrial means for Lindsay Clancy as judge makes ruling over hung jury
Earlier today, Judge William Sullivan gave Lindsay Clancy's defense one hour to appeal to fight his pending mistrial declaration.
The judge expressed his intentions to declare a mistrial in Clancy's triple murder case, saying 'he did not have any choice but to declare one'.
In a note, the jury said it was 'with a heavy heart' that it could not reach a unanimous decision after several days of deliberation, and also agreed that it should be a mistrial.
However, Clancy's attorney, Kevin Reddington, was given one hour to appeal to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.
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In Massachusetts, a unanimous verdict is required, but if this jury remain deadlocked, like they have done for the past few days, the result would be a mistrial. But what does this mean and what would the outcome mean for Clancy?
What happens to Clancy in the event of a mistrial?
It does not mean Clancy, 36, would walk free. In this case, she would remain in a psychiatric hospital, while prosecutors decide the outcome. Here, the case could be retried with a whole new jury.
Clancy would still be charged with murder.
If it's decided that a new jury will be selected, the whole process will start again, and a new date would be put in place.
However, this is not the only option, as Clancy could also be offered a plea deal.
Decisions on whether or not to hold a retrial of the case depend on legal tests, public interest, costs and practical limits. It is unlikely to happen again if it is likely to receive the same outcome, of a hung jury.
Elsewhere, prosecutors can also dismiss the charges altogether.
Clancy is facing three counts of murder after the deaths of her three children in January 2023. She does not deny killing her children, however, her defense has argued that she should not be held criminally liable because she was suffering from postpartum psychosis at the time.
If she is found guilty of of first-degree murder, in Massachusetts, this carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison. Clancy will also have no possibility of parole.
The jury - who could not reach a unanimous verdict, had five options to choose from. These were:
- Guilty of first-degree murder
- Guilty of second-degree murder
- Guilty of manslaughter
- Not guilty
- Not guilty by lack of criminal responsibility (the equivalent of an insanity defence)
Clacy's supporters continue to wear pink
Throughout the trial, Clancy's supporters have continuously worn pink inside, and outside, the courtroom.
Today (September 4) Clancy's attorney, Kevin Reddington, was seen wearing a pink tie.
Elsewhere, Clancy's mother was seen wearing a pink cardigan when she took to the stand on August 17.
Several of the people outside the courtroom have been wearing the color, along with phrases like 'Believe', 'She Needed Help', and 'Peace For Lindsay' written on their shirts, in an attempt to raise awareness about the treatment women receive post-birth.
Timeline of Lindsay Clancy case
May 2022
Lindsay gives birth to her third child, Callan.
She’s open about her postpartum struggles with her other two kids on social media. Six weeks after Callan’s birth, she posts that she’s feeling ‘dialed in’ while focusing on exercise, nutrition, and mindset, and ‘it has made all the difference’.
September 2022
As the end of her maternity leave nears, Lindsay, who works as a labor and delivery nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital, starts to experience anxiety about returning to work.
She visits two different psychiatrists and receives a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder.
Lindsay is prescribed several different psychiatric medications.
October 2022
According to court docs, she writes in a note on her phone: “I think I sort of resent my other children because they prevent me from treating Cal like my first baby. And I know that’s not fair to them. I know that. I was feeling so depressed last evening when Cora and Dawson came home from school, I know it runs off on them, so we had a pretty rough evening, I want to feel love and connection with all my kids.”
December 2022
Lindsay undergoes an evaluation at the Women and Infants Hospital Center for Women’s Behavioral Health. She is not diagnosed with postpartum depression, prosecutors say.
Lindsay’s husband Patrick tells police she is having suicidal thoughts and thoughts of harming their children, according to his testimony in court.
1-5 January, 2023
Lindsay admits herself to McLean Hospital for psychiatric treatment. She is discharged after five days as clinicians do not believe she poses an imminent danger to herself or others, prosecutors say.
22 January, 2023
Lindsay, Patrick, Cora and Dawson have dinner at family friend Kyle Carney’s home. Kyle later tells police that Lindsay ‘seemed fairly normal’.
23 January, 2023
According to prosecutors, Lindsay pens a note on her phone which says she has ‘a touch of postpartum anxiety’ about going back to work.
24 January, 2023
Prosecutors allege the following took place this day:
Morning: Lindsay takes Cora to a scheduled pediatrician appointment. After returning home, they play in the snow with Dawson. She sends photos of the kids to Patrick and her mom.
4:02pm: Lindsay searches for ‘kids Miralax’ (a laxative) on her phone, and 11 minutes later looks up ‘take out 3v’, referring to restaurant ThreeV in Plymouth. She uses Apple Maps to calculate how long it would take to drive from the family’s home to ThreeV.
4:47pm: Lindsay rings a CVS in Kingston to ask if they have any Miralax in stock. A manager tells her they don’t, but they do have similar medications.
The manager later tells authorities that she did not slur her words or sound impaired during the call.
4:35pm: Lindsay texts Patrick, who is working from home: “Any chance you want to do takeout from 3V … I didn’t cook anything … It’s been a long day.”
Patrick says yes, and Lindsay asks him to ‘check the menu when you can’.
5:10pm: Lindsay calls ThreeV to place the order.
5:15pm: Lindsay allegedly texts Patrick: “Pedialax liquid stool softener.” He then leaves to pick up the medication.
5:33pm: When Patrick arrives at CVS, he rings Lindsay, but she doesn’t pick up. She rings back one minute later and confirms the medication.
5:54pm: Patrick gets to ThreeV, pays for the food and leaves.
6:09pm: Patrick returns home. “The first thing he noticed was the silence,” prosecutors say. “He did not see or hear the defendant or the children.”
Patrick calls for his wife but gets no response. He discovers their second-floor bedroom is locked. Patrick eventually manages to get in the room but sees blood on the floor. He runs outside and finds Lindsay lying on the ground, according to prosecutors.
6:11pm: Prosecutors say that Patrick rings 911 and Lindsay is saying: “I tried to kill myself.”
He is then said to ask Lindsay: “Where are the kids?” She responds: “In the basement.”
While on the call, Patrick goes down to the basement and is heard ‘screaming in agony’,
Cora and Callan are discovered on the floor of the den. Dawson is found in his dad’s home office.
When officers arrive at the scene, Patrick alleges: “She killed the kids.”
Lindsay is taken to hospital, where she is treated for injuries that leave her paralysed below the waist. The three children are also rushed to hospital.
7:28pm: Cora and Dawson are pronounced dead. Callan is medically flown to another children’s hospital.
25 January, 2023
Police issue Lindsay an arrest warrant, charging her with two counts of murder, three counts of strangulation or suffocation, and three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
27 January, 2023
Callan is pronounced dead at 11.18am.
According to Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Sprague, Lindsay later wakes up and uses a whiteboard to ask: “Do I need an attorney?”
6 February, 2023
While in the presence of a psychologist hired by her lawyer, Lindsay calls Patrick and tells him she had a ‘moment of psychosis’ and heard ‘a man’s voice telling her to kill the kids and kill herself’ after he left on January 24.
7 February, 2023
On the day of her arraignment, Lindsay’s attorney says that she’s still suicidal. She pleads not guilty to three counts of murder.
October 2024
Patrick asks the public to forgive Lindsay, telling The New Yorker: “I wasn’t married to a monster - I was married to someone who got sick.”
January 2026
Lindsay and Patrick file a civil lawsuit, accusing medical providers of not properly diagnosing, treating and monitoring her for a ‘severe postpartum psychiatric condition’.
9 July, 2026
The Plymouth County District Attorney's Office says the three counts of strangulation would be subsumed into the murder charges.
27 July, 2026
Lindsay’s murder trial begins.
4 September 2026
Judge states his intention to declare a mistrial as the jury fails to reach a verdict.
Topics: Lindsay Clancy, Crime, US News
Kiesha Dosanjh