This is the Day 18 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 18 Trial Summary
On Day 18 of proceedings (August 21, 2026) in Commonwealth v. Lindsay Clancy, the trial reached a major pivot point as the defense rested its case following the testimony of prominent forensic psychiatrist Dr. Phillip Resnick, and the prosecution launched its rebuttal with forensic psychiatrist Dr. Avram Mack. Resnick testified that Clancy suffered from Bipolar 2 with severe depression and was frankly psychotic on January 24, 2023, diagnosing her with postpartum psychosis.
On cross-examination, Resnick acknowledged medical records showing Clancy had moments with no observable psychosis symptoms where she discussed future goals, such as postpartum psychosis activism and running a wheelchair marathon, after which the defense rested. The Commonwealth then called Dr. Avram Mack, who testified that Clancy retained criminal responsibility, understood right from wrong, and heard a male command voice telling her “kill the kids, this is your last chance”. Mack argued that Clancy knew her actions were wrong because she realized her husband Patrick wouldn’t allow it and feared her children would be taken away if her thoughts were discovered.
Witness-by-Witness Summaries
Dr. Avram Mack – Forensic Psychiatrist
Key summaries (Click arrow for more)
Connection to the case: Prosecution rebuttal expert forensic psychiatrist evaluated Clancy’s mental status, sanity, and criminal responsibility.
Summary Of Testimony
Mack testified that mental status examinations revealed no abnormalities and stated his professional opinion that Clancy retained criminal responsibility and understood right from wrong. He testified that Clancy described hearing a male voice in the late afternoon instructing her to kill the children because it was her “last chance,” noting her awareness that her husband Patrick would not allow it proved she knew right from wrong. Mack highlighted that Clancy’s fear that her children would be taken away if anyone knew her thoughts, as well as her statement “go to God” during the killings, demonstrated an understanding of moral and legal wrongfulness. On cross-examination, Mack noted that Clancy avoided taking certain medications due to fear of them passing into her breast milk.
Key evidence introduced!
- Nothing Of Note.
Full report below!
Sources:
LIVE: Lindsay Clancy Murder Trial — MA v. Lindsay Clancy — Day 18, Law & Crime Trials Youtube Channel, Available Online: https://www.youtube.com/live/yiTWmVv1N6Q?si=vw0qcVLLr3DhIuX7
