Full Breakdown
Lindsay Clancy Trial Ends in Mistrial; Defense Seeks Plea Deal and Presidential Pardon
9/9/2026, 3:03:10 AM
Mistrial Declared After Deadlocked Jury
On September 4, Judge William Sullivan declared a mistrial in the state murder case against Lindsay Clancy, a 36-year-old mother from Duxbury, Massachusetts. The trial, which began July 20 at Plymouth Superior Court, charged Clancy with three counts of first-degree murder for the January 24 2023 strangulation deaths of her children—Cora, Dawson and Callan (8 months). After seven days of deliberations, the 12-person jury could not reach a unanimous verdict.
Background and Legal Context
Clancy admitted to killing the children but pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, citing severe postpartum psychosis. Under Massachusetts law, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was not suffering from a mental disease or defect at the time of the offense. Prosecutors argued Clancy acted deliberately, planning the killings and ensuring her husband was away from the home.
Jury Deliberations and Holdout Juror
Three jurors who spoke publicly described a “lone holdout” juror who acknowledged reasonable doubt yet refused to find Clancy not guilty by reason of insanity. Several outlets reported the panel was 11-1 in favor of an acquittal, though the exact split was not officially confirmed by the court.
Official Statements & Responses
- “Mr. President, I would hope that you would consider this young lady, the type of person she is, what she‘s been through, and consider a pardon,” — Kevin Reddington, Clancy’s attorney
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Jury split: Fox News and The Guardian reported an 11-1 split favoring a not-guilty verdict, while other outlets noted the split was not officially confirmed and that the court did not disclose which side held the majority.
- Plea-deal feasibility: Reddington has said no plea bargaining is possible because “there’s no plea bargaining, there’s nothing Cruz wants, his triple homicide convictions, consecutive life sentences,” yet he later expressed openness to “work something out.”
What’s Next
A status hearing is scheduled for later this month to determine the next steps. Prosecutors may seek a retrial in the fall, pursue a plea agreement, or adjust their strategy, as former FBI veteran Jody Weis suggested the evidence could prompt a different approach. The defense remains open to negotiations, while the possibility of a presidential pardon is moot because the charges are state offenses; any clemency would fall to Governor Maura Healey.
