Lindsay Clancy became visibly distraught in court and begged for the murder trial to pause as a medical examiner recounted the devastating injuries suffered by her three young children.
The 36-year-old former nurse is accused of killing her children — five-year-old Cora, three-year-old Dawson and eight-month-old Callan — inside the family’s home in Duxbury, Massachusetts, in January 2023.
After the children’s deaths, Clancy attempted to take her own life. She survived, but the injuries left her permanently paralyzed and dependent on a wheelchair.
Clancy has pleaded not guilty to the murder charges. Her defense argues she should not be held criminally responsible, claiming she was experiencing postpartum psychosis after being prescribed multiple powerful medications for depression.
On Wednesday, the judge cleared both the jury and the courtroom twice after Clancy appeared overwhelmed while listening to testimony about the injuries prosecutors say she caused.
“I can’t do this,” Clancy cried as the graphic evidence was described in court.
Dr. Barbara Olson detailed trauma to Cora’s neck as well as injuries to the child’s arms and legs. She also testified that Dawson died from asphyxia after being strangled with exercise bands.
Clancy was already in tears before jurors were shown the autopsy photographs of Cora and Dawson, which formed part of the medical examiner’s testimony.
Lindsay Clancy cried out, ‘I can’t do this,’ as a medical examiner testifies about her children’s injuries
Clancy strangled her children – Cora, five, Dawson, three, and eight-month-old Callan – back in January 2023, then attempted to kill herself
While the little children’s bodies were shown on screens, one female juror grew increasingly upset.
She wiped away tears with a tissue before closing her eyes for a moment. The woman then pursed her lips and swallowed, as though trying to stop the tears flowing.
Another juror also briefly dabbed a tissue to her face. Clancy put her head in her arms on the defense table and cried loudly.
Prosecutors Jennifer Sprague and Shanan Buckingham turned to each other and pulled faces – seemingly annoyed – as Clancy was comforted and taken out of the room by her nurses.
Earlier, Renee Stonebridge, who works at the Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, testified about the injuries to the children’s eyes and brains.
Clancy appeared to be hyperventilating as Stonebridge spoke, and made quiet gulping sounds and her back and shoulders were shuddering.
Her attorney Kevin Reddington leant forward and clutched her hand in his.
As the judge called a break, Reddington stood over Clancy with his arm around her shoulder. She leant her body into his as she appeared to be desperately trying to muffle her sobs.
The former nurse, 36, is on trial for killing her three children. Her suicide attempt after the killings failed but left her paralyzed and in a wheelchair for life
Renee Stonebridge, who works at the Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, testified about the injuries to the children’s eyes and brains
Reddington objected to the witness before she was brought to the stand.
‘It’s not contested, it’s not necessary,’ Reddington said.
Clancy does not deny killing her children, but claims she is not guilty because she was suffering postpartum psychosis.
Last week, she agreed to a stipulation of facts in regard to several pieces of evidence and to help alleviate the government from having to call dozens of witnesses.
After Clancy’s outburst, the judge reminded the jury that the evidence can give emotional reactions – but, as jurors, they must separate emotion from the evidence.
‘Your verdict in this case is going to have to be based solely on the evidence, it cannot be based on sympathy or anger or passion or prejudice,’ he said.
If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US on 988. There is also an online chat available at 988lifeline.org.
