Full Breakdown
Lindsay Clancy’s Murder Trial Ends in Mistrial; Defense Attorney Seeks Presidential Pardon
9/9/2026, 3:20:10 AM
Core Event
A Massachusetts Superior Court declared a mistrial on September 4, 2026 after a 12-person jury (nine women, three men) failed to reach a unanimous verdict on first-degree murder charges against Lindsay Clancy for the 2023 strangulation deaths of her children Cora, Dawson and Callan (8 months). Defense attorney Kevin Reddington used a “Good Morning America” interview on September 8, 2026 to ask President Donald Trump to consider a pardon. “Mr. President, I would hope that you would consider this young lady and the person she is, what she's been through, and consider a pardon,” — Kevin Reddington.
Background & Context
Clancy pleaded not guilty, asserting she acted while experiencing postpartum psychosis. Prosecutors argued she planned the killings, noting she sent her husband Patrick out of the house before the murders. “People do not understand or know what they are doing [while experiencing postpartum psychosis], and it is real, and it is frightening,” — Kevin Reddington.
Timeline
- August 11, 2026 – Reddington told reporters he hoped District Attorney Timothy Cruz would revisit the case.
- September 2, 2026 – Pre-trial hearing.
- September 4, 2026 – Judge William Sullivan declared a mistrial after roughly 38 hours of deliberation.
- September 8, 2026 – Reddington publicly requested a presidential pardon.
- Later September 2026 – Status hearing scheduled to decide on a retrial or plea.
Data & Statistics
- Jury composition: 12 members (9 women, 3 men).
- Reddington claimed an 11-1 split favoring a not-guilty-by-reason-of-insanity verdict; the court has not released the vote.
- No conviction; Clancy remains on involuntary psychiatric supervision at Tewksbury State Hospital.
Official Statements & Responses
- “I appreciate the fact that there are strong feelings and opinions tied to this case,” — Timothy Cruz, district attorney.
- Governor Maura Healey: a state pardon requires a conviction; she has no authority to pardon Clancy now.
- Mark Osler, law professor, noted the presidential pardon power “only covers federal cases.”
- Donald Trump called the case a “horrible tragedy” and warned the “price” would be institutionalization or imprisonment.
Criticism & Opposition
Legal scholars emphasized that presidential clemency does not apply to state prosecutions. Former Justice Department pardon attorney Elizabeth G. Oyer reinforced that any pardon must come from the Massachusetts governor.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Jury split: Reddington’s 11-1 claim lacks court verification.
- Pardon feasibility: Experts and the governor’s office state a presidential pardon is legally impossible for this state case.
- Future proceedings: The district attorney has not announced a definitive plan, leaving the timing of a possible retrial or plea uncertain.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Mr. President, I would hope that you would consider this young lady and the person she is, what she's been through, and consider a pardon,” — Kevin Reddington.
- “It’s not a federal case, and the pardon power only covers federal cases, and that’s very clearly established,” — Mark Osler.
Why It Matters
The mistrial forces Massachusetts to decide whether to retry Clancy, negotiate a plea, or drop the charges. The request for a presidential pardon underscores public confusion over federal versus state clemency powers and keeps the debate over postpartum mental-health crises and criminal responsibility in the national spotlight.
