Jurors in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy reported a deadlock on September 1, 2026, after four days of deliberations in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Judge William Sullivan dismissed the jury for the day after they indicated they were unable to reach a unanimous decision regarding the 2023 deaths of Clancy’s three children.
The jury, consisting of nine women and three men, spent nearly 18 hours in deliberation before informing the court they had reached a standstill. Despite the impasse, Judge William Sullivan instructed the jurors to continue deliberating, acknowledging the scale of the case, which included more than 80 witnesses and 300 exhibits.
The Legal Stakes: Murder vs. Lack of Criminal Responsibility
Lindsay Clancy, 36, is charged with the January 2023 murders of her children: 5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson, and 8-month-old Callan. While she does not dispute that she strangled the children with elastic exercise bands in their Duxbury home, she has pleaded not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility.
The jury is currently weighing several possible outcomes. They can convict Clancy of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, or manslaughter. Conversely, they may find her not guilty or not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility. A murder conviction could result in a life sentence, whereas an acquittal based on mental health could lead a judge to order her commitment to a mental health facility if she is deemed a danger to the public.
Competing Theories on Postpartum Psychosis
The trial has centered on whether Clancy’s actions were the result of a conscious choice or a total break from reality. Defense attorney Kevin Reddington argued that Clancy suffered from severe postpartum psychosis and bipolar disorder, claiming she hallucinated a voice telling her to kill her children and herself.
Reddington further alleged that medical providers failed Clancy by misdiagnosing and overmedicating her during the four months preceding the crimes, a period marked by debilitating insomnia and intrusive thoughts. Prosecutors, however, contend that Clancy was motivated by depression rather than psychosis. Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Sprague argued that Clancy didn’t want to try anymore
and viewed her children as a protective factor
that kept her from ending her own misery, necessitating their removal.
“Those kids were her protective factor. Those kids were keeping her from ending her misery. So she had to remove the protective factor.”
Jennifer Sprague, Assistant District Attorney
The Prospect of a Mistrial and Retrial
If the jury remains deadlocked, Judge Sullivan may issue a Tuey-Rodriguez instruction, also known as a dynamite charge
. This instruction informs jurors that a retrial is unlikely to produce clearer evidence or a better-equipped jury. If this fails, the judge could declare a mistrial.
The possibility of a second trial is a point of significant tension. Kevin Reddington told reporters that Clancy would not be able to emotionally handle going through the process again, noting she has displayed a flat affect
and sadness during deliberations.
Reddington also questioned why Plymouth District Attorney Timothy Cruz did not reduce the charges to second-degree murder. According to the defense, such a reduction would have allowed Clancy to waive a jury trial and be tried by a judge instead.
Impact of Evidence and Witness Testimony
The jury’s struggle to reach a verdict follows weeks of testimony from dozens of witnesses. This included Clancy’s mother and sister, who described her as becoming paranoid and suicidal after the birth of her third child, and her ex-husband, Patrick Clancy. Patrick, who discovered the bodies and has since forgiven Lindsay, viewed her as ill rather than evil
.
Clancy herself chose not to testify. She remained at the defense table throughout the proceedings, occasionally weeping when the prosecution presented autopsy photos of her children. Following the killings and her failed suicide attempt—which involved cutting her wrists and neck and jumping from a second-story window—Clancy remains paralyzed from the waist down.
Next Steps in Plymouth Superior Court
The deadlock represents the first signal of an impasse in a case that has sparked deep public division over maternal mental health. While the defense views the jury’s continued effort as a sign of sincerity, the legal path forward remains uncertain.
The jury is scheduled to resume deliberations on Wednesday, September 2, at 9 a.m.
