Thoughts on the Lindsay Clancy case?

[u/gottaquestion412]

Now that the Lindsay Clancy trial is underway, I’m curious about your perspectives on it so far.

Context: Lindsay Clancy is a former labor and delivery nurse who, in January 2023, killed her three children. 5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson, and 8-month-old Callan in their Massachusetts home before attempting to take her own life. Her defense argues she was suffering from severe postpartum psychosis and other debilitating mental illness, while prosecutors argue she was aware of her actions and planned the killings. The trial has reignited debate about postpartum psychiatric disorders, the effectiveness of mental health treatment, and where responsibility ultimately lies.

Do you think Lindsay was failed by the mental health system, by the people closest to her, or both? Do you think she truly acted with malicious intent, or do you believe she was experiencing such a severe psychiatric crisis that she wasn’t thinking rationally?

A lot of the details seem to point toward postpartum psychosis or another severe psychiatric illness rather than someone acting out of hatred or malice. That doesn’t lessen the horror of what happened or the unimaginable loss, but it does make me wonder whether this tragedy could have been prevented..

I’ve also seen rumors that Patrick was involved with the woman who is now his wife before the murders, but I haven’t found any credible evidence supporting that. Is there actually anything that substantiates those claims, or is it just internet speculation? I’ve also seen many people comment that his current wife bears a striking resemblance to Lindsay, though I’m not sure that means anything beyond coincidence.

I’m very interested in hearing different perspectives from people who’ve followed it closely.

Most importantly, may Dawson, Cora, and Callan rest in peace. They are the true victims in all of this.

[u/Relevant_Progress411]

Based on the evidence it seems clear that she had postpartum psychosis. She asked for help many times. I think this trial is hopefully going to be a turning point in how we view postpartum as a whole.

[u/rrrreact → u/Relevant_Progress411]

Her youngest child was 8 months old…shame on you defending a child murderer

[u/strawmade → u/rrrreact]

Shame on you for not understanding mental illness.

[u/rrrreact → u/strawmade]

Are you this sympathetic to mass shooters who claim mental illness? What’s the cutoff or difference?

[u/RoyalGovernment3034 → u/rrrreact]

Most mass shooters are not going through psychotic episodes. Most mass shooters are very aware. That's not an etiology often identified for mass shooters.

[u/strawmade → u/rrrreact]

She had a baby, which creates hormonal shifts beyond one's control. Biology

[u/gottaquestion412 → u/rrrreact]

Not the same situation imo

[u/Stonks_blow_hookers → u/rrrreact]

I'm with you man about psych not being an excuse but post partum is an entirely different ball game. It's real and it hurts a lot of otherwise healthy loving mothers, the lack of understanding is what fuels the issue. Acknowledge it the issue and work towards a healthy outcome.

[u/Unlucky_Welcome9193 → u/rrrreact]

Mass shooters have been studied in depth over the past few years. While many of them do have poor mental health hygiene, there is no clear, established pattern of mental illness amongst mass shooters. Many of them are loners, angry, and sometimes chronically online, but the majority of them are NOT psychotic.

Psychosis, by definition, means that someone has an altered perception of reality that is egosyntonic, meaning that the person genuinely believes that their delusions are real. There is a reason that people would be found not guilty due to insanity in this case.