Plea deal could resolve Clancy case instead of second trial
Criminal defense attorney Donna Rotunno addressed the Lindsay Clancy murder case after a judge declared a mistrial, discussing on “Fox & Friends Weekend” whether prosecutors and the defense could move toward a plea deal. The segment examined whether Clancy is likely to face a second trial or whether a plea bargain could resolve the charges stemming from the deaths of her three young children.
Lindsay Clancy’s lawyer indicated Tuesday that he would be receptive to a plea agreement, saying he hopes the district attorney’s office will “revisit” the case after her murder trial ended without a verdict.
Attorney Kevin Reddington made the remarks days after Judge William Sullivan declared a mistrial Friday in Clancy’s murder case. Jurors were unable to reach a unanimous decision, with deliberations reportedly ending in an alleged 11-1 split.
Reddington argued that the lone holdout juror had acknowledged having doubt but, in his view, was not properly following the judge’s instructions on the legal standard of reasonable doubt.
Clancy, 36, was charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of her children — Cora, Dawson and Callan — all of whom were under the age of 6 when they were found strangled inside the family’s home in January 2023.
Lindsay Clancy and Kevin Reddington listen as Judge Sullivan asks the jury to continue deliberations during Clancy’s murder trial on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in Plymouth, Mass. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool)
Speaking Tuesday on “Good Morning America,” Reddington said he hopes both sides can “work something out” when asked about the possibility of a plea deal in the high-profile Massachusetts case.
“I‘m willing to listen to Tim. I‘ve known Tim for 30 years. He‘s a very hard charging prosecutor,” Reddington said, referring to Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz. “I hope, however, after sitting through this trial and seeing the evidence that was presented from the government as well as from the defense, that he would revisit that issue and hopefully would be able to work something out that would be acceptable to both sides.”
Reddington previously said that prosecutors weren’t open to a plea deal while talking to reporters on Sept. 2. He later said “bring it” when asked about the possibility of a retrial.
“There’s no plea bargaining, there’s nothing Cruz wants, his triple homicide convictions, consecutive life sentences,” Reddington said.
Lindsay Clancy’s attorney, Kevin Reddington, speaks outside the courthouse after the third day of deliberations in her murder trial on Aug. 31, 2026. (David McGlynn for News Outlet)
Reddington also appealed to President Donald Trump for a potential pardon. However, Trump has no authority to issue a pardon since Clancy’s murder trial is being handled in state court, not federal.
“Mr. President, I would hope that you would consider this young lady, the type of person she is, what she‘s been through, and consider a pardon,” Reddington said.
Reddington also softened his criticism of the lone holdout juror, whom he had previously accused of having an “agenda” and of having “robbed” the other jurors of their time.
Callan, left, Dawson and Cora Clancy. The three children were killed at their Duxbury, Massachusetts, home in January 2023. (Lindsay Marie Clancy/Facebook)
“I at the end of the case made statements to the effect that I was upset,” he said. “I would defend that individual‘s right to be a holdout for forever. That‘s part of our judicial system. And I respect that. And I would certainly defend his right to do that.”
“What I was upset about was, after that lengthy trial and the work that everyone put into this case, including these jurors that spent literally almost two months away from their home, their job, their family, where a gentleman had an opinion, not that he was sticking like the movie ’12 Angry Men,’ but in fact he had agreed, according to the note from the forelady, that he had doubt, but he would not apply the law of reasonable doubt as presented by the judge. That’s not right. And that’s why I was upset,” Reddington explained.
In a statement to News Outlet on Tuesday, Patrick Clancy’s attorney, Howard Cooper, said his client and his family have been the target of a “relentless, escalating and destructive defamation campaign” and warned that those behind it could face legal consequences.
Patrick Clancy leaves his apartment building in East Midtown in New York City, NY, Thursday, September 3, 2026. (Elder Ordonez/InStar for News Outlet)
“Over the past months, Patrick Clancy and his family have been subjected to a relentless, escalating and destructive defamation campaign. This campaign of misinformation has been launched and promoted by minor celebrities, so-called influencers and outright conspiracy theorists who appear intent on boosting their own social media profiles and potential profit by publishing what they know to be outright falsehoods that Patrick was somehow involved in the death of his young children and other vile claims,” Cooper said.
Patrick Clancy and Rachel Danis hold hands as they walk through East Midtown in New York City, NY, Wednesday, September 2, 2026. (Elder Ordonez/InStar for News Outlet)
“Enough is enough — this spread of blatant and baseless falsehoods must stop. Those responsible should understand that there will be consequences, and every appropriate measure will be pursued to hold them accountable, including legally. Law enforcement has been notified,” Patrick Clancy’s attorney added.
While Cruz hasn’t indicated what he will do with Lindsay Clancy’s case after the mistrial, Sullivan set a status hearing for Sept. 29.
