Lindsay Clancy’s husband to defend her after she allegedly murdered their three children
The father who discovered his three young children dead is set to give evidence in the trial of Lindsay Clancy, the mother accused of their devastating deaths.
Lindsay Clancy’s husband will take the stand in her defence when the Massachusetts mother goes on trial over the deaths of their three young children.
A final pre-trial hearing was held on July 13, clearing the way for proceedings to begin with jury selection on July 20. The trial is expected to run for up to eight weeks.
Court documents, obtained by People, reveal Patrick Clancy, the father of the three children, is among more than 200 potential witnesses and is expected to testify for the defence.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The 32-year-old has pleaded not guilty to murdering her children — Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and 8-month-old Callan — in January 2023.
Her legal team has indicated it will argue she was suffering from post-partum psychosis at the time of the alleged killings, mounting an insanity defence.
Prosecutors, however, are expected to argue the attack was premeditated, alleging Lindsay deliberately sent her husband out to collect dinner before strangling the children using exercise bands.
When Patrick returned home about 25 minutes later, he allegedly found his wife critically injured after jumping from a second-storey window. During a call to emergency services, he discovered the children unresponsive with bands around their necks.
Cora and Dawson were pronounced dead shortly after arriving at hospital, while baby Callan died several days later.
In a separate civil lawsuit filed earlier this year, Patrick accused several of his wife’s medical providers of negligence, claiming she had been prescribed multiple psychiatric medications in the weeks leading up to the tragedy.
The lawsuit alleges Lindsay was taking a number of drugs — including anti-depressants, sedatives and anti-anxiety medications — many of which were prescribed within a short period.
Lindsay was prescribed at least nine medications in the months before the January 2023 incident. Eight of those prescriptions were reportedly issued within three weeks, between November 16 and December 5, 2022.
Patrick’s complaint cites medical records indicating that Lindsay “started hearing a compelling and unrecognisable singular male voice that told her ‘this is your last chance’ and that she had to ‘take them with (her)‘.”
The same voice also “indicated to (Lindsay) that she should die ... and that her children would suffer if she was gone,” the filing states.
The lawsuit outlines Lindsay’s struggles following the birth of their third child, noting that her anxiety worsened compared to her previous post-partum experiences. Patrick says his wife eventually met with a psychiatrist who prescribed Sertraline, sold under the brand name Zoloft.
According to the filing, Lindsay delayed starting the medication for a month. Once she did, she told her husband she felt “awful” and began “experiencing insomnia.” Patrick claims the drug intensified her anxiety, and after a month of little to no sleep, she went to the emergency room, where she was prescribed trazodone.
Over the next three weeks, Lindsay received additional prescriptions including fluoxetine (“Prozac”), zolpidem tartrate (“Ambien”), mirtazapine (“Remeron”), clonazepam (“Klonopin”), quetiapine fumarate (“Seroquel”), diazepam (“Valium”), and lamotrigine (“Lamictal”).
Patrick is accusing the providers of giving Lindsay this “bevy of diverse and powerful medications” without properly monitoring their effects.
“If Defendants had not acted negligently, and rather had provided adequate care, it is more likely than not that Patrick and Lindsay’s children would still be alive today,” the complaint alleges.
It also claims she had reported hearing a male voice urging her to harm herself and her children.
Despite the allegations, Patrick has publicly expressed forgiveness towards his wife and has urged others to do the same.
Ahead of trial, prosecutors dropped three strangulation charges, which will instead be incorporated into the three murder counts she already faces.
The case is set to begin with jury selection on July 20.
Young people seeking support can phone beyondblue on 1300 22 4636 or go to headspace.org.au.
Lifeline: 13 11 14.
