Juror Michael Desronvil provided a statement through his representative to CBS News explaining why he remained the sole holdout during Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial, preventing a unanimous verdict. Despite facing criticism and attempts by other jurors to sway him, Desronvil maintained that based on the physical evidence and witness testimonies presented, there was sufficient proof of Clancy's criminal responsibility for killing her three children in January 2023. The jury could not reach a decision after seven days of deliberations, leading to a mistrial.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-18,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Michael P. Desronvil, the sole holdout juror who sparked a mistrial in the Lindsay Clancy case, has spoken out for the first time to defend his decision. In a statement to News Nation, he denied having any doubts about Clancy's guilt despite facing intense backlash online. Desronvil, 48, is from a large Haitian immigrant family in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. He claims that based on all presented evidence and key witnesses, he believed the prosecution had proved Clancy knew what she was doing when she murdered her three children in January 2023. However, his position directly contradicts accounts by fellow jurors who alleged during deliberations that Desronvil expressed doubt about the evidence. The jury was deadlocked at 11-1, leading Judge William Sullivan to declare a mistrial on September 4th after seven days of failed negotiations for a unanimous verdict.
Written for “Lindsay Clancy Trial Juror Controversy” on 2026-09-18,
grounded in this article and the 3 other(s) covering the same event.
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No political leaning scored for article 17731 · logged 2026-09-18
The
in the high-profile said he "didn't have any doubts" about what he believed was Clancy's criminal responsibility, providing his account of the jury's deliberations.
asserted
he → say → deliberations
"I didn't have any doubts," juror Michael Desronvil said in a statement obtained by CBS News through his representative, Ray Marcel.
asserted
Desronvil → have → representative
"As I tried to explain different possible theories during deliberation, I kept getting cut off as if I had doubts based on the evidence present."
asserted
I → try → evidence
"Based on all the physical evidence, key witnesses, and what the prosecution presents, I thought it was enough proof that she knew exactly what she was doing and planned," his statement read.
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statement → base → what
The jury remained deadlocked on Sept. 4, the seventh day of deliberations, after not coming to a unanimous decision about whether Clancy was criminally responsible for killing her three young children at their Massachusetts home in January 2023.
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Clancy → remain → January
Clancy had pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the deaths of 5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson and 8-month-old Callan.
asserted
Clancy → plead → Cora
The judge declared a mistrial after the hung jury could not reach a verdict.
uncertain
jury → declare → verdict
Paula Devlin, a juror in the murder trial, told "
that jurors spent several days seeing if they could convince the holdout juror, who believed Clancy should be found guilty of murder, to come to their side, but he would not budge.
uncertain
he → tell → side
"We all worked together.
asserted
"We → work → ?
And I don't know if it was to convince him to start with," Devlin told "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King
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Devlin → know → King
"We all worked together to convince ourselves once we got to that point where it was 10 to 2.
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it → work → 2
I felt very bad for them because they felt attacked.
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they → feel → them
Attorney Edward Andrew Paltzik announced on social media that he is now representing Desronvil, saying that Desronvil is "safe and sound at an undisclosed secure location in a rural area of Northern New England."
The holdout juror has been subjected to widespread criticism online in the wake of the mistrial.
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juror → announce → mistrial
"Rest assured that the evil people who have so viciously attacked this American Hero and Champion of Justice will be held accountable to the maximum extent of the law and beyond," Paltzik said in a post on X.
CBS News recently reported that the holdout juror was
.
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juror → rest → post
Police in Brockton, Massachusetts, said he was accused of grabbing his wife by the throat and throwing her into a dresser during an argument.
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he → say → argument
He pleaded not guilty to a count of domestic violence assault and battery, and the charge was later dismissed, according to court records.
uncertain
charge → plead → records
CBS News legal analyst Caroline Polisi said the key question is whether Desronvil disclosed the allegation on his juror questionnaire.
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Desronvil → say → questionnaire
But with a mistrial already declared, it's unclear whether the issue will have any impact on the case going forward, she said.
uncertain
she → declare → case
Clancy admitted to killing her three children, but jurors could not agree on whether she should be held criminally responsible.
uncertain
she → admit → children
Several jurors and Clancy's defense attorney said the jury was divided 11-1 in favor of finding her not criminally responsible, citing evidence of her
.Judge William Sullivan declared a mistrial after the jury reported being deadlocked three times.
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jury → say → mistrial
District Attorney Timothy Cruz has not yet announced whether the state will retry Clancy.
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state → announce → Clancy
The next court hearing is scheduled for Sept. 29 at Plymouth Superior Court.
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hearing → schedule → Court
The Aporia
