Judge clears way for Lindsay Clancy to face potential 2nd trial

Thomson Reuters

· Posted: Nov 09, 2026 3:49 PM EST | Last Updated: 9 minutes ago

WARNING: This article contains details about violence against children and attempted suicide.

A Massachusetts judge cleared the way on Monday for Lindsay Clancy to be tried again on murder charges for killing her three young children at her home in 2023, saying a retrial would not unconstitutionally subject ‌her to a double prosecution for the same crime.

Judge William Sullivan in Plymouth rejected a bid by Clancy's attorneys to have the case against her dismissed. The judge on Sept. 4 declared a mistrial after the jury ​reported that a holdout juror was preventing it from ​reaching a unanimous verdict.

The judge has scheduled a Nov. 16 hearing to discuss when to hold a second trial, which he has suggested ​could occur in March.

No one at Clancy's initial trial disputed that she ⁠strangled daughter Cora, 5; ⁠son Dawson, 3; and 8-month-old son Callan ‌with exercise bands on Jan. 24, 2023, in the basement of their home in the Boston suburb of Duxbury.

She then cut herself with a knife and jumped from a second-story window in an attempt to end her ⁠own life, leaving her paralyzed.

Postpartum psychosis raised by defence

Her lawyers have argued Clancy was in the throes of postpartum psychosis and should be found not guilty by reason of insanity, known in Massachusetts as lack ‌of criminal responsibility.

Some of the jurors in televised interviews later said that, but for one holdout juror, they had been prepared to find Clancy not guilty by reason of insanity. Such a verdict would have resulted in her commitment to ​a state psychiatric hospital, subject to regular court review.

In Massachusetts, a conviction on first-degree murder charges carries a mandatory ⁠sentence of life in prison without parole.

• Judge denies defence request to declare Lindsay Clancy not guilty

Defence lawyers argued that a retrial would violate Clancy's constitutional ⁠protection against being tried twice for the same crime, known as double jeopardy, ⁠saying ⁠Sullivan acted prematurely in declaring a ​mistrial and should have pursued a viable alternative.

Citing jury notes that stated the holdout juror ​was not following the law ⁠on reasonable doubt despite the judge's instructions, defence lawyers said Sullivan should have instead questioned the holdout and potentially removed the juror.

Prosecutors under Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz countered that the judge handled the jury impasse appropriately and that questioning the holdout could have risked the judge ⁠inappropriately interfering with jury ‌deliberations.

If you or someone you know is struggling, here's where to look for help:

• Canada's Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 988.
• Provincial and territorial mental health support.
• Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868. Text 686868. Live chat counselling on the website.
• This guide from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health outlines how to talk about suicide with someone you're worried about.