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· collected 2026-08-27 · by Neal Riley, Anna Meiler, Kristina Rex
Prosecutors have rested their case against Lindsay Clancy, a Massachusetts woman accused of murdering her children, after calling 85 witnesses over the course of the trial. The trial will now move on to closing arguments, which are set for Thursday. The jury will be able to consider three possible verdicts: first-degree murder, second-degree murder, or manslaughter. Defense attorney Kevin Reddington has admitted that Clancy killed her children and is hoping for a fair outcome from the jury.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-27,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Lindsay Clancy, a 36-year-old mother from Massachusetts, is on trial for the murder of her three young children: 5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson, and 8-month-old Callan. The children died in January 2023 at their family's home in Duxbury. Clancy has pleaded not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility, arguing that she was suffering from postpartum psychosis at the time. Prosecutors claim that Clancy made a calculated decision to kill her children and knew right from wrong.
The trial has lasted for five weeks and included testimony from over 80 witnesses, including psychologists, psychiatrists, and family members. Clancy's defense team presented 10 witnesses, including friends and relatives. The prosecution rested its case after calling three rebuttal witnesses, and the jury is now deliberating.
Clancy's mental health and whether she was capable of distinguishing right from wrong at the time of the killings are key issues in the trial. Her lawyers argue that she was suffering from postpartum psychosis, a rare condition that can cause severe hallucinations and disconnection from reality. However, an FBI psychiatrist testified that he does not believe Clancy's account of hearing a voice ordering her to kill the children.
The jury will consider several options: not guilty, not guilty by reason of insanity, first-degree murder, second-degree murder, or manslaughter. If convicted, Clancy could face up to life in prison without parole. The trial has sparked debate about maternal mental health and the need for better support systems for new mothers.
Clancy's supporters have gathered outside the courtroom, mostly women who identify with her experience of seeking help but feeling dismissed or misunderstood by the medical system. Many argue that systemic failures around maternal health contributed to the tragedy and that Clancy's case highlights the need for more resources and understanding for new mothers struggling with mental health issues.
Written for “Lindsay Clancy Murder Trial” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 6 other(s) covering the same event.
Testimony in
is finished after jurors in the Massachusetts murder case heard from 85 witnesses.
asserted
jurors → finish → witnesses
Prosecutors rested their case Wednesday afternoon after calling three rebuttal witnesses, and now the trial prepares to move to closing arguments.
asserted
trial → rest → arguments
Dr. Gregory Saathoff, a professor of emergency medicine and a forensic psychiatrist who has worked with the FBI, was the last witness called in Plymouth Superior Court.
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who → work → Court
After he finished testifying at about 1 p.m., jurors were sent home.
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jurors → testify → p.m.
Closing arguments are set for Thursday.
asserted
arguments → set → Thursday
After testimony ended, the prosecutors and defense met with the judge to discuss final instructions for the jury and exactly what will appear on their verdict slips.
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what → end → slips
The prosecution objected to involuntary manslaughter being an option on the jury form, but it will be included.
asserted
it → object → form
Clancy can be found guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, or manslaughter.
asserted
Clancy → find → murder
She can also be found not guilty by reason of insanity.
asserted
She → find → insanity
The jury could return a straight not guilty verdict, but it is considered highly unlike because Clancy's defense attorney has admitted that she killed her children.
uncertain
she → return → children
"The judge will charge the jury on the lesser offense of manslaughter and it's up to them what they feel is appropriate," defense attorney Kevin Reddington said outside of court when asked about the lesser offense being included.
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offense → charge → court
"She's been beat down for 3.5 years, and she feels she's had a fair trial with the judge and the jury's been very attentive.
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jury → beat → judge
All we can do is hope for the best."
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we → do → best
Judge William Sullivan denied the defense's request to give the jury a "Bowden instruction," which allows jurors to consider the consequences of an insufficient police investigation.
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jurors → deny → investigation
Both sides will get an hour each to make their closing arguments.
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sides → get → arguments
Cross-examination of final witness
Reddington began his cross-examination by noting that Saathoff didn't interview Clancy until more than three years after the murders.
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Saathoff → begin → murders
He went through Saathoff's resume line-by-line, saying he's "written a lot about terrorism" but not much about postpartum depression.
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he → go → depression
Saathoff said he last treated a woman suffering from postpartum psychosis in the 1990s.
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he → say → 1990s
Reddington said Clancy was complaining of dark thoughts and homicidal ideation to doctors and others in her community.
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Clancy → say → community
"The homicidal ideation, as I understand, was just voiced to her husband and her mother," Saathoff replied.
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Saathoff → understand → husband
Is that like talking about the Red Sox?" Reddington said.
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Reddington → talk → Sox
"She's talking about homicidal ideation of her children."
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She → talk → children
Reddington also questioned Saathoff's testimony about crushed-up pills being found in a wine tumbler in Clancy's bedroom.
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pills → question → bedroom
"So how do we know that that's even drugs or medications?" Reddington asked.
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Reddington → know → ?
"It was Patrick Clancy's observation," Saathoff said.
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Saathoff → say → ?
There were heated moments as Reddington asked Saathoff about his efforts to interview Clancy as well as her mother.
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Reddington → be → mother
"Do you think for one minute when you're trying to put her in jail for her life that she wants to talk to you?" Reddington said before the judge stopped him.
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judge → think → him
Reddington ended his cross-examination by quoting part of the prosecution's opening statement, which talked about Clancy making a selfish choice to kill her children because she no longer liked her life.
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she → end → life
"I think the statement that you read really minimizes what she was going through," Saathoff said.
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Saathoff → think → what
Saathoff began his testimony Tuesday.
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Saathoff → begin → testimony
He interviewed Clancy in May and June of this year and talked to her about
she said she heard that ordered her to kill the children.
uncertain
that → interview → children
He said she told him the voice stopped once the killings had ended.
asserted
killings → say → him
Saathoff also said there were inconsistencies in Clancy's story.
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Saathoff → say → story
When Saathoff was back on the stand Wednesday, prosecutor Jennifer Sprague asked if the voice Clancy heard told her where or how to kill the children and herself.
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Clancy → ask → children
He said it was significant that it did not.
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it → say → ?
"It indicated that she had control," he said.
asserted
he → indicate → control
Saathoff characterized
as "very serious," even though prosecutors have previously highlighted that the cuts she inflicted on herself were not too severe.
asserted
she → characterize → herself
"The fact that the lacerations were not deep doesn't mean that she wasn't intending to kill herself," he said.
asserted
he → mean → herself
Sprague asked Saathoff if Clancy was overmedicated, which is one of the defense's key arguments.
asserted
which → ask → arguments
"She experienced some significant side effects from some of her medication," he said, but added she still had an ability to appreciate right from wrong.
asserted
she → experience → wrong
…and 12 more, not listed.
