Lindsay Clancy Supporter Behind $1.2M Fundraiser Reveals Why She Started It — as Questions Grow Over Where the Money Could Go

A Wisconsin mother who launched a fundraiser for Lindsay Clancy’s parents without ever speaking to the family has revealed why she did it — as the campaign has surged to an extraordinary $1.2 million.

Brandee Mulligan, 42, said she created the Musgrove Family Fund last month after following Clancy’s case and feeling sympathy for her parents, Michael and Paula Musgrove. Mulligan has no affiliation with Clancy, her former husband Patrick, or the Musgroves and initially started the fundraiser without their knowledge.

“They had no idea and they were just extremely grateful and overwhelmed by all the support,” Mulligan said.

Fundraiser created for Clancy’s parents

Mulligan said her motivation came partly from being a mother herself and watching what Clancy’s parents had endured during the lengthy legal proceedings.

“Her parents have uprooted their whole life for three and a half years. They’ve given everything to this,” she said.

Since launching the campaign, Mulligan has spoken with Clancy’s father and made him the fundraiser’s sole beneficiary.

According to Mulligan, the money is intended to help Michael, 70, and Paula, 73, with expenses associated with repeatedly traveling from their Connecticut home to Plymouth, Massachusetts, for their daughter’s trial.

She said the couple had spent significant amounts on hotels and had depleted their savings while supporting their daughter. More than 1,000 people — mostly women — have contributed to the campaign so far.

Clancy’s attorney Kevin Reddington previously said her parents had paid for her defense and were “pretty much depleting everything they have.”

Questions over whether Clancy could benefit

The enormous fundraiser has also raised questions about how the money could ultimately be used.

Massachusetts is one of the states without a so-called “Son of Sam” law of the type described in the report, and the article notes there is no state law preventing an accused person from accepting donations to fight criminal charges. That means Clancy’s father could potentially give money to his daughter or use funds for her defense under state law.

However, GoFundMe’s own rules prohibit campaigns from being used to pay for the legal defense of people facing charges involving violent crimes. Mulligan insisted everyone involved understands what the money can and cannot be used for.

The fundraiser is currently the only GoFundMe campaign publicly confirmed by the platform as connected to Clancy’s family.

Goal increased after mistrial

Clancy’s trial ended in a mistrial on September 4 after jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict.

Following that outcome, Mulligan increased the fundraiser’s target from $2 million to $3 million.

Mulligan has been outspoken in her support of Clancy online. After the mistrial, she praised most of the jury while angrily criticizing the lone holdout juror whose refusal to join the other 11 prevented a unanimous verdict.

Some of Mulligan’s online activity has also generated controversy. She has shared posts that questioned aspects of Patrick Clancy’s movements around the time of the case. Patrick’s attorney has condemned what he described as an “escalating campaign of misinformation” by online influencers and warned that appropriate measures would be pursued. When asked about her criticism of Patrick, Mulligan declined to comment further.

“Being a mom is hard”

Despite the criticism, Mulligan maintains that the fundraiser is fundamentally about helping Clancy’s parents after years of financial and emotional strain.

“Being a mom is hard, and it’s resonated with a lot of people all over the world,” she said.

She also expressed hope that attention surrounding the case could lead to broader changes in how struggling mothers receive help.

For now, the fundraiser continues to grow — while the unusual circumstances surrounding its creation, its multimillion-dollar target and the question of how its proceeds may ultimately be used have placed Mulligan herself increasingly at the center of the story.