The jury in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy has reached an impasse, as they informed a judge after four days of deliberation on Tuesday in Massachusetts.
They convened for less than an hour at the start of the day before presenting a question to Plymouth Superior Court Judge William Sullivan shortly after 10 a.m.
“After extensive deliberation, we are unable to arrive at a unanimous verdict,” Sullivan stated while reading the jury’s note in court. He subsequently instructed them to resume their discussions privately.
According to WBZ-TV’s Kristina Rex, who was present in the courtroom, there was no visible reaction from Clancy or her family regarding the jury’s deadlock. Rex noted that Clancy’s attorney, Kevin Reddington, had whispered to them prior to the announcement, indicating they may have anticipated the outcome.
The jury, composed of nine women and three men, has spent approximately 18 hours deliberating since they received the case last Thursday at Plymouth Superior Court.
Clancy, 36, has entered a plea of not guilty to first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of her three children—Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months—at their home in Duxbury on January 24, 2023.
Reddington argued that Clancy was not criminally responsible for her actions due to being overmedicated and experiencing postpartum psychosis. In contrast, prosecutors contended that Clancy premeditated the murders and was aware of her actions when she strangled her children.
The jury has heard from 85 witnesses and is examining more than 200 pieces of evidence.
“The judge will allow the jury as much time as necessary, but they have indicated they may be nearing the conclusion of their deliberations,” stated WBZ-TV legal analyst Jennifer Roman. “It appears this jury may not have another 20 hours in them, so we might receive further updates from them later today.”
In Massachusetts, the protocol for a deadlocked jury generally follows these steps: 1) If the jury is deadlocked initially, the judge sends them back to deliberate; 2) If they remain deadlocked a second time, the Tuey-Rodriguez instruction is read; 3) If they are still unable to reach a consensus, a mistrial may be declared.
If Clancy is found guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, or manslaughter, she will face incarceration. Conversely, if the jury concludes that she is not guilty by reason of insanity, she will remain at Tewksbury State Hospital, where her case will undergo periodic reviews.
“I have strong confidence in the jury’s attentiveness, diligence, and hard work. I believe they have carefully considered the judge’s instructions,” Reddington remarked to reporters as he arrived at court on Tuesday.
For anyone experiencing emotional distress or a suicidal crisis, assistance is available through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. Additional support can be accessed through the National Alliance on Mental Illness HelpLine, which operates Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or via email at info@nami.org.
