Jury in Lindsay Clancy case to enter fourth day of deliberations

PLYMOUTH, Mass. — Jurors in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial are expected to resume deliberations Tuesday for a fourth day, weighing whether the former labor and delivery nurse should be held criminally responsible for the deaths of her three young children at her Massachusetts home in 2023.

The jury first withdrew to deliberate last Thursday and has since stayed largely out of view, with no notes or questions to the judge that might signal where they stand.

Clancy, 36, has pleaded not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility. She does not deny strangling her children, but her lawyers argue she was in the throes of postpartum psychosis, a rare and severe condition that can distort a new mother's perception of reality. The defense has portrayed her as a devoted mother whose worsening mental illness eroded her grip on judgment. In the months before the killings, Clancy sought treatment for her deteriorating psychiatric condition, including a stay in a psychiatric hospital.

Prosecutors contend that Clancy was not out of touch with reality, but rather depressed and exhausted by the demands of motherhood. They say she made a conscious choice to kill her children before attempting suicide.

The jury's options include convictions for murder or manslaughter, or an acquittal if they find she lacked criminal responsibility. A murder conviction would carry a life sentence. An acquittal would not necessarily mean freedom: a judge could order Clancy committed to a mental health facility if an evaluation determines she is a danger to the public.

The case has drawn national attention and sharpened discussions around maternal mental health, postpartum psychosis, and how the justice system treats women who harm their children while experiencing severe psychiatric crises. Whatever the verdict, legal observers say the trial is likely to leave a lasting imprint on how courts and lawmakers approach mental health defenses.

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Editor's note: This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988.