LIVE UPDATES: Medical and forensic experts testify, along with Clancy family’s nanny on Day 7 of trial
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Grace Wong, Courtroom Insider
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.
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12:07 pm. Lindsay appears to be weeping at defence counsel table. Judge reiterates that proceedings have ended for the day.
12:05 p.m. Judge excuses the jury until Thursday at 9 a.m.
12 p.m. Prosecution redirect: Prosecutor: Did Lindsay tell you she had intrusive thoughts about harming herself or the children? Rossi: No. (Judge calls attorneys to sidebar)
11:53 a.m. Prosecutor: When did you stop working for them? Rossi: December 8 or 10. Prosecutor: When you were in the household, interacting with Patrick and Lindsay, did you ever have concerns that the children were not safe? Rossi: No.
Defense Cross: Reddington: Met the Clancy family in July of 2022. You left on good terms? Rossi: Wonderful terms. Says she texted to wish Lindsay a merry Christmas. Says she was later interviewed by 2 state troopers. Reddington: Do you recall telling troopers Lindsay was a loving and doting mother? Rossi: I observed a wonderful mom who loved her kids. She was concerned with their safety. She was concerned with Callan’s sleeping. Reddington: Lindsay gave you directions about food prep — did you find that controlling? Rossi: Not at all. Reddington: You found that appropriate? Rossi: Yes. Reddington: She told you she was unable to sleep? Rossi: Correct. Reddington: She said lack of sleep was having a significant impact? Rossi: Correct. Reddington: Do you recall saying, “I loved my Lindsay”? Rossi: I don’t recall. But I did love Lindsay. Reddington: You said you don’t know much about postpartum, but that Lindsay said she was suffering from postpartum and had trouble sleeping. Rossi says she noticed that Lindsay was losing weight. She says she took lots of videos of the children and sent them to Lindsay.
11:42 a.m. Jury sees video of Callan taking a bottle after a defense objection. Rossi says that from September to early December, she nannied 3 days a week. Prosecutor: Did you come to find out Lindsay was having health issues? Rossi: She shared with me she was suffering from postpartum depression. Didn’t notice any difference in her behavior. Lindsay said she was seeing some doctors; she was going to stop nursing the baby because she was going to start a new medication. Prosecutor: Did you learn she had gone to the ER in November and December? Rossi: No. Had no concern about her interacting with her children. “She’s a wonderful mom.” Rossi says she knew Lindsay had sleep issues, that she had difficulty sleeping and was sleeping in the basement. Prosecutor: Did you see her in the basement? Rossi: No. Laundry was in the back of the basement. Prosecutor: Where were the medications? To the right of the refrigerator in a cabinet. Prosecutor: Do you recall seeing medications in the bedroom? Rossi: I didn’t.
Prosecutor: Around Thanksgiving of 2022, something changed? Rossi: Maybe the day after Thanksgiving. Arrived to find Lindsay was in the kitchen; I expected her to be asleep because I thought she would be working that shift. She said she wasn’t going back to work. Rossi says Patrick and Lindsay went for a walk, then came in and told her they were letting her go because Lindsay was not going back to work and would be home to take care of the children. She says she did not observe any difference in Lindsay’s behavior. Rossi describes Cora: ‘Very sweet, girly girl, she was lovely.” Describes Dawson: ‘Rambunctious, funny, silly.’ Says Cora and Dawson played well. Talks about a time when Cora took one of Dawson’s Play-Doh toys; his reaction — he slapped Callan. Rossi says Lindsay addressed his behavior appropriately. Rossi describes Callan as “the happiest, sweetest, easiest baby.”
11:29 a.m. Commonwealth Witness No. 45: Elaine Rossi, Clancy family’s nanny. Rossi testifies that she met the family when Cora was 4, Dawson was 3, and Callan was an infant. She and the Clancys came to an agreement that she would be a nanny for them. Her role was to take care of Callan when Lindsay went back to work, around Thanksgiving. Rossi started the first week in September 2022. Her role was mainly to care for Callan, but also included food prep, light housekeeping, and laundry. She says she worked three days a week, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., initially; schedule was set then changed. She says she communicated with Lindsay through text and that Lindsay had a notebook in the kitchen where she left instructions for her.
10:58 a.m. Commonwealth Witness No. 44: Katarina Stashyn, former MSP Crime Lab DNA analyst: Stashyn testifies that a sample from the yellow exercise band had a DNA mixture, assuming 2 or 3 contributors, both scenarios include Dawson (Testimony is interrupted by Reddington objecting and calling it “gobbledygook”; Judge calls a sidebar.)
Stashyn says swabs from middle of yellow exercise band are a mixture of 2 contributors, include DNA from Callan, Patrick and Dawson. Swabs from ends of black exercise band – mixture – not suitable for comparison. Swabs from middle of exercise band show highest contributor was Cora, had a mixture of 3 contributors. Swab from back of house shows DNA from Lindsay Clancy. Swab from Stain C (back of house) shows mixture is not suitable for comparison. (No cross by defense)
10:55 a.m. Judge reads the stipulation: The parties agree to the following facts regarding DNA comparisons:
- DNA data related to blue exercise band and red-brown stain on the basement floor
- Parties agree a) sample from the ends of the blue exercise bands, mix of contributors — Dawson, Callan, Cora, Lindsay and Patrick; b) sample from middle had 3 contributors — Callan a major contributor; c) sample from stain on basement floor had a single contributor: Cora Clancy
10:53 a.m. Stipulations regarding DNA and the exercise bands will be entered into evidence as exhibits.
10:32 a.m. Commonwealth Witness No. 43 (cont.): Brower says all drugs in Lindsay’s system were within therapeutic levels except for the Quetiapine (Seroquel), which was “elevated”; this level was not consistent with a suicide attempt. Concentration levels for Valium and its metabolites were sub-therapeutic levels –generally lower than expected. Drugs in Lindsay’s blood were anti-psychotic and antidepressants, which can cause lethargy. Narcan would have no effect on these drugs.
Defense Cross: Reddington The numbers alone don’t tell the entire story of a particular individual? Brower: Correct. He did not have all the facts. “Therapeutic” level is the amount of the drug needed to elicit the desired effect. The Seroquel is elevated but not at a level considered toxic or lethal.
10:30 a.m. Court is back in session.
10:15 a.m. Court is taking a break.
10:03 a.m. Commonwealth Witness No. 43: Justin Brower, Ph.D., forensic toxicologist, NMS Laboratories: Brower says he detected 4 drugs in Lindsay Clancy’s blood, including Lamictal (anti-seizure medication); Remeron (anti-depressant); Seroquel (anti-psychotic); Trazodone/Trazamine (anti-depressant).
9:44 a.m. Commonwealth Witness No. 42: Nicholas Roberts, formerly with Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab Toxicology Unit. Roberts says he tested Lindsay Clancy’s blood and urine; samples were positive for benzodiazepines and other substances. At least 4 or 5 benzodiazepines were present. Other substances included Trazodone. Not able to determine the concentrations of drugs. Benzodiazepines tend to be central nervous system depressants. The other drugs are generally used to treat bipolar disorder.
Defense Cross: Would you agree that’s a large number of drugs? Roberts: Quite a few. No marijuana detected.
9:37 a.m. Defense cross-examination of Negri: Attorney Kevin Reddington: Would you agree that she was critically ill? Negri: Yes, sir. Negri says he did not assist with Lindsay’s blood transfusions, was not present for her cardiac arrest; he only dealt with the wrists and managing the tubes inserted into her chest.
9:25 a.m. Commonwealth Witness No. 41: Eitan Negri, physician assistant, Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Negri says he treated Lindsay Clancy at Brigham and Women’s Hospital on 1/25/23. Assigned to repair multiple lacerations on her wrist; says her neck injuries were superficial. Says her right wrist had one laceration, 3cm deep, that required 3 stitches. Other cuts on right wrist were taped up, no stitches required. Says her left wrist had one laceration, 2cm deep, that required 1 stitch. Other cuts on left wrist were bandaged. No active bleeding.
9:24 a.m. Case is called. Judge will query the jury and advise jurors of today’s schedule.
9:15 a.m. Court is in session. Judge William F. Sullivan calls attorneys to sidebar.
8:59 a.m. Court proceedings will begin shortly. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has called 40 witnesses so far.