The jury in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial informed the court on Tuesday that it is unable to reach a unanimous verdict after more than 17 hours of deliberations. Judge William Sullivan has ordered the 12-person panel to continue deliberating.
The jury, composed of nine women and three men, has been weighing the case since last Thursday in Plymouth County Superior Court. They have heard from more than 80 witnesses and reviewed over 300 exhibits during the five-week trial.
Lindsay Clancy Jury Says It Cannot Reach a Unanimous Verdict
The jury’s communication came just after 10 a.m. on Tuesday, marking the beginning of their fourth day of deliberations. Judge Sullivan read the note in open court: “After many hours of deliberation, we are unable to come to a unanimous decision.”
There were audible gasps in the courtroom as the announcement was made. Clancy’s attorney, Kevin Reddington, had reportedly whispered to his client before the announcement, so she appeared to know what was coming.
Before this communication, the jury had only submitted one other question—asking to see the knife recovered from Clancy’s bedroom and two pill bottles that were entered into evidence during the trial.
Judge Orders Jury to Continue Deliberations
Rather than accepting the deadlock, Judge Sullivan instructed the jurors to resume their work. He acknowledged the scope of the trial, noting the significant number of witnesses and exhibits, and asked the panel to continue deliberating while keeping all his instructions in mind.
“I brought you back out because I know that this was a long trial. I know there were over 80 witnesses, there were over 300 exhibits, but because of that I’m going to ask you to go back out, keeping in mind all of the instructions that I gave you, to go out and continue your deliberation at this time,” the judge told the jury.
Sullivan’s instruction stopped short of what is known as a “dynamite charge” or the Tuey-Rodriguez instruction in Massachusetts. That formal charge, used when a jury reports an impasse, would give the jury a final push toward a verdict. If the judge reads that charge and the jury remains deadlocked, he cannot send them back again.
What Is Lindsay Clancy Accused Of?
Lindsay Clancy, 36, is a former labor and delivery nurse from Duxbury, Massachusetts. She is charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of her three children—Cora, 5; Dawson, 3; and Callan, 8 months—on January 24, 2023.
Prosecutors allege that Clancy strangled the children with exercise bands in the basement of the family home before attempting to take her own life. She jumped from a second-floor window and survived, but the fall left her paralyzed from the waist down. She has attended the trial in a wheelchair.
Clancy has pleaded not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility. She does not dispute physically carrying out the killings but argues that severe mental illness made her unable to distinguish right from wrong.
What Prosecutors Have Argued
Prosecutors have maintained that Clancy knew exactly what she was doing when she killed her children. They argue she acted “intentionally, rationally, and swiftly” and made a calculated decision to end their lives.
The prosecution’s case contends that Clancy was depressed and tired of living, and that she made a conscious choice to kill her children before attempting suicide. They have presented evidence and testimony aimed at showing she understood the nature of her actions and could conform her conduct to the law.
Medical experts called by the prosecution have offered opinions that Clancy was not experiencing psychosis at the time of the killings.
What Lindsay Clancy’s Defense Has Argued
The defense team, led by attorney Kevin Reddington, has argued that Clancy was suffering from severe postpartum psychosis at the time of the killings. They maintain that she loved her children but lost her grip on reality due to a rare mental illness that can follow childbirth.
In the months before the killings, Clancy had sought treatment for her worsening mental health, including a stay in a psychiatric hospital. She was discharged less than three weeks before the tragedy.
The defense has also pointed to the medications she was taking and the healthcare system’s response to her condition as contributing factors. Reddington has expressed hope that the case will lead to better treatment for women with similar conditions.
Medical experts called by the defense testified that Clancy’s mental state made her unable to appreciate the wrongfulness of her actions.
What Happens If the Jury Remains Deadlocked?
If the jury continues to report it cannot reach a unanimous decision, the judge has several options. He could read the formal Tuey-Rodriguez instruction, also known nationally as an Allen Charge, which encourages jurors to reconsider their positions and work toward a verdict.
If the jury remains deadlocked after receiving that instruction, Judge Sullivan would have no choice but to declare a mistrial. A mistrial would end the current trial without a resolution, leaving prosecutors with the option of retrying the case at a later date.
Criminal defense attorney Elyse Hershon told CNN that “it will be at least one or two more notes from the jury, I would anticipate, that says they cannot agree (before a mistrial).”
Latest Lindsay Clancy Trial Update
As of Tuesday morning, the jury has returned to deliberations at the judge’s direction. They have now deliberated for approximately 19 hours total.
The jury is weighing multiple possible verdicts for each of the three murder charges: guilty of first-degree murder, guilty of second-degree murder, guilty of manslaughter, not guilty, or not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility.
A conviction on first-degree murder charges would carry a sentence of life in prison without parole. If the jury finds Clancy not criminally responsible, she would be committed to a state psychiatric hospital rather than prison, with her case subject to periodic review.
Reddington has expressed confidence in the jury’s diligence. “I just have really strong faith in them that they’re so attentive, so diligent, so hard-working. I think they really listened to the judge and his instructions,” he told reporters.
The case has drawn national attention and sparked debate about postpartum mental health and the treatment of new mothers facing psychiatric crises.
FAQ
Who is Lindsay Clancy?
Lindsay Clancy is a 36-year-old former labor and delivery nurse from Duxbury, Massachusetts, who is on trial for the murder of her three young children in January 2023. She has pleaded not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility, arguing she was suffering from postpartum psychosis.
What happened in the Lindsay Clancy trial?
Clancy is accused of strangling her three children—Cora, 5; Dawson, 3; and Callan, 8 months—with exercise bands in their basement before jumping from a second-floor window. The trial has lasted five weeks with over 80 witnesses testifying. The jury began deliberating last Thursday and reported Tuesday that they cannot reach a unanimous verdict.
Has Lindsay Clancy received a verdict?
No. The jury has not yet reached a verdict and has informed the judge that they are deadlocked. Judge William Sullivan has ordered them to continue deliberating.
Why is the Lindsay Clancy jury deadlocked?
The jury has been deliberating for over 17 hours on a complex case involving competing expert testimony about Clancy’s mental state at the time of the killings. They must decide whether she is criminally responsible or was suffering from postpartum psychosis that prevented her from understanding her actions.
What happens if a jury cannot reach a unanimous verdict?
If the jury remains deadlocked, the judge may issue special instructions encouraging them to continue deliberating. If they still cannot agree, the judge can declare a mistrial, ending the trial without a verdict. The prosecution would then have the option to retry the case.
What is the latest Lindsay Clancy trial update?
The jury reported on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, that they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict. Judge Sullivan sent them back to deliberate further, noting the complexity of the case with over 80 witnesses and 300 exhibits.