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Clancy Testifies Voice Ordered Her to Kill Children

8/21/2026

48 11 Full Breakdown

Summary

Clancy Testifies

Lindsay Clancy testified a male voice urged her to kill children on Jan. 24, 2023.
Paul Zeizel testified he met Clancy 60 times during her three-year custody.
Zeizel said no voices were heard after the Jan. 24, 2023 command.
Chaplain Sheila Cavanaugh testified Clancy expressed relief that her children were safe on Jan. 31, 2023.
Judge Sullivan barred Emily Thorndike from testifying and instructed jurors not to speculate on delays.

Summary

Supporters Rally

Hundreds gathered outside Tewksbury State Hospital and the courthouse wearing pink shirts to support Lindsay Clancy.
Supporters traveled from other states because they wanted postpartum mental-illness awareness.
A silent “Stand In Peace For Lindsay” rally occurred outside the Plymouth courthouse with participants in pink.
Mental-health advocates say the case reveals systemic failures in treating postpartum women.

History

Historical Context

President Bill Clinton signed the Family and Medical Leave Act on Feb 5 1993, granting eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for childbirth and other serious health reasons. Decades of limited coverage left many mothers without adequate postpartum support, a gap highlighted by Lindsay Clancy’s postpartum psychosis case, prompting NAMI and the APA to convene at Tewksbury Hospital to demand reforms.

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Clancy Testifies

Lindsay Clancy testified a male voice urged her to kill children on Jan. 24, 2023.
Paul Zeizel testified he met Clancy 60 times during her three-year custody.
Zeizel said no voices were heard after the Jan. 24, 2023 command.
Chaplain Sheila Cavanaugh testified Clancy expressed relief that her children were safe on Jan. 31, 2023.
Judge Sullivan barred Emily Thorndike from testifying and instructed jurors not to speculate on delays.

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