Lindsay Clancy Returns to Court as Defense Seeks Acquittal After Hung Jury
PLYMOUTH, Mass. — Making her first court appearance since Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial ended with a hung jury earlier this month, the Massachusetts mother who strangled her three young children is sitting for a pivotal hearing Tuesday.
Lindsay Clancy returned to a Massachusetts courtroom Tuesday for the first time since her murder trial ended in a mistrial, as her attorneys pushed for the charges against her to be dismissed and prosecutors sought restrictions on public comments surrounding the case.
The September 29 hearing came less than a month after jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict following a seven-week trial over the January 2023 deaths of Clancy’s three children — Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months — at the family’s Duxbury home.
Eleven jurors were reportedly prepared to find Clancy, 36, not guilty by reason of insanity. One juror, Michael Desronvil, disagreed and believed she should be convicted, resulting in the September 4 mistrial.
Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz has not yet announced whether prosecutors will pursue another trial.
Defense Argues Evidence Was Insufficient
Pictured (left to right) are Lindsay Clancy’s children Cora Clancy, Callan Clancy, and Dawson Clancy in an undated photograph.Instagram/@heardwithlove
During Tuesday’s hearing, defense attorney Kevin Reddington asked Judge William Sullivan to enter a finding of not guilty, arguing that prosecutors had failed to present sufficient evidence.
Reddington pointed to what he characterized as a lack of DNA and fingerprint evidence and criticized the investigation.
Prosecutor Shanan Buckingham pushed back strongly, noting that during the trial the defense had not disputed that Clancy caused her children’s deaths. Instead, the central defense argument had been that she could not be held criminally responsible because of her mental condition at the time.
Clancy’s attorneys argued at trial that she was experiencing severe postpartum psychosis and had been improperly medicated. Prosecutors maintained that evidence showed she understood her actions were wrong and was capable of controlling them.
Prosecutors Seek Gag Order
Lindsay Clancy’s lawyer, Kevin Reddington, has begun arguing that Judge William Sullivan should find that his client should be found not guilty.AP
Another major issue before the court was the prosecution’s request for a gag order restricting public statements by Reddington.
Prosecutors argued that comments made following the mistrial — particularly those concerning the holdout juror — risked creating a prejudicial atmosphere ahead of any potential second trial.
They specifically objected to Reddington publicly identifying the holdout juror as male when only three men had served on the panel, arguing that this made it easier for his identity to become public.
Desronvil has since spoken publicly about his position during deliberations.
Prosecutors said restrictions were necessary to protect the ability to select an impartial jury if Clancy is tried again.
Judge Pushes Case Toward November Hearing
Clancy appeared in court wearing a plum-colored short-sleeved top and largely looked straight ahead, occasionally speaking with Reddington at the defense table.
Her parents, Mike and Paula Musgrove, were also at the courthouse, while supporters gathered outside.
At one tense point, Judge Sullivan slammed his fist on the bench while emphasizing his desire to keep the proceedings moving.
“I’m trying to move this as fast as we can,” Sullivan said.
The judge scheduled the next hearing for November 2.
For now, the case remains unresolved: the defense is seeking an acquittal, prosecutors are opposing that effort, and the possibility of a second trial remains open.