DUXBURY — Lindsay Clancy pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of her children. Prosecutors argue she acted with deliberate premeditation and bears full criminal responsibility, while her defense asserts she was suffering from postpartum psychosis and is not criminally responsible for the deaths.

Clancy strangled her three children, Cora, Dawson, and Callan, on January 24, 2023. Cora was 5 years old, Dawson was 3, and Callan was 8 months old at the time of their deaths. Clancy used exercise resistance bands to strangle the children.

Clancy attempted suicide by cutting her wrists and neck and jumping from a second-story window. Her husband, Patrick Clancy, called 911 after finding her outside their home on January 24, 2023. Patrick Clancy stated in the 911 call, “She killed the kids.” He testified that Lindsay Clancy told him the children were in the basement during the call.

Patrick Clancy testified for the prosecution as the first witness in the trial. He testified that he went to pick up takeout food and medicine before returning home. He called Lindsay Clancy's cellphone and called out for his family before discovering the scene. He found the bedroom door locked and saw blood in the room.

Patrick Clancy testified that he found Cora in the basement with an exercise band around her neck. He also found Callan in the basement with an exercise band around his neck. Patrick Clancy testified that he performed CPR on his children before first responders arrived.

Patrick Clancy testified that he found Lindsay Clancy lying on the ground outside with cuts on her wrists and a red mark around her neck. She is paralyzed from the waist down as a result of her suicide attempt and uses a wheelchair. Lindsay Clancy audibly sobbed in the courtroom while listening to the 911 recording.

Plymouth County Assistant District Attorney Shanan Buckingham delivered opening statements in the trial. Buckingham stated that Clancy “deliberately and meticulously” killed her children. Buckingham stated that Clancy sent her husband out to pick up food after mapping the time it would take for him to return. She stated that Clancy acted intentionally, rationally, and swiftly.

Defense attorney Kevin Reddington delivered opening statements in the trial. Reddington presented a diary entry from Lindsay Clancy dated December 12 stating, 2.5 valium 200 seroquel — slept well horrible thoughts & no motivation. Patrick Clancy testified that Lindsay she said she heard a man's voice telling her to kill the children or she would lose her chance.

Patrick Clancy testified that Lindsay Clancy spent multiple days in psychiatric hospitals in late December 2022 and early January 2023. He testified that she was prescribed several medications by at least three different providers between September 2022 and January 2023. Patrick Clancy testified that she took her medications as instructed, though he was not present when she took them. He testified that he was not aware of how much medication she had taken.

Patrick Clancy testified that Lindsay Clancy appeared to have “one of her best days” in the hours before the killings. He testified that she built a snowman and played with the children hours before the killings. Patrick Clancy testified that he never believed the children were in danger because she showed no intention of harming them. He testified that she was a dedicated mother who read books, made up songs, and took the children to music classes.

Prosecutor Jennifer Sprague showed the jury the exercise bands and clothing worn by the children. The jury consists of 12 women and six men. Judge William Sullivan ordered that the media and public may not record, display, reproduce, or distribute the audio of Patrick Clancy's 911 call or autopsy photographs. The jury will visit the Clancy home in Duxbury as part of the trial proceedings.

The jury is permitted to visually inspect the exterior, basement, first floor, and second floor of the Clancy home, but may not touch items or open closets. Lindsay Clancy faces life in prison if convicted of murder. If found not criminally responsible, she would be committed to a state psychiatric facility. She is being held at Tewksbury State Hospital.

Clancy was a former labor and delivery nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital. She and Patrick Clancy filed lawsuits against her medical providers alleging failure to properly diagnose and treat her condition. Postpartum psychosis is estimated to affect 1 to 2 per 1,000 women after delivery. Illinois is the only state with a law allowing undiagnosed or untreated postpartum depression or psychosis to be a mitigating factor in sentencing.

Andrea Yates was found not guilty by reason of insanity in a 2006 retrial for drowning her five children. Dena Schlosser was found not guilty by reason of insanity in 2006 for killing her 10-month-old daughter. Sheryl Massip's conviction for running over her infant son was overturned by reason of insanity. PureSource News previously reported that jury selection began in the Lindsay Clancy trial in Plymouth.

The trial centers on whether Lindsay Clancy acted with premeditation or was legally insane due to postpartum psychosis. If convicted of murder, she faces life in prison, but if found not criminally responsible, she would be committed to a state psychiatric facility.