What happened in court
• Mistrial: In a dramatic conclusion to a trial that gripped the nation and sparked passionate debate, a Massachusetts judge declared a mistrial on Friday in the case of Lindsay Clancy, the former nurse accused of murdering her three children.
• What’s next: The Plymouth County district attorney said the prosecution would decide “shortly” on whether to retry the case. Defense attorney Kevin Reddington, who blasted the prosecution during a news conference, said he didn’t know if a judge could find jurors who aren’t already aware of the case if there were a retrial.
• Lone holdout: Friday’s developments wrapped seven days of deliberations by a jury that ultimately remained deadlocked. According to the defense, a lone juror was holding out on a unanimous verdict.
• About the case: Prosecutors argued Clancy acted “intentionally, rationally, and swiftly” to kill her children, while the defense said she should not be held criminally responsible because she was suffering from postpartum psychosis.
Our live coverage of Friday’s news from the Lindsay Clancy trial has concluded. Read more here from CNN about what happens next in the triple-murder case that ended in a mistrial. You can also read the emergency request filed by Clancy’s defense before the mistrial was declared.
After a week of deliberations, the Lindsay Clancy murder trial comes to dramatic end
In a dramatic conclusion to a trial that gripped the nation and sparked passionate debate, a Massachusetts judge declared a mistrial Friday in the case of Lindsay Clancy, the former nurse accused of murdering her three children.
Following about 38 hours of deliberations over the span of seven days, not including weeks-long trial proceedings, a deadlocked jury said — again — it was unable to come to a unanimous verdict.
Here’s a breakdown of what happened in court:
- On Friday morning, Judge Sullivan heard arguments on how to handle the jury notes sent at the end of Thursday’s deliberations. The prosecution suggested jurors be instructed to keep deliberating. The defense argued the holdout “lied” to the judge about their ability to follow the law.
- The judge denied defense lawyer Kevin Reddington’s request to question the holdout juror further, saying there is no indication he refused to deliberate.
- Sullivan then instructed the jury to keep deliberating. Several female jurors nodded enthusiastically as the judge read them the instructions.
- Sometime later, the jury again indicated they were deadlocked. Jury notes indicated the 12-person jury, made up of nine women and three men, was split 11 to 1.
- Judge Sullivan said he intended to declare a mistrial, but first granted the defense one hour to file an emergency appeal.
- In its appeal, the defense asked the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to order the trial court to further question a holdout juror or remove the juror from the jury. The filing states the juror is “biased” and refusing to follow the court’s instructions on reasonable doubt, citing jury notes to the court.
- The Supreme Judicial Court held a hearing in response to the filing, and the request was denied, Sullivan said in court. The judge then declared a mistrial.
- Sullivan set a status hearing for September 29, and Clancy’s defense team could ask the court to declare her not guilty. Next steps in the case could include a possible plea or a potential new trial.
- Clancy will be taken back to Tewksbury Hospital and continue to stay there in the wake of her mistrial. Clancy is also suing her doctors and medical providers in a separate civil case.
- Outside the courthouse, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz said the prosecution’s case has “always been about getting justice for those three little babies” and that it is “not about a healthcare system.” Prosecutors will decide whether to retry the case against Clancy at a future court hearing, Cruz said. Some angry bystanders shouted at Cruz while he spoke.
- During his turn at the podium, Reddington declared he “won the case” and said the prosecution “was crushed.” He criticized the holdout juror, whom he said “robbed” the other jurors. Reddington praised Clancy as someone who is a “wonderful individual” and said that he believes what she endured during the trial is “not right.”
- Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said he’s been tracking the trial of Lindsay Clancy, calling it a “horrible tragedy” and “terrible situation.” The president said that Clancy will have to pay “a price.”
CNN’s Rebekah Riess, Eric Levenson, Lauren del Valle, Nicki Brown, Dakin Andone, Elizabeth Wolfe , Ray Sanchez, Isa Mudannayake and Betsy Klein contributed reporting.
Who is Lindsay Clancy’s attorney, Kevin Reddington?
With a decades-long career focused on mental health, trauma and criminal responsibility, veteran Massachusetts attorney Kevin Reddington became an unlikely celebrity while defending Lindsay Clancy.
His postpartum psychosis defense brought renewed attention to maternal mental health — and drew a devoted following online and outside the courthouse — before the case ended in a mistrial.
CNN’s Kara Scannell dives into who Reddington is:
With a decades-long career focused on mental health, trauma and criminal responsibility, veteran Massachusetts attorney Kevin Reddington became an unlikely celebrity while defending Lindsay Clancy against charges that she killed her three children. His postpartum psychosis defense brought renewed attention to maternal mental health — and drew a devoted following online and outside the courthouse — before the case ended in a mistrial. CNN's Kara Scannell reports.
Strong reactions shared outside the courtroom after Lindsay Clancy's case ends in mistrial
People with whom CNN spoke outside the Plymouth courtroom Friday expressed strong reactions to Lindsay Clancy’s triple-murder cased ending in a mistrial.
Several of those interviewed shared support for Clancy and frustration over the possible lack of resolution to the case.
After 7 days of deadlocked jury deliberations, Massachusetts Superior Court Judge William Sullivan declared a mistrial, drawing strong reactions outside the courthouse.
Sharon Mitchell was hoping Clancy would be found not guilty so she could “move on with [her] life.”
AnnMarie Butcher said she was hoping for a not-guilty verdict. “I really thought we were going to have a verdict or at least an exchange of the juror or something,” Butcher said.
Rita Guilford, who CNN interviewed before the mistrial was announced, said she felt that the “medical system has failed this beautiful family.”
A few of those interviewed by CNN appeared to side with the prosecution.
Kimberly Souza, who expressed disappointment that the jury hadn’t come to a conclusion, said, “I don’t know what will come of it in six months to a year but I am still hoping for a guilty verdict in the end.”
Clancy trial brought maternal mental illness to the fore, says reproductive psychiatrist
Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial brought postpartum psychosis to the fore, said reproductive psychiatrist Catherine Birndorf on CNN’S “The Lead.”
“I think that maternal mental illness is real and people recognize that,” Dr. Birndorf said. “But people are struggling to believe that mothers could actually have mental illness in pregnancy and in the postpartum … but these are just illnesses — postpartum psychosis, depression, anxiety, OCD — illnesses just like hypertension or diabetes.”
Your questions, answered: Retrial, jurors and appeals
After seven days of deadlocked jury deliberations, Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial concluded in a series of twists and turns today, including a holdout juror, a frantic emergency appeal from the defense, and, finally, a mistrial.
Our readers have raised several questions about what transpired, and CNN Legal Analyst Joey Jackson has answers.
Q: Are prosecutors likely to retry Clancy? If so, would it be difficult to find an impartial jury?
Trying the case again depends on many factors, including the seriousness and strength of the case, probability of proving it in the next trial and serving the public interest.
The issue for future jurors is not whether they heard about the case, but whether, even having heard about it, they can base a fair decision on the evidence presented in court.
Q: Could the judge have held the lone juror in contempt after the defense argued they were not following court instructions?
There is no indication that this juror did anything wrong — other than stick to his guns and hold an unpopular position. If the judge found otherwise, the juror would have been excused.
Q: Why have alternate jurors if you don’t use them? Can a jury vote to remove a juror?
A: Alternates exist in case of sickness of a main juror, a hardship in serving, or juror misconduct. You can’t replace a juror because you don’t agree with their position. And no, a jury itself cannot decide to remove a juror.
Read more about what it takes to remove a juror here.
Q: Could the outcome of the trial be appealed by the defense or the prosecution?
Appeals are usually based upon rulings related to the admission or exclusion of evidence, and whether the judge got them correct.
Here, there will not be an appeal because there was no verdict. Mistrials are not appealable. The defense can only appeal when their client is found guilty. Prosecutors cannot appeal a not guilty verdict.
Prospect of retrial is "extraordinarily painful" for Patrick Clancy, his attorney says
Patrick Clancy, the ex-husband of Lindsay Clancy, expressed gratitude to the court and jury through a statement from his attorney after the case ended in a mistrial this afternoon.
“Patrick Clancy is grateful to the Court and to the jurors for their hard work, their commitment, and their perseverance,” attorney David Meier said in the statement. “The loss of Patrick’s children is something from which he will never recover and from which there will never be closure.”
Meier said going through another trial, if the case is taken up again, would be challenging for Patrick Clancy and his family. Patrick testified for the prosecution earlier in the trial.
“The prospect of reliving this tragedy through another trial is extraordinarily painful – for Patrick, for his family, and for all us,” Meier said.
“The system failed the family,” OB-GYN calls for increased maternal mental health support
“The system failed the family and these children,” said OB-GYN Dr. Kameelah Phillips on CNN’s “The Arena with Kasie Hunt” after the judge in Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial declared a mistrial.
The case highlighted a lack of understanding of the need for postpartum care and “what working mothers are really going through,” she said.
“We need to dismantle the idea that seeing women once every six weeks after having a baby is enough,” she added, advocating for increased training for medical professionals, as well as resources and awareness of postpartum depression treatment options for patients. She also showed support for further laws supporting maternal health.
Expanding beyond maternal care, Dr. Phillips said the case amplified a national responsibility to understand that mental and other forms of health are intertwined, rather than trying to systemically separate them.
Clancy’s defense attorney contended that she was not criminally responsible because she was experiencing postpartum psychosis, a rare mental health condition that affects roughly up to 2 of every 1,000 women after childbirth.
Her providers said that following the birth of her youngest child, Clancy took several medications for mental health problems and sought treatment from mental health professionals.
Jen Christensen contributed to this post.
What Lindsay Clancy's life is like at Tewksbury hospital
Lindsay Clancy has been held at Tewksbury Hospital since 2023 and will continue to stay there in the wake of her mistrial, defense attorney Kevin Reddington said Friday.
The hospital, about 30 miles north of Boston, has 370 beds and “provides comprehensive treatment, care, and comfort to adults with medical and/or mental illnesses,” according to its website .
Testimony during the trial offered some details of her life there, including her mundane daily activities and ongoing medical and mental health issues.
Daily activities: Prosecutors read aloud Tewksbury records describing Clancy’s activities on her children’s birthdays and the anniversaries of the killings.
She used her phone, watched TV, played dominos and other games, visited with her parents, engaged with staff and peers, and moved around the hallway in her wheelchair, the records state. She has access to a mental health therapist and physical therapist.
Mental health care: Clancy has a diagnosis of bipolar II disorder at Tewksbury and remains on several medications for her mental health, according to trial testimony. Clancy is under constant 1-to-1 supervision due to concerns about suicide, Zeizel said.
“She’s in good hands at the moment, but there’s always a concern that sits directly below the surface,” Zeizel said.
Emotional state: Those who interacted with Clancy at Tewksbury described her as depressed and grieving.
According to Dr. Avram Mack, a psychiatrist, Clancy said she was “miserable” and depressed about several things: “The remorse and sadness about the events that this case is about. Her separation or estrangement from her then-husband. Her being separated from the world. Her physical injury.”
Takeaways from Lindsay Clancy's defense attorney's comments
Lindsay Clancy’s defense attorney, Kevin Reddington, just held a wide-ranging news conference after her trial ended in a mistrial due to a hung jury.
Here are the key takeaways:
Defense claims victory: Despite the hung jury and mistrial, Reddington claimed victory. “I won the case,” he said. The prosecution, he said, “was crushed.”
Criticizes holdout juror: Reddington claimed the jury was split 11 to 1 for acquittal and sharply criticized the holdout juror. He thanked the jurors “minus one,” said the other jurors were “robbed” by the holdout, and said he hopes the juror can “sleep well at night.”
Praises Clancy: Reddington praised his client as a “fantastic, wonderful individual” who is “so brave, so awesome.”
A retrial of Lindsay Clancy is unlikely, former prosecutor says
A plea deal is more likely than a retrial after a judge declared a mistrial in the case against Lindsay Clancy, former Florida prosecutor Dave Aronberg told CNN.
Jurors deadlocked after deliberating for about 38 hours over seven days. Jury notes indicated they were split 11-to-1, but any verdict must be unanimous.
“I think, if it’s 11 to 1, that the DA and the defense lawyer will meet and reach some sort of agreement so that she does not walk out,” Aronberg said.
“It’ll be a mental hospital … (or) some sort of agreement. Because who wants to go through this whole thing again, especially when you are this close to getting an acquittal? Why would you, as a prosecutor, want to do it all over and take another beating,” he said.
Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz said the prosecution will decide whether to retry the case at a future hearing.
Aronberg said, “Now that you’ve seen 11 to 1, it’s an ethical duty of a prosecutor only to pursue charges when you have a good faith belief you can get a conviction beyond a reasonable doubt, and if you don’t think you can get a conviction beyond a reasonable doubt … then you should not move forward with the case.”
“In the end, you got to look reality in the face, and if you can’t get anything more than 11 to 1 against you, I think it’s time for a plea agreement,” he added.
Reddington says he'll request sequestered jury if Clancy retried
If Lindsay Clancy is retried, her attorney said he would request that the jury is sequestered, though he called the step “unusual.”
“I’ll request it. We’ll see what the judge does. It’s very unusual,” Kevin Reddington told reporters in response to a question about sequestering.
In rare circumstances, typically very high profile trials, a judge may choose to sequester jurors to ensure that they remain impartial. If a judge decides the measure is necessary, jurors are typically isolated from news reports and the outside world by staying together in a location such as a hotel.
Asked if he thought sequestering a jury would substantially impact the case, he said he had “strong faith” in the jurors in Clancy’s trial.
“They were just incredible. No, I don’t even think it makes a difference that they were home with their families. I don’t believe these people violated any of the judge’s orders. They were honest. They were hardworking, and no, I don’t think it makes a difference.”
Reddington's comments criticizing holdout juror were "unequivocally wrong"
Defense attorney Kevin Reddington’s criticism of the holdout juror was inappropriate, CNN’s chief legal analyst Laura Coates said.
“It is unequivocally wrong to try to disparage a juror for deliberating in a way that the judge himself concluded was appropriate to allow that person to say and stay,” she said.
Reddington said the one juror who was not agreeing with the majority’s decision on a verdict “robbed” the other jurors. He also thanked the jurors, “minus one.”
There is a reason why jurors are not shown on camera or identified publicly because they are “performing a civic duty,” Coates said.
“Our jurisprudence allows for jurors to make their own decisions in a jury deliberation room,” added CNN’s legal and trial correspondent Jean Casarez added. “And with a retrial, other people are going to have to step forward to say, ‘I will be a juror in this case.’ And could that influence at all those that may want to do jury service right here in Plymouth County?”
Lindsay Clancy's civil attorneys say they will hold medical providers responsible
Lindsay Clancy’s civil attorneys in the lawsuit against her doctors and medical providers spoke outside court about her treatment in the healthcare system following pregnancy.
Clancy now has to go through another trial due to the medical providers’ negligence, she said.
“It’s devastating. It’s devastating to her, it’s devastating to her family. This is a nightmare that’s never going to end,” she said.
Scapicchio said it was “infuriating” that doctors do not listen to women who need care after having a child.
“Let’s just talk about the names that they label women who are depressed or have hormonal imbalances. They call them ‘baby blues.’ Do you think for a second, if a man had erectile dysfunction, they’d be calling it ‘penis blues?’ No, because it minimizes what you’re suffering from. We’re here to change that on behalf of Lindsay,” she said.
On the lawsuit: When the trial started, all the providers declined to speak with CNN about ongoing litigation. The doctors and medical providers testified last month at Clancy’s trial and defended their medical decisions.
Clancy's attorney says he didn't expect trial to receive this much attention
Kevin Reddington, Lindsay Clancy’s defense attorney, said today he doesn’t think the case became a “spectacle” but he didn’t expect it to receive as much widespread attention and scrutiny as it has.
“I figured it would have some connection with people dealing with postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis and the medical and psychiatric care,” he said at a news conference. “I didn’t realize that it would be like this.”
"Her life is a tragedy": Reddington says of Clancy
Lindsay Clancy is a “classic example of a tragic person,” defense attorney Kevin Reddington said.
The lawyer, who said he has gotten to know his client during his time working with her, described Clancy as “very strong” and a “very intelligent young woman.”
But, “her life is a tragedy,” he said.
It will be difficult to find jurors who "aren't aware of this case," defense attorney says
Kevin Reddington, Lindsay Clancy’s defense attorney, said at a press conference this afternoon that he is not worried about finding a new jury that could come to a unanimous decision – but that finding jurors who aren’t already aware of the case will be the real challenge.
Reddington said that if it wasn’t for one out of the 12 jurors in the trial, “we would have had a verdict and we would be out of here.”
“But I don’t know if we will ever be able to get jurors that aren’t aware of this case anywhere,” he added. “New York, Washington, Georgia, Japan, India, I don’t know anywhere.”
The judge declared a mistrial today, because the jury could not come to a unanimous decision. The trial attracted international attention and media coverage.
Jurors were "robbed" by lone holdout, defense attorney says
Eleven jurors were “robbed” by one man, Lindsay Clancy’s defense attorney Kevin Reddington told reporters outside the courthouse.
Those jurors are now “sitting there defeated,” he said after commending their performance throughout the trial.
Reddington said he hopes the one holdout juror, who he blamed for preventing the trial from reaching a verdict, can “sleep well at night.”
Lindsay Clancy's defense attorney claims victory: "I won"
Asked if he would do anything differently in a retrial, Lindsay Clancy’s defense attorney claimed victory.
“Why would I? I won the case,” Kevin Reddington said.
Clancy's defense lawyer thanks jury, "minus one"
Lindsay Clancy’s lawyer Kevin Reddington thanked the jurors who heard her case — “minus one.”
The case was declared a mistrial after the jury could not come to a unanimous decision. Reddington claimed the jurors were split 11-1 for an acquittal.
He said he was proud of the jury’s foreperson who told the judge that the one holdout “refused to apply the law.”
