LIVE UPDATES: Lindsay Clancy back in court Monday for Day 5 of murder trial
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Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial is underway in Massachusetts. The 35-year-old woman is charged with three counts of murder for the strangling deaths of her three children, ages 5, 3, and 8 months old. Clancy is present in the courtroom, bound to a wheelchair after she was paralyzed by injuries she sustained when she jumped from her home’s second-story window in an alleged suicide attempt. Her defense lawyer claims she was insane at the time, suffering from postpartum psychosis, and could not appreciate the wrongfulness of her actions. We are posting live updates from the courtroom here. Time notes are Eastern Daylight Time. Please forgive typos.
3:45 p.m. Court is in recess until Tuesday at 9:00 a.m.
3:22 p.m. Commonwealth witness #32 Cory Melo, Mass State Police:
Took part in search of Clancy home. Tasked with reviewing books and journals from the house. Reviewed and noted Lindsay’s entries in the journal. She discusses feeling anxious and guilty.
Entry not dated: “Completely overwhelmed taking care of the 3 kids. Feel like I’m drowning.”
Another Journal from October 18 to January 18. Yellow notebook titled Callan Clancy – handwriting detailed baby schedule.
Cross: Tree of Life Notebook, set forth on a number of pages in which Lindsay wrote about her children. She indicated that sleep training Callan, just about killed her because she didn’t intervene. Felt guilty about sleep training him one week before he turned 4-months. She was having horrible anxiety – “I want to be well.” Anxiety started after sleep training. He is still a happy baby but worried about not hitting his milestones. Wrote I have crazy brain fog – living moment to moment. Worried about not being able to function at work.
3:06 p.m. Commonwealth witness #31 Mark Santos, Mass State Police:
Searched basement, kitchen, and master bedroom on the 2nd floor. Recovered during search documents and medications – documents indicated medications and instructions for when to take them; Lindsay’s notes regarding her medications, book “Good Moms have Scary Thoughts,” ‘Postpartum and anxiety workbook & Book titled Callan Patrick Clancy containing note exchanges. Collected laptop computers and external hard drive from the office in the basement. Did not search the nightstand in the bedroom. Did officers already know that Lindsay had taken crushed up pills and taken them with lemonade. NO. Aware that medication in the kitchen.
Cross: Police found and seized medication in the kitchen. Seized the electronics from basement and cell on the bed. Did not search the particular drawer where medication was found.
3:02 p.m. Commonwealth witness #30 Leah O’Connell, Mass State Police Crime Lab:
January 31, received blood and urine vials from Det. Farioli.
2:59 p.m. Commonwealth witness #29 Detective MarK Farioli collected blood and urine of Lindsay Clancy from hospital, collected a total of 7 vials, 6 of them were blood delivered them to MSP Lab. No cross.
2:43 p.m. #28 Commonwealth Robert Flynn, Duxbury PD:
Responded to dispatch for 47 Summer Street. Learned that three children had been murdered. Notified Massachusetts State police, conducted security sweep of the house. On the first floor observed a snack on the couch. PC was on scene when he was present. Searched the 2nd floor – noted that it was colder than the rest of the house and that the bedroom window was open. Lindsay’s cell phone was on the bed. Observed the backyard area, there was matted down snow and medical equipment outside where LC had been. Remained on scene till it was turned over to Mass State Police. No cross of this witness.
2:41 p.m. Redirect: She’s exhausted, she’s in pain, and she’s about to go into surgery – and she asks about a lawyer? yes. Recross: She wasn’t focused on anything more than imminient surgery? yes.
2:26 p.m. Defense cross: Do you know whether there had been indication that she had psychosis symptoms. Saw her only once for about 20 minutes. Were you aware of her psychiatric history? Aware of postpartum anxiety that was in the record. Did she have insomnia? yes. Did know about suicidal ideation. Was not aware of homicidal ideation.I knew that there was an event. Hypomania -seen in bipolar – see mania -call that period hypomania. Don’t remember reading about her hypomania. Knew that she was going into surgery for her spine, she was on a few medications related to pain and blood pressure. Did she almost die before you saw her – it was after. How many cops were there? Don’t recall. After you saw Lindsay Clancy for 20 minutes – that ended your involvement? correct.
2:13 p.m. Commonwealth Witness #27 Dr. Jhilam Biswas, Forensic Psychiatrist @ Brigham & Women’s Hospital:
Met with Lindsay Clancy Jan 26 between 2:00 -3:00 pm. She was awake, oriented. She was intubated, difficult to respond verbally, Lindsay gestured she wanted to write. Gave her paper and pen to write her responses. Asked her about her mood- she wrote, “horrified.” She seemed anxious. She wrote, “Do I have an attorney?” Among the questions she asked: “Is my body broken,” “Are my legs straight?” “Can I have visitors?”
She was anxious and needed breaks during her visit – her answers were relevant to the questioning.
Psychosis ranges and can be different for everyone. All kinds of symptoms look different for every person. Did you notice signs of psychosis? At the time I did not note those.*** In psychosis someone could be engaged with the hallucinations. That was not present with Lindsay at the time she examined her. Did you have assessment of her responses. I was trying to assess suicidality before surgical intervention. Said she felt Lindsay was capable of making the decision about surgery.
2:10 p.m. Court is back in session.
1:01 pm. Judge calls lunch recess. Testimony will resume at 2 p.m. EDT (12 p.m. MDT).
12:59 p.m. Redirect: You are aware Lindsay wasn’t taking all the medications at the same time? Shaw: Correct. Prosecutor: Did you know she took very little of each prescription? Shaw? I was not aware. Prosecutor: Where are you getting your info on what she had been prescribed in the past? Shaw: We didn’t need to determine everything she was on before because we were treating a different set of symptoms. Defendant reported to us what she was taking. Prosecutor: Would you be surprised to know she hadn’t taken some of the medications? Shaw: “I don’t think I’m surprised, no.”
Re-cross: Exercising and cleaning out a garage does not necessarily mean you’re manic, right? Shaw: Correct. But if a person is also reporting they can’t sleep, feel like they have a “broken brain” and have expressed homicidal ideation, then you should consider the cleaning as part of your diagnosis, correct? Shaw: Correct.
Reddington: DA said Lindsay was taking just three medications. You’re not aware whether or which doctors told her to start and stop the medications, correct? Correct. Reddington: Did she sign a DNR? Shaw: She asked to after our first evaluation, but she eventually agreed to make sure her mental health was stable before making that decision.
12:55 p.m. Reddington: Are you aware SSRI should not be prescribed to bipolar patients? Shaw: It can be, but only with another protective medication. Reddington asks what serotonin is and what SSRIs do. Shaw: Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that regulates mood. Patients who have depression often lack serotonin. SSRIs block the reabsorption of serotonin, so the patient has more in the brain. Reddington goes over each medication Lindsay was prescribed and has Shaw explain what they’re used for — a variety of anti-depressants, benzodiazepines, anti-psychotics, and sleep medications. Reddington: Some have suicide warnings. What does that mean? Shaw: Studies have shown that starting an antidepressant can increase suicidality, mostly in adolescents, but it can also happen in adults.
12:50 p.m. Defense cross: Was she, to your opinion, an honest patient telling you what her symptoms were? (objection, denied) A: Yes. Shaw verifies that as a psychiatrist she is aware that a person in psychosis can plan and make decisions. Reddington: What is bipolar disorder? Shaw: It means a patient has manic highs and very low depressions. Reddington: What is hypomanic? Shaw: A lesser degree of mania; patients don’t always experience psychosis, but they do experience moving too quickly — quick thoughts, quick actions, often describe feeling out of control. Reddington: Were you concerned about the number of medications she was taking when she came into the hospital? Yes. Are you aware of a Jan. 24 toxicology report? Yes. Reddington: Lindsay was on trazodone. What is trazodone? Is not an ssri but is often used for sleep in patients with mood disorders.
12:45 p.m. How do you make sure they know what they’re doing? We ask the patient to take us through their thought process in making that decision. What were Lindsay’s reasons for changing from her husband to parents? She said her parents were very supportive and that she wanted to change proxy to them, but she did not give a reason as to why she wanted to change it.
Were you aware that Lindsay had not been diagnosed with a TBI? Yes. But brain injuries do not always show up on initial scans. Were you aware that doctors had found no internal or external injuries to her head? Yes.
During the next-day evaluation, Shaw says she didn’t see any evidence of cognitive impairment. But the patient did report having hallucinations the night before after surgery. She says she met again with Lindsay twice before she transferred to Spalding. She says patient. Sher reported that her thoughts about what she had done (killing her kids) were not constant throughout the day, correct? Yes No suicidal or homicidal thoughts? Correct. Seghl verifies that she noted Lindsay’s low mood due to her current physical and legal situation.
Last visit was Feb. 22; verifies that she was hopeful about treatment, denied suicidal and homicidal thoughts & denied hallucinations.
12:38 p.m. CW Witness #26: Dr. Sejal Shaw, psychiatrist, Brigham Hospital. When a patient at the hospital needs a consultation with psychiatry, medical doctors contact your office? Yes. Did you meet with Lindsay Clancy on Jan. 29, 2023? Yes. My team treated her because she came in having had a suicide attempt. I was also called to determine if she was mentally capable of changing her healthcare proxy. Voice a choice, whether they understand, appreciation of risks and benefits, able to reason and rationalize how they came to that choice. Would TBI factor into this? It could. Did she voice her choice and seem to understand her decision? Yes. But we waited a day to actually make the change because her healthcare team had concerns about her dillerium. That next day, her choice remained consistent.
12:30 p.m.
Defense cross: Changing documents for healthcare proxy? Yes. Who was she changing it to? From Patrick to her parents? Did you know she had a DNR? I was not aware of that. But it would be noted in the records? Yes
12:24 p.m. CW Witness #25, Meghan Collins, ICU Nurse, Brigham Hospital: Been a nurse for 11 years, worked at this hospital for 8 years in trauma surgical ICU. Collins says she treated Lindsay during the day on Jan. 25. She was intubated when she arrived. Took over care from night shift nurse, Rachel, and was informed that Lindsay had coded overnight. Went for CT scans in the morning. Was she responsive during that day? First shift, we were focused on her injuries and keeping her sedated because she was so critically ill. What happens if a patient is not sedated when they are intubated? They don’t usually tolerate the breathing tube well and fight against it.
On Jan. 26, patient required additional sedation because she was fighting the breathing tube? Yes. You gave her low-dose profofal? yes. Lindsay required chest tubes in the afternoon? Yes. We were worried about her respiratory status. Also treated her on Jan. 29. Yes. Patient was extubated on this date? Yes, but not my shift. I took care of her the next day. Says Lindsay had to be sedated again on Jan.30 because she was confused and agitated and had to be sedated again? yes. She was picking at lines and tubes. Does this happen often when a patient is extubated? Yes, it’s called ICU delirium.Were you present when psych consult team came in to evaluate Lindsay? Yes Who was there? Patient, myself and a lawyer; first time nurse saw the lawyer
12:12 p.m.Do you recall that there had been a discussion about the patient having experienced postpartum psychosis? Yes. Reddington shows witness a document from Jan. 25 at 9:03 a.m. After looking at that, do you recall that the document says the patient is under arrest? Yes. Did she have police officers outside her room? Yes.
12:07 p.m. Prosecution redirect: Are you aware that Dr. Anderson said the patient had a history of postpartum mood disorders? That’s what he told me. Are you aware that an evaluation showed there was an “inherent uncertainty” about her mental condition? I don’t know. Witness testifies they didn’t get to treating lacerations until a day or two after Lindsay arrived. Agrees that Dr. Anderson noted wounds were superficial and did not to be treated at that time.
Reddington: DA asked you about the evaluation about psychiatric evaluation, do you know when they evaluated her? I don’t.
12:02 p.m. Did you know she was being treated for postpartum depression? Yes. Did you know she was being treated for a vertebral fracture and rib fractures? Did you know she was reacting to painful stimuli (if you cause pain)? Yes. Do you recall that her chart said she has postpartum psychosis? Prosecution objects; judge calls to sidebar. Reference to CFF leak that says a “significant amount of fluid” coming out her nose, correct? Yes. What is a massive transfusion protocol? It’s a protocal that we have at the hospital. Did you observe the injuries to her wrists? I observed. It says RUE (right upper extremity) 3.5-cm deep laceration? I can’t say because I didn’t measure. This is someone else’s note. On observation, can you say it was a deep laceration? I can say it was a laceration. You can’t tell if it is deep or superficial? I didn’t measure. Defense states that document says Lindsay had a 2-cm deep laceration on left. When she was admitted, she had a core temperature was 82 degrees? If that’s what the document says. That’s pretty low, right? Yes.
11:23 a.m. Commonwealth Witness #24 Rachel Amedee, Nurse, Brigham & Women’s Hospital:
Treated Lindsay Clancy in the ICU. Lindsay was intubated required one-to-one nursing care – patient could not be left alone identified as a suicide risk. On Jan 24 into Jan 25 she coded -her blood pressure fell. Started CPR stabilized her by starting blood transfusion. Two officers were outside her room. She followed simple neuro checks. She communicated through a white board. Jan 28 was she placed into restraints – common practice for all intubated patients. At some point she was extubated on Jan 30 – no longer sedated. Observed her affect to be flat – no emotion. She was alert and oriented. Complained about sleep problems. On the night of February 2 – she wanted to reach out to her lawyer. Defense “objection” sidebar. First time she made any reference to the case. She was not permitted visitors. Troopers came in to photograph her. Contact ended February 3rd after being transfeered out of ICU. Cross: First time she commnicated on Jan 8 – do you know who her lawyer was? No. Shortly after arriving in ICU – patient had cardiac arrest. correct. They did chest compressions. After putting chest tubes into her chest; and received a blood transfusion. 30 ccs of spinal fluid from her nose. Medical records also noted anemia-acute blood loss.
11:21 a.m. Court is back in session.
10:47 a.m. Morning recess
10:35 a.m. Commonwealth Witness #23 Rose Stoffers, Mass State Police Crime Scene Services:
Observed Lindsay at the hospital. She was covered blankets and had a neck collar on. Lindsay resisted removing her arms from under the blanket – room was hot. Photographed her face, neck, hands, and documented clothing. Photographed bag of medication and documents on Feb 6 at Plymouth office. Cross: Bag was at the Mass State Police office not at the Clancy home.
10:33 a.m. Redirect: After reviewing records did not notice Cerebral Spinal Fluid – which would have been indicative of a head injury.
10:01 a.m. Commonwealth Witness No. 22: Dr. Kelly McDonough, ER physician, South Shore Hospital: McDonough testifies that prior to treating Lindsay Clancy, the info he received was that a woman had fallen out of a window from some height and was designated as Trauma 1. She says her team knew that she was unresponsive and found outside of her home, and they were aware that she may have had a spinal injury. McDonough says when Lindsay arrived, she was breathing on her own but was intubated as a protective measure. She says Lindsay had superficial lacerations to her neck and wrists. (Prosecution displays picture of Lindsay’s neck and wrists.) McDonough says she ordered CT scans of the patient’s head, neck, chest and pelvis and ordered blood and urine drawn. She says her head appeared normal, but she had a thoracic spine injury.
McDonough testifies that the decision was made to transfer Lindsay to a tertiary care center. She says the medical team placed a warming blanket around Lindsay to treat hypothermia (Her body temperature was 82 degrees, which he says is a low body temp.) McDonough says Lindsay was at the South Shore Hospital for four hours before being transferred. During that time, she says the wounds on Lindsay’s neck and wrists were not actively bleeding.
Defense cross: Reddington recalls testimony that Lindsay was not responsive verbally; she was responsive to pain; her eyes were open; her pupils were equal and reactive to light — all of that means she has no significant neurological injury? McDonough says she does not recall Lindsay’s specific injuries, except that Lindsay had a thoracic injury. McDonough reiterates that she did not consider the wounds to Lindsay’s wrists “deep.” She says she does not recall if Lindsay went into a cardiac arrest or had a blood transfusion. McDonough says she does not recall if police officers were at the hospital or whether Lindsay was chained to her bed.
9:45 a.m. Commonwealth Witness No. 21: Dr. David Casavant, ICU, Boston Children’s Hospital. Casavant testifies that he treated Callan Clancy while in the ICU. The doctor says he reviewed Callan’s CT scan and found it showed a severe swelling to the brain. He says Callan did not respond to voice or pain stimuli. He says Callan’s pupils were fixed, which reflects severe brain injury. Casavant testifies that he determined that Callan met brain death criteria after testing, and life support was ended on Jan. 27, 2023. (No cross by defense. Defense does not oppose admission to any hospital records.)
9:32 a.m. Commonwealth Witness No. 20: Dr. Andrew Capraro, attending ER physician, Boston Children’s Hospital. Capraro testifies that he treated Callan Clancy (18 months old) after he was transferred from Beth Israel hospital. Capraro says when Callan arrived, he was cold, limp, his pupils were fixed and dilated, and he had ligature marks around his neck. He says Callan’s pupils were fixed and dilated, meaning he had significant swelling of the brain. Capraro says Callan’s heart was beating on its own. He says the baby was intubated, and needed a ventilator to maintain ventilation. The doctor says blood work was ordered, as was a head and neck CT scan to guide next steps. Capraro testifies that the head CT revealed a lack of oxygen and blood flow to the brain, which could have been caused by strangulation. He says the next appropriate step was to transfer Callan to the ICU. (No cross by defense)
9:15 a.m. Commonwealth of Massachusetts No. 19: Dr. Michael Snyder, ER physician, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Snyder testifies that he treated Cora Clancy (5 years old). He says he learned that all three Clancy children were in cardiac arrest. He says he and his team performed advanced life support on Cora, and they were still performing CPR when the other patients arrived. He says it’s important to know how long the patient had no pulse or was not breathing. Snyder testifies that Cora had been given epinephrine, the primary medication for cardiac arrest, and it was administered via bone marrow. He says she did not have a pulse and was not breathing on her own. He says he observed petechiae around her face, eyes and neck, and blood around her nose. He says her pupils were fixed and enlarged, indicating brain injury.