Lindsay Clancy Trial Advances Toward Closing Arguments as Witnesses Continue to Testify

In a case that has gripped Duxbury and the nation, a Massachusetts court is inching closer to the climactic closing arguments in the trial of Lindsay Clancy, the 36‑year‑old accused of murdering her three children. On Thursday, Plymouth Superior Court Judge William Sullivan told the courtroom that the proceedings ran shorter than expected and that the jury will likely hear the attorneys’ final statements on Monday or Tuesday, depending on how long the remaining witnesses speak.

Clancy pleaded not guilty to the first‑degree murder charges that stem from the January 24, 2023 deaths of her 5‑year‑old daughter Cora, her 3‑year‑old son Dawson and her 8‑month‑old son Callan. The killings unfolded in the family’s Duxbury home after Clancy was found unconscious following a suicide attempt.

The day’s schedule was largely procedural. After a brief morning of witness testimony, the judge and attorneys convened to discuss logistics. The jury, a 12‑woman and six‑man panel, was dismissed once the first defense witness finished speaking. Judge Sullivan thanked the jurors for their patience and noted that Friday would be a longer day.

Defense attorney Kevin Reddington is set to call psychiatrist Dr. Phillip Resnick via Zoom on Friday. Resnick, who testified in the 2001 Andrea Yates case, helped establish that Yates suffered from severe postpartum psychosis. Reddington’s strategy is to show that Clancy was overmedicated and experiencing postpartum psychosis, a condition that would negate criminal responsibility.

Prosecutors Jennifer Sprague and Shanan Buckingham argue that Clancy planned the murders before staging a suicide attempt. They contend that her admissions and the circumstances of the crime demonstrate intent.

Clancy’s defense has also introduced testimony about a male voice that the mother claimed ordered her to kill her children. A psychologist who met with Clancy testified that she heard a voice in her head. A chaplain, Sheila Cavanaugh, who worked with Clancy at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, testified that Clancy was in a neutral emotional state when she first spoke to her after the incident. Cavanaugh noted that Clancy said she was glad her children were safe and that she had alluded to hearing a persistent male voice.

The court also heard from a former mother‑in‑law and other family members who described Clancy’s deteriorating mental state after the birth of her youngest son. These witnesses emphasized insomnia and other symptoms that are consistent with postpartum psychosis.

Outside the courtroom, a group of women from across the country gathered in pink to support Clancy and to call for better postpartum mental‑health care. Participants highlighted gaps in the mental‑health system and urged improved communication between providers.

Clancy remains paralyzed from the night of the killings and attends court in a wheelchair. If convicted, she faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. If the court finds she was not criminally responsible due to a mental‑health crisis, she would be committed to a state psychiatric hospital.

The trial continues with the remaining witnesses scheduled for Friday. Judge Sullivan’s statement that closing arguments will likely be held Monday or Tuesday reflects the court’s intent to move the case toward a verdict while allowing time for the final testimonies.

For those in emotional distress, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available by calling or texting 988. The National Alliance on Mental Illness offers additional resources at 1‑800‑950‑NAMI.