This is the Day 16 of the 6-to-8-week trial report of the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, accused of murdering her three children Dawson, Cora and Callan. Lindsay Clancy pleads not guilty by the reason of insanity.
Case Report
Factual background:
On January 24, 2023, 35-year-old former labor and delivery nurse Lindsay Clancy of Duxbury, Massachusetts, requested that her husband run errands to pick up dinner and medication. While he was away from the home, Clancy strangled their three children—5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson, and 8-month-old Callan—in the basement using exercise bands before attempting suicide by jumping from a second-story window. Patrick Clancy returned home to find his wife severely injured in the yard and the children unresponsive in the basement; Cora and Dawson died that day, while Callan died three days later at Boston Children’s Hospital. Lindsay Clancy, who survived the fall but remains paralyzed from the waist down, was charged with three counts of first-degree murder.
Criminal complaint:
CHARGES:
1. 1st Degree Murder 3 counts
Victim(s): Cora (5 Years Old), Dawson (3 years old), Callan (8 Months)
Courthouse: Plymouth County Courthouse, Massachusetts
Officers of the court
Judge:
Attorneys
Prosecution:
ADA Shanan Buckingham
ADA Jennifer Sprague
Defence:
Kevin Reddington
Legend:
ADA = Assistant District Attorney
MA v. Lindsay Clancy – Day 16 Trial Summary
On Day 16 of proceedings (August 19, 2026) in Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Lindsay Clancy, defense psychological expert Dr. Paul Zeizel concluded his testimony, offering formal expert conclusions on Clancy’s mental state and legal sanity. Dr. Zeizel testified that Clancy suffered from genuine psychosis rather than sociopathy or anti-social personality disorder, contextualizing her internet searches regarding sociopaths and concluding she was legally insane—unable to appreciate the wrongfulness of her acts or conform her behavior to the law. Under cross-examination, prosecution counsel probed Clancy’s lack of inquiries about her children immediately post-incident and statements made to a hospital chaplain, while redirect testimony clarified that Clancy speaks of loving and missing her children daily. Following jury dismissal, a voir dire hearing was held for proposed defense witness Emily Thorndike, a clinical social worker from McLean Hospital; however, the judge ruled Thorndike barred from testifying before the jury after she admitted watching trial proceedings prior to being sequestered.
Witness-by-Witness Summaries
Dr. Paul Zeizel – Psychologist
Key summaries (Click arrow for more)
Connection to the case: Defense psychological expert who conducted post-incident clinical evaluations of Lindsay Clancy.
Summary Of Testimony
Dr. Zeizel concluded his direct examination by testifying that Clancy lacked sociopathy or anti-social personality disorder, explaining that her web searches regarding sociopathy were self-directed concerns rather than evidence of malice. He testified that Clancy was turned away from a suicide hotline due to lacking a plan, feared in mid-December 2022 that her children would be taken away, and met the standard for legal insanity during the offense—unable to conform her behavior to the law or appreciate the wrongfulness of her actions. On cross-examination, Dr. Zeizel acknowledged Clancy had not heard voices since the incident and reviewed her statement to a hospital chaplain about hearing a voice instructing her to kill her children and herself. On redirect, he emphasized that Clancy expresses deep love and longing for her children daily, and confirmed on recross that she has made no self-harm attempts since January 24, 2023.
Key evidence introduced!
- Nothing Of Note.
Full report below!
Sources:
LIVE: Lindsay Clancy Murder Trial — MA v. Lindsay Clancy — Day 16, Law & Crime Trials Youtube Channel, Available Online: https://www.youtube.com/live/phzdAiaQ2vs?si=ScPdi4rpVKKl0y5b
