Lindsay Clancy trial jury “unable to come to a unanimous decision,” but judge tells them to keep deliberating

The jury in Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial is deadlocked, they told a judge after entering their fourth day of deliberations Tuesday in Massachusetts.

They met for less than an hour to start the morning and then had a question for Plymouth Superior Court Judge William Sullivan just after 10 a.m.

“After many hours of deliberation, we are unable to come to a unanimous decision,” Sullivan said as he read the note from the jury in court.

He sent them back to continue their deliberations in private.

According to WBZ-TV’s Kristina Rex, who is in the courtroom, there were no noticeable reactions to the deadlocked jury from Clancy or her family. Rex reported that Clancy’s attorney, Kevin Reddington, had whispered to them before the announcement so they presumably knew what was coming.

The jury of nine women and three men has deliberated for more than 17 hours since they were given the case last Thursday in Plymouth Superior Court.

Clancy, 36, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the deaths of her three children, Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months, in their Duxbury home on Jan. 24, 2023.

Reddington said she was not criminally responsible because she was overmedicated and suffering from postpartum psychosis. Prosecutors said Clancy planned the killings and knew right from wrong when she strangled the children.

The jury heard testimony from 85 witnesses and they’re also looking at more than 200 pieces of evidence. 

WBZ-TV legal analyst Jennifer Roman said it may feel like a long time for deliberations, but “not when we put it in the context of the number of witnesses and the type and nature of documents that they have to review and discuss and deliberate about.”

“I think their primary focus is really going to be around that million-dollar question, which is – did she have the mental capacity to appreciate right from wrong and conform her conduct to the law when she killed these three children? That is … that is the question the jury has to answer,” Roman said.

“Once they’ve answered that question, and they have a unanimous decision about that, then they have to talk about which, which charge do they convict her of?” 

If Clancy is convicted of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, or manslaughter, she will go to prison. If jurors find her not guilty by reason of insanity, she will be required to continue her stay at Tewksbury State Hospital, where her case will be reviewed periodically.

“They have a lot to talk about, even outside of just, is she, you know, guilty or not guilty by reason of insanity,” Roman said.

“I just have really strong faith in them that they’re so attentive, so diligent, so hard-working. I think they really listened to the judge and his instructions,” Reddington told reporters as he entered court Tuesday.

If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or a suicidal crisis, you can reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. You can also chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline here.

For more information about mental health care resources and support, the National Alliance on Mental Illness HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–10 p.m. ET, at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or email info@nami.org.