The jury in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial continued deliberations on Wednesday for the fifth day in Massachusetts, following a claim of deadlock. The panel, consisting of nine women and three men, has spent about 25 hours deliberating since the case was presented in Plymouth Superior Court last Thursday.
On Tuesday morning, jurors informed Judge William Sullivan they were “unable to come to a unanimous decision.” Despite this, Sullivan instructed them to persist in discussions. Clancy faces charges of first-degree murder for the deaths of her three children—5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson, and 8-month-old Callan—in their Duxbury home on January 24, 2023.
Lindsay Clancy appeared in Plymouth Superior Court on September 1, 2026. Photo courtesy of Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger/Pool.
Jury’s Options and Past Cases
The jury must reach a unanimous decision among five possible outcomes: not guilty by reason of insanity, not guilty, first-degree murder, second-degree murder, or manslaughter. A hung jury could result in a mistrial, similar to recent cases in Massachusetts involving Emanuel Lopes in 2023 and the first Karen Read trial in 2024.
Clancy’s attorney, Kevin Reddington, argues that she was not criminally responsible due to being overmedicated and suffering from postpartum psychosis. The prosecution contends Clancy planned the killings, fully understanding her actions. Legal analyst Jennifer Roman stated, “We really don’t know what’s going on in that jury room. They might be torn between charges or the insanity defense.”
Reddington criticized Plymouth District Attorney Tim Cruz for charging Clancy with first-degree murder, which mandated a jury trial. Had the charge been second-degree murder, a plea deal might have been possible, allowing a judge instead of a jury to decide the case. When asked about Clancy’s thoughts on a potential retrial, Reddington refrained from discussing conversations with his client.
Incident of Jury Filming
A separate development saw the arrest of Dawn Light, 56, from Sutton, Massachusetts, outside the courthouse. Accused of filming jurors, Light was arraigned for juror intimidation on Wednesday. A retired nurse, Light pleaded not guilty, claiming her intention was to photograph Lindsay Clancy and not record jurors. She was released under the condition of returning to court on October 15.
If convicted, Clancy faces imprisonment on charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, or manslaughter. However, if found not guilty by reason of insanity, she will remain in Tewksbury State Hospital with regular case reviews.
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