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Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial will likely have closing arguments early next week, according to Plymouth Superior Court Judge William Sullivan. The judge and attorneys worked through procedural matters Thursday after a short morning of witness testimony.
Clancy, 36, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the deaths of her three children, 5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson and 8-month-old Callan, in their Duxbury home on Jan. 24, 2023.
Judge Sullivan told jurors at the start of the day that Thursday was expected to be shorter. One defense witness was on the stand before Sullivan sent the jury of 12 women and six men home just after 10:30 a.m.
The judge thanked jurors for their patience, saying Friday “will be a longer day than today.”
With the jury gone, Sullivan and the attorneys then went through logistics before court ended for the day just before noon. Sullivan said that closing arguments will likely be Monday or Tuesday, depending on how long the final four witnesses are on the stand.
Defense attorney Kevin Reddington is nearing the end of his case. He anticipates calling Dr. Phillip Resnick as his final witness via Zoom on Friday. Then the prosecution is expected to call three rebuttal witnesses. Resnick was a key witness in the trial of Andrea Yates, who was found not guilty by reason of insanity after killing her five children in her Texas home in 2001. Resnick testified that Yates suffered from severe postpartum psychosis.
Reddington has attempted to show that Clancy should not be held criminally responsible for the murders because she was overmedicated and suffering from postpartum psychosis. Prosecutors Jennifer Sprague and Shanan Buckingham allege that Clancy planned the murders before faking a suicide attempt.
Clancy admits to killing her children, but a psychologist testified for the defense that she heard a male voice in her head ordering her to do it.
AP Photo/Josh Reynolds/Pool 
Mass General Brigham chaplain testifies
Sheila Cavanaugh was called as the first and only witness of the day Thursday. She was on the stand for about 20 minutes.
Cavanaugh has been a chaplain at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston for seven years.
She met with Clancy in the hospital starting the day after the murders. Cavanaugh said Clancy was intubated after she was paralyzed jumping out of a window at her Duxbury home. The chaplain later met with Clancy again on Jan. 31, 2023 when she was able to speak.
Cavanaugh said Clancy’s emotional state was neutral. She said the first thing Clancy said was “I am so glad my children are safe.”
“I replied theologically to Lindsay. I said, ‘Lindsay, your children are safe. They’re safe in heaven with God.’ And I held her hand throughout that conversation and we prayed for them,” Cavanaugh testified.
Reddington asked what other conversations with Clancy she recalled.
“She alluded to having heard a voice. And the voice, according to Lindsay, told her that if she did not follow the command, neither she nor her children would be safe,” Cavanaugh said. “She alluded to the fact that it was a male voice, and it was persistent.”
A previous witness for the defense testified earlier this week that Clancy said to him that a male voice in her head ordered her to kill her children.
On cross-examination, the prosecutor highlighted that Cavanaugh took detailed notes about her discussions with Clancy, but never wrote that Clancy had said she heard a voice in her head.
Judge questions jurors individually
Before court started for the day, attorneys met at sidebar with Judge Sullivan.
Then, jurors were called in one at a time in the order they are seated in the jury box. Each juror was asked questions, raising their right hand when doing so.
It is not clear why jurors were questioned.
Lindsay Clancy supporters in pink
Before the courthouse opened Thursday morning, a large crowd of women dressed in pink came out to support Lindsay Clancy.
The women came from as far away as Florida, Tennessee and New York to call for improved postpartum healthcare for mothers and better mental health treatment.
“Since Lindsay wasn’t helped on a mental health level, that in maybe some support today that she can see that women will stand with her, and we’ve got her and we will be her foundation for her,” said Angel Kinsolving of Land O’Lakes, Florida.
Josh Reynolds/AP 
“I hope that Lindsay knows that we’re here for her,” said Valery Rockwell, a mental health worker from Plymouth, Massachusetts. “I’m really upset about the mental health system and how we don’t communicate with each other and how that really put her in danger and it’s heartbreaking to see what she’s suffering right now and so many women in the world go through this.”
“I’m here to support her as well as all the mental health system workers who don’t know much about this and can help women in general,” Rockwell told reporters.
Some waited to greet and take photos with defense attorney Kevin Reddington after court. He said Clancy was moved by the sight.
“She’s still very sad and very attentive,” Reddington said. “But yeah, she is very, I don’t know what the proper word would be, she is very buoyant, is the only thing I can think of by all the support and really appreciates it.”
Lindsay Clancy trial
Clancy remains paralyzed from that night and attends court in a wheelchair.
On Wednesday, Dr. Paul Zeizel completed his testimony. He is a psychologist who has met extensively with Clancy. Judge Sullivan also ruled Wednesday that a TikTok user who worked at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts, will not be allowed to testify. Court then ended for the day earlier than expected due to an “unforeseen circumstance.”
If convicted of first-degree murder, Clancy faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. If found not criminally responsible for the deaths of her children, she will be sent to a state psychiatric hospital in Massachusetts.
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or a suicidal crisis, you can reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. You can also chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline here.
For more information about mental healthcare resources and support, the National Alliance on Mental Illness HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET, at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or email [email protected].
