Story summary
In Massachusetts, a high-profile murder trial for Lindsay Clancy ended in a mistrial after jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict on whether she should be held criminally responsible for killing her three young children. Juror Paula Devlin, who wanted the panel to find Clancy not criminally responsible, told CBS that they saw their decision as an opportunity to improve conditions for other women and families facing similar mental health crises. However, legal analyst Neama Rahmani criticized this approach, stating jurors should base decisions solely on case facts.
The deadlock was due largely to Michael Desronvil's holdout vote; he stated in a statement obtained by CBS News that he felt confident Clancy knew exactly what she was doing and planned the killings based on evidence presented. This stance has led to widespread criticism online, with some alleging bias or political motives. Desronvil told NewsNation that during deliberations, his attempts to explain his viewpoint were repeatedly interrupted.
Desronvil is now represented by Edward Andrew Paltzik, a former Trump lawyer, and claims the backlash may stem from his status as a black Republican. Despite accusations of bias, Devlin insists they only considered evidence presented in court, highlighting perceived flaws in the prosecution's case related to mental health issues. Clancy, 36, faced three counts of first-degree murder for strangling her children — 5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson, and 8-month-old Callan — in January 2023.
Written for “Lindsay Clancy Trial Juror Controversy” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 24 other(s) covering the same event.
The lone juror whose holdout forced a mistrial in the Lindsay Clancy case has retained a lawyer who once represented President Donald Trump, the attorney said.
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attorney → force → Trump
One legal scholar following the case said the move signals the juror is ready to "stand up for himself."
Clancy, 36, faced three counts of first-degree murder in connection with the slayings of her children — 5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson and 8-month-old Callan — who were discovered strangled at the family's home in January 2023.
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who → follow → January
Judge William Sullivan declared a mistrial on Sept. 4 after jurors could not agree on a unanimous verdict, with the panel split 11-1.
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panel → declare → verdict
Attorney Edward Paltzik told Fox News Digital Friday that he is representing the holdout juror, Michael P. Desronvil.
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he → tell → juror
Desronvil, the lone dissenter from the jury, has come forward and said he didn't sway away from his belief that prosecutors proved Clancy was criminally responsible in killing her three children in January 2023 in a statement first reported by NewsNation that was confirmed by Paltzik to Fox News Digital.
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that → come → Digital
"I didn't have any doubts.
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I → have → doubts
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," Desronvil said.
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Desronvil → 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."
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she → base → what
Most notably, Paltzik represented Trump in his lawsuit against the New York Times, which he said falsely cast his business success as fraudulent ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
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he → represent → election
The lawsuit was dismissed in 2025, but has since been refiled.
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lawsuit → dismiss → 2025
Paltzik was also involved in Trump's lawsuit against CBS after "60 Minutes" was accused of selectively editing an interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris.
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Minutes → involve → Harris
In July 2025, Paramount Global agreed to pay $16 million, which the company said would go toward Trump's future presidential library.
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company → agree → library
Paltzik said at the time that the CBS interview generated confusion and "mental anguish" among viewers, misled voters and diminished attention to Trump and his online platform, Truth Social.
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interview → say → Trump
He also represented Trump during his lawsuit against ABC News, which settled for $15 million, with the funds going towards his future presidential library.
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funds → represent → library
In another high-profile case, Paltzik is representing three friends of Nolan Wells.
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Paltzik → represent → Wells
Wells, 18, went missing July 4 after a boat trip with friends to Horn Island, a barrier island off Mississippi's Gulf Coast.
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Wells → go → Coast
Crews searched the area for two days before a National Parks Service ranger found his remains on the island's northwestern tip on July 6.
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ranger → search → July
Paltzik began representing the friends of Wells in August after several social media influencers made false allegations about them.
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influencers → begin → them
"We are proud to stand with and fight for three completely innocent young men: Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo, and Morgan Seymour.
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We → stand → men
Starting today, those who wish to continue trafficking in lies about these Good Ocean Springs People will be held accountable to the maximum extent of the law.
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who → start → law
We, on the other hand, will be focused solely on the truth, which is that these innocent young men had nothing whatsoever to do with the tragic death of Nolan Wells," Paltzik said alongside Tyler Cox, a Mississippi-based attorney, in a statement to Fox News Digital.
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Paltzik → focus → Digital
Paltzik said Desronvil won't be doing any other media interviews at this time, calling him an "American hero" and "Champion of justice."
"Again, we are focused entirely on his health, safety, and well-being.
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we → say → health
There will be a time for accountability and a time for the real story of the Lindsay Clancy Trial to be told.
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story → tell → Trial
But not right now," Paltzik said on X. "This American Hero and Champion of Justice thanks all of you who have stood by him for your kindness, prayers, and support," he added.
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he → say → kindness
The statement was made as Plymouth County prosecutors weigh whether to retry Clancy, while her attorneys have also raised the prospect of resolving the case without a second jury trial.
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attorneys → make → trial
Mark Astor, a former prosecutor and behavioral health law expert, told Fox News Digital it's clear that Desronvil has retained counsel to "stand up for himself."
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Desronvil → tell → himself
"I think there's certainly some indication that his name and reputation is now being dragged through the mud," Astor said.
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Astor → think → mud
"The other issue obviously is he's basically been attacked not just by potentially the other jurors, but by Mr. Reddington on the foot of the courthouse, since we had that mistrial declared by the judge.
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mistrial → attack → judge
So I mean, I think he feels like he needs to, you know, at least stand up for himself."
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you → mean → himself
Astor said the exposure from the Clancy jury threatens a system that depends on people being willing to serve.
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people → say → system
"I think it's a terrible thing that we're having to see this," Astor said.
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Astor → think → this
"The whole idea of the jury is sort of this sacred arena where jurors get to decide a verdict in a case.
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jurors → get → case
And now we're taking what is really a sacred arena and we're exposing it to the public."
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we → take → public
Clancy is due back in court on Sept. 29 for a status hearing, at which more information about the future of her case may be revealed.
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information → reveal → case
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Press → contribute → report
The Aporia
