Story perspectives

Lindsay Clancy Pleads Not Guilty by Insanity Defense

8/13/2026

Summary

Clancy Claims Insanity

Lindsay Clancy (36) pleaded not guilty to three murder charges and lawyer Kevin Reddington seeks a not-guilty-by-reason-of-insanity verdict.
Prosecutors allege she intentionally strangled Cora, 5; Dawson, 3; and Callan, 8 months on Jan. 24, 2023.
Defense argues postpartum psychosis and overmedication with Valium, Trazodone, Zoloft, Seroquel and Remeron impaired her judgment.
Judge William Sullivan paused the trial twice while Clancy sobbed after testimony from Dr. Jennifer Tufts and nurse practitioner Rebecca Jollotta.

Summary

Judge Bars Photos

The trial is streamed live on TurnTo10.com, NBC 10’s Facebook, YouTube, Court TV and WCVB.
The jury includes 18 members—12 women and six men—with six alternates on standby.
On Day 12, a nurse practitioner and Detective Daniel Lawlor were cross-examined.
The judge barred autopsy photos but the feed displayed blood-stained clothing and wedding bands.
Perinatal clinician Latiesha Dukes advised Women and Infants Hospital because it admits postpartum patients with their infants.

History

Historical Context

Andrea Yates drowned her five children on June 20 2001 in Houston, and her 2002 conviction and 2006 not-guilty verdict sparked national debate over postpartum psychosis and the M’Naghten insanity test. The controversy pushed the American Psychiatric Association to revise DSM criteria, and by 2023 the Massachusetts case of Lindsay Clancy showed courts continuing to scrutinize psychiatric defenses.

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Clancy Claims Insanity

Lindsay Clancy (36) pleaded not guilty to three murder charges and lawyer Kevin Reddington seeks a not-guilty-by-reason-of-insanity verdict.
Prosecutors allege she intentionally strangled Cora, 5; Dawson, 3; and Callan, 8 months on Jan. 24, 2023.
Defense argues postpartum psychosis and overmedication with Valium, Trazodone, Zoloft, Seroquel and Remeron impaired her judgment.
Judge William Sullivan paused the trial twice while Clancy sobbed after testimony from Dr. Jennifer Tufts and nurse practitioner Rebecca Jollotta.

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