This is the Day 20 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 20 Trial Summary
On Day 20 of proceedings (August 25, 2026) in Commonwealth v. Lindsay Clancy, the prosecution continued its rebuttal presentation of evidence with forensic psychologist Dr. Kirk Heilbrun concluding his testimony and forensic psychiatrist Dr. Gregory Saathoff taking the stand. Dr. Heilbrun testified that while Clancy suffered from Bipolar 2, she retained awareness of both legal and moral wrongfulness and carried out the killings due to altruistic filicide rather than obeying a command voice. He highlighted inconsistencies in her accounts of the voice, while confirming under cross-examination that Clancy was not lying or malingering on her MMPI psychological testing and describing her as a good mother. Prosecution witness Dr. Gregory Saathoff then began his direct examination, testifying about his background in forensic psychiatry and analyzing Clancy’s claims of auditory hallucinations. Dr. Saathoff testified that it is highly atypical for a command voice to occur only once without prior or subsequent history, noted it was unusual for the voice to abruptly cease after Callan was strangled, and pointed out that Clancy had deliberately hidden her decision to stop taking prescribed Lamictal from her healthcare providers.
Witness-by-Witness Summaries
Dr. Gregory Saathoff – Forensic Psychiatrist
Key summaries (Click arrow for more)
Connection to the case: Prosecution rebuttal expert forensic psychiatrist called to evaluate Clancy’s mental health history, reported hallucinations, and medical compliance.
Summary Of Testimony
Dr. Saathoff testified on direct examination regarding his experience evaluating psychosis and noted that Clancy had previously mentioned thoughts of harming her children to her mother and husband. He noted several unusual features of Clancy’s reported hallucination, testifying that experiencing a command voice once with no prior or subsequent occurrences is atypical, and that it was particularly unusual for the voice to stop immediately after Callan was strangled. Saathoff also highlighted Clancy’s decision to stop taking prescribed Lamictal without informing her medical providers, as well as her frustration that medical staff focused on her spinal cord injuries rather than her psychiatric care.
Key evidence introduced!
- Nothing Of Note.
Full report below!
Sources:
LIVE: Lindsay Clancy Murder Trial — MA v. Lindsay Clancy — Day 20, Law & Crime Trials Youtube Channel, Available Online: https://www.youtube.com/live/wBd15dDQ490?si=N4wNc27p5dtga26N
