On January 24, 2023, Lindsay Clancy strangled her three children, five-year-old Cora, three-year-old Dawson, and eight-month-old Callan, at their home in Duxbury, Massachusetts, United States. She then attempted suicide by cutting her wrists and neck and jumping from a second-story window, sustaining injuries that left her paralyzed from the waist down. Lindsay said she had heard an auditory hallucination ordering her to commit the acts and felt an irresistible urge to comply.
Lindsay was charged with three counts of murder. Her defense argued that she was suffering from postpartum psychosis and bipolar disorder and should not be held criminally responsible for her children’s deaths. Following the birth of her third child, Lindsay spent months seeking help from various providers and hospitals for symptoms including insomnia, intrusive thoughts, and suicidal ideation.
Prosecutors argued that Lindsay planned the murders and acted intentionally. After five weeks of testimony, jury deliberations began on August 27, 2026.
The case garnered national attention and prompted widespread discussion of postpartum mental illnesses. Both Lindsay and her former husband, Patrick Clancy, filed civil lawsuits against her former healthcare providers alleging that their medical malpractice and negligence lead to the deaths of their children.
Background
Family
Lindsay Marie Musgrove was born on August 11, 1990.[1][2][3] She grew up in Wallingford, Connecticut and studied at Quinnipiac University.[4][5] She met her future husband, Patrick Clancy, in 2013 through her college roommate. The couple married in 2016 and later settled in Duxbury, Massachusetts, where Lindsay worked as a labor and delivery nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital.[6]
The Clancys’ first child, Cora, was born on December 4, 2017, after which Lindsay began working part-time.[7] Their second child, Dawson, was born on September 30, 2019, and their youngest child, Callan, was born on May 26, 2022.[8]
Following Callan’s birth, Lindsay took 18 weeks of maternity leave, while Patrick took 12 weeks of paternity leave before returning to his work-from-home job in the technology sector.[8][7] The family hired a nanny who worked three days a week from September 2022 to early December 2022.[9] Lindsay’s parents also visited frequently, staying for days at a time, to help with childcare.[7]
Mental health history
Lindsay reported experiencing postpartum anxiety after the births of her first two children.[6] Following the birth of her second child, she briefly participated in talk therapy and took Zoloft.[7][10] She said her symptoms returned and worsened after the birth of her third child, particularly toward the end of her maternity leave.[7][8] Patrick testified that she planned to ask about resuming Zoloft to help with anxiety and returning to work.[11]
In September 2022, Lindsay began seeing psychiatrist Jennifer Tufts. Tufts diagnosed her with generalized anxiety disorder, recommended talk therapy, and prescribed the Zoloft. She also completed a form necessary to extend Lindsay’s maternity leave.[12] Lindsay discontinued Zoloft after reporting insomnia, a common side effect. Tufts prescribed Ativan on October 21.[13] At a follow-up appointment on October 26, Lindsay reported that Ativan reduced her anxiety but not her sleeplessness and said she was using Benadryl as a sleep aid. Tufts prescribed Buspar, but Lindsay was afraid to try a new medication and did not take it.[13] Tufts warned her that Ativan could be addictive and reduced the dosage on November 2.[13][14]
According to Patrick, Lindsay’s condition worsened in November 2022. He testified that she lost her appetite, withdrew socially, and experienced episodes of intense fear.[7] On November 8, Lindsay posted in a Facebook support group for postpartum depression and anxiety. She said that although Ativan had helped her feel normal again, she was concerned about becoming addicted and asked for alternatives.[7] On November 15, she sought treatment at an emergency room after reportedly going two days without sleep.[7] A physician prescribed trazodone,[14] but Lindsay found it ineffective.[7]
On November 20, Lindsay’s mother-in-law, a nurse, contacted Julie Paul, a psychiatric nurse practitioner at her hospital’s perinatal clinic. Paul called Lindsay later that day.[15] On November 21, Paul prescribed Prozac. On November 25, she added Ambien, Remeron, and Klonopin.[14] When Paul left the hospital in December 2022, Lindsay’s case was transferred to nurse practitioner Rebecca Jollotta.[15] Jollotta prescribed Seroquel, an anti-psychotic, on November 29.[14]
During the first week of December, Lindsay told both Tufts and Jollotta that she believed Remeron was causing intrusive thoughts.[13][15] In messages to Jollotta, she described “horribly intrusive thoughts wanting it to be all over” and feeling “no emotion whatsoever.” Jollotta believed Lindsay’s symptoms were more consistent with postpartum depression than medication side effects.[15][16] Tufts testified that Lindsay was “feeling very hopeless” and “close to” suicidal ideation.[13] Around the same time, Lindsay reported hallucinations and contacted two suicide hotlines. Neither hotline intervened because she did not have a plan to harm herself.[17]
On December 6, Jollotta suggested Lindsay had bipolar disorder, increased her Seroquel dosage, and recommended hospitalization.[15][14] On December 15, Lindsay visited an emergency room due to suicidal thoughts but declined inpatient treatment.[18][13] Tufts prescribed Lamictal, a mood stabilizer, the following day. Both Jollotta and Tufts recommended treatment at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island.[19] On December 20, Lindsay admitted herself to a day program for postpartum depression at Women & Infants. The hospital quickly discharged her, believing her issues were “more likely related to overmedication and misdiagnosis” than postpartum depression.[17] The hospital advised her to discontinue Seroquel. Although the recommendation concerned Jollotta, she agreed to help Lindsay taper off the medication.[20]
Month before the killings
On December 31, 2022, Lindsay returned to the emergency room because of persistent suicidal ideation.[21] The next morning, she voluntarily began inpatient treatment at McLean Hospital, a highly ranked psychiatric institution.[7] McLean diagnosed her with “major depressive disorder, severe without psychotic features.” Psychiatrist Alia Goodheart testified that Lindsay was depressed and suffering significant sleep problems but did not display psychosis. Goodheart described her as future-oriented, invested in her children, and having substantial family support.[22] Lindsay left McLean on January 5, 2023, with prescriptions for Ativan and trazodone.[13]
Lindsay met with Tufts on January 6; Tufts described her as “deteriorating” and began discussing medication changes.[13] On January 16, Tufts prescribed amitriptyline.[14] In the month prior to the killings, Lindsay’s phone was used to search for information about her medications, bipolar disorder, hallucinations, and insomnia.[23] Other searches included “Where is the carotid artery”, “How to slit your throat to die”, “Can you turn airbags off on Kia Sorento”, and “Can you treat a sociopath?”[24][25]
On January 23, the day before the killings, Lindsay had a virtual appointment with Tufts. Tufts testified that Lindsay looked depressed and said she had to force herself to get out of bed, but she denied suicidal and homicidal thoughts and Tufts did not observe psychosis.[22][26]
Killings
January 24, 2023
According to Patrick, on the morning of January 24, 2023, Lindsay told him that she had slept “pretty well” and was feeling “good”. She had become preoccupied with their daughter Cora’s stomachache, concerned that it was caused by a liver issue, and took her to a pediatrician appointment.[7] In the afternoon, Lindsay built a snowman and did art projects with the children.[27] Throughout the day, she exchanged routine texts with Patrick, who was working from home.[28]
At 4:02 p.m., Lindsay used her phone to search “kids Miralax.” 11 minutes later, she searched for a restaurant in Plymouth, Massachusetts and used Apple Maps to check how long it would take to drive to there. At 4:47 p.m., she called a drugstore and spoke with a manager, who told her they did not have Miralax but had similar medications. Clancy texted Patrick to ask if he wanted to order takeout from the restaurant, and called the restaurant to place the order at 5:10 p.m.[29]
At Lindsay’s request, Patrick left their residence to pick up the food and medication at 5:15 p.m.[30] Lindsay texted him, “Pedia-Lax liquid stool softener” shortly after.[30] At 5:32 p.m., he stopped at a drugstore. Surveillance video showed him calling Lindsay about which medication to buy.[8][7] Lindsay did not pick up immediately but called back a minute later. Patrick later testified that she seemed busy.[7] He arrived at the restaurant at 5:54 p.m.,[8] and returned home shortly after 6:00 p.m.[7]
While her husband was gone, Lindsay strangled their three children one by one with exercise bands in the basement. She then attempted suicide by cutting her wrists and neck and jumping from a second-story window.[6][27] Lindsay sustained spinal cord injuries from the fall and was hospitalized; she remains paralyzed from the waist down as of 2026.[31][32] A forensic toxicologist later testified that Lindsay’s blood showed evidence of Remeron, Lamictal, Trazodone, and Seroquel.[33]
In subsequent legal filings, Lindsay alleged that she heard a male voice directing her to commit the acts.[34][27] She claimed she woke up with suicidal thoughts. In the afternoon, she said a voice began to tell her to harm the children. After Patrick left to pick up the food, she said the voice became loud, demanding, and repeatedly telling her, “This is your last chance. You have to kill the kids so you can kill yourself.” Lindsay claimed that a force took over her and that she “felt an overwhelming, irresistible compulsion to comply”.[27]
Emergency response
After returning home around 6:09 p.m.,[21] Patrick discovered the upstairs bedroom bloodied and the window open. He ran outside and found Lindsay lying on the ground, injured and semi‑conscious.[32] He called 911, and police responded to the call at 6:11 p.m.[8] During the call, Patrick could be heard asking where the kids were. Lindsay responded, “in the basement.”[35]
While still on the phone with 911, Patrick entered the house to look for the children. He discovered all three in the basement; each was unconscious and in medical distress, with exercise bands still wrapped around their necks.[36] Cora and Callan were on the floor of the basement’s den, while Dawson was found alone on the floor of Patrick’s home office.[35]
Responders attempted resuscitation.[32] The children were taken to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital – Plymouth, where Cora (age 5) and Dawson (age 3) were pronounced dead.[8][37] The youngest, Callan (8 months), arrived at the hospital in cardiac arrest.[32] He was flown by medical helicopter to Boston Children’s Hospital, where he required a ventilator.[8] He died three days later, on January 27, 2023.[37] After autopsies, the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that the cause of death to Cora and Dawson was asphyxia, and the cause of death to Callan was complications of asphyxia.[38]
Lindsay was sent to South Shore Hospital, where she was intubated before being transferred to Brigham and Women’s Hospital.[39] In the early morning of January 25, 2023, Lindsay went into cardiac arrest. She was revived after CPR and multiple blood transfusions.[40] Eitan Negri, a physician assistant, testified that he sutured cuts on Lindsay’s left and right wrists, but that the cuts on her neck were superficial and did not require medical intervention.[41]
According to hospital staff, Lindsay demonstrated sufficient mental competency to consent to surgery and to change her healthcare proxy from Patrick to her parents.[42] On January 26, 2023, while still intubated, Lindsay was interviewed by forensic psychiatrist Jhilam Biswas. Lindsay was unable to speak but could communicate by writing. Among the questions she asked Biswas were, “Do I have an attorney?”, “Is my body broken?”, and “Are my legs straight?” She also asked if she could have visitors and where her family was.[43]
Criminal proceedings
Lindsay was initially arraigned in Plymouth District Court on February 7, 2023. She pleaded not guilty to charges including murder, strangulation, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.[44][38] The prosecution argued that the killings were premeditated, with Lindsay intentionally giving her husband errands to get him out of the house so she could kill the children.[45][44] Her defense team admitted to the killings but raised the insanity defense,[37][46] arguing that she was not responsible for her actions due to severe postpartum mental illness.[47] On May 2, Lindsay was transferred to Tewksbury Hospital, where she was remained throughout the criminal proceedings.[38][48]
Lindsay was indicted by a grand jury on three counts each of murder and strangulation on September 15, 2023 after which her case was elevated to Plymouth Superior Court.[38][49] The three counts of strangulation were later dropped as redundant.[50] Lindsay was arraigned on October 26 at Tewksbury Hospital, where she pleaded not guilty once again.[48] Judge William Sullivan presided over the case.[51]
The trial began on July 20, 2026 with jury selection.[52] Over the course of five weeks of testimony, the prosecution called more than 70 witnesses while the defense called 10.[53][54] Concluding arguments were heard on August 27.[55] The jury, comprised of nine women and three men, began deliberations the same day.[56]
If convicted of murder, Lindsay will receive a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. If she is found not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility, she would be committed to a state psychiatric facility.[57]
2026 trial
Lindsay Clancy’s trial began on July 27, 2026, in Plymouth County Superior Court in Plymouth, Massachusetts.[6][58][59][60] Her defense is being led by veteran defense attorney, Kevin Reddington.[61]
Patrick testified during the first week of the trial about Lindsay’s mental health in the months preceding the killings and the events of January 24, 2023. The jury was played the 911 call he made after returning home and discovering her outside the house and the children in the basement. Patrick testified that Lindsay had appeared to be doing well on the day of the killings and that he had not been concerned about leaving her alone with the children.[62]
Prosecutors introduced Lindsay’s journals and electronic records as evidence. Entries documented insomnia, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and what she described as “brain fog” during the months before the killings. The prosecution also presented evidence concerning her internet searches and activity on electronic devices. Prosecutors argued that her actions before the killings, including asking Patrick to leave the house to collect food and medication, showed planning and that she understood the nature of her actions.[37]
The prosecution also claimed that Lindsay’s suicide was faked, bringing witnesses from the emergency department who said her wounds were not bleeding and were superficial. The defense argued that the lack of bleeding may have been due to the cold temperature outside that night.[63] Lindsay was also in a wheelchair due to a spinal cord injury from the attempt.[64]
The prosecution rested its case on August 17 after several weeks of testimony from witnesses including Patrick, first responders, investigators, medical professionals, and digital-forensics specialists. Prosecutors argued that Lindsay was not psychotic when she killed the children and was capable of understanding that her actions were wrong.[65]
The defense began presenting its case after the prosecution rested. Lindsay’s mother, Paula, and sister, Allison, testified about changes they had observed in her mental health during the months before the killings. Her mother testified that Lindsay had become increasingly anxious and fearful and had expressed suicidal thoughts, while her sister described conversations in which Lindsay discussed suicidal ideation and concerns about her mental health.[66]
Patrick’s mother, Susan, subsequently testified that Lindsay had repeatedly sought help as her mental health deteriorated and had become fearful about taking her prescribed medications. She recalled Lindsay telling her shortly before the killings that she needed help and was concerned about her condition.[67] Upon cross‑examination, a prosecutor asked if she was aware murder is a mortal sin. The jurors were instructed to disregard the question. Legal experts, including Mark Eiglarsh, viewed the question as “… such a cheap shot. It’s irrelevant.”[68]
A psychologist who evaluated Lindsay after the killings also testified for the defense about her account of the events. According to the testimony, she reported hearing a male voice directing her to kill the children and herself. The defense argued that she was experiencing postpartum psychosis and was unable to appreciate the wrongfulness of her actions. Prosecutors disputed that explanation, arguing that her behavior surrounding the killings demonstrated planning and awareness of what she was doing.[67][69]
On August 27, 2026, closing arguments were given and the jury began its deliberations.[70] On August 28, the jury requested to view the pill bottles and the knife that Lindsay had used in her attempted suicide, the only exhibits to which they had not been given access.[71]
Civil litigation
In January 2026, Patrick Clancy and Lindsay Clancy filed separate civil lawsuits in Norfolk Superior Court against the healthcare providers who had treated Lindsay before the killings.[72] The lawsuits remain open and active as of August 2026.[72]
Patrick’s lawsuit, filed on behalf of himself and the estates of Cora, Dawson, and Callan, alleged wrongful death and medical negligence.[73] It named psychiatrist Jennifer Tufts, psychiatric nurse practitioner Rebecca Jollotta, and their employers, Aster Mental Health and South Shore Health System.[74] The lawsuit alleged that the defendants failed to recognize Lindsay’s deteriorating mental health and improperly prescribed and monitored psychiatric medications.[72] A hearing in the case is scheduled to take place October 28, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.[74]
Lindsay’s lawsuit alleged medical malpractice and negligence against 11 defendants. In addition to the defendants in Patrick Clancy’s suit, Lindsay Clancy also sued five other individual providers, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, and McLean Hospital.[72] It similarly alleged that inadequate treatment and medication management contributed to the deterioration of her mental health. The lawsuit requests damages including “past and future medical expenses, past and future lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, including the knowledge that she killed her children, loss of enjoyment of life, permanent disability, and other damages in an amount to be determined at trial.”[73]
Reactions and aftermath
Shortly after the deaths of the children, Patrick released a statement expressing support for his wife and urging the public to forgive her.[31] The case led to widespread discussion of postpartum mental health on social media.[75] It was also the subject of TikTok conspiracy theories alleging that Patrick killed the children and framed Lindsay.[76][77][78][79][80]
In January 2026, Lindsay and Patrick filed separate civil lawsuits against several of her former healthcare providers, alleging malpractice and negligence.[81] Patrick filed for divorce and remarried in April 2026.[82][83]
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