The jury in Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial resumed deliberations in Massachusetts for the fifth day. This follows the previous day’s announcement of being deadlocked. The group, consisting of nine women and three men, has already spent about 25 hours in discussions since last Thursday in Plymouth Superior Court.
On Tuesday morning, jurors sent a note to Judge William Sullivan stating they couldn’t reach a unanimous decision. However, the judge instructed them to continue deliberations. Clancy faces charges of first-degree murder for the deaths of her three children, 5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson, and 8-month-old Callan, in their Duxbury home on January 24, 2023.
Lindsay Clancy was seen in Plymouth Superior Court on September 1, 2026.
Jurors have five options: not guilty by reason of insanity, not guilty, first-degree murder, second-degree murder, or manslaughter. A hung jury could lead to a mistrial, which has recently occurred twice in Massachusetts. In 2023, the mistrial in the case of Emanuel Lopes, charged with killing Weymouth Police Sgt. Michael Chesna, took place. Another was in 2024 during the first Karen Read trial.
Clancy’s attorney, Kevin Reddington, argued she was overmedicated and suffering from postpartum psychosis, making her not criminally responsible. Prosecutors claimed Clancy planned the murders and was aware of her actions’ implications.
Legal analyst Jennifer Roman stated, “We don’t know what’s happening in the jury room, or what they’re grappling with.” She speculated that jurors might be undecided between not guilty by reason of insanity or whether the charges align with their assessment.
Reddington criticized Plymouth District Attorney Tim Cruz’s decision to charge Clancy with first-degree murder, mandating a jury trial. He noted that second-degree murder charges would have allowed for potential plea deals or a judge’s decision instead of a jury’s.
When questioned about a possible retrial, Reddington avoided sharing details of his discussions with Clancy, citing client confidentiality while speaking with reporters at court on Wednesday morning.
Incident Involving Juror Filming
On Tuesday afternoon, a woman named Dawn Light was arrested outside the courthouse for allegedly filming jurors. Light, a retired nurse from Sutton, Massachusetts, was charged with intimidation of jurors. Her attorney stated she intended to photograph Lindsay Clancy rather than record jurors. Light was arraigned on Wednesday and released with a promise to reappear in court on October 15.
If Clancy is found guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, or manslaughter, she will face imprisonment. A verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity would result in Clancy’s continued stay at Tewksbury State Hospital, with periodic case reviews.
If facing emotional distress or a suicidal crisis, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. You can also chat via their online platform. For mental health care resources, the National Alliance on Mental Illness HelpLine is available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET, at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or email [email protected].