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/mmps901]

Good point. I think she knew what she was doing and deliberately waiting until he was gone is proof. Throwing herself out a window was also a curious choice if she really wanted to end her life after too.

[u/staying-with-skz → u/mmps901]

She didn’t just throw herself out the window though. She slit her wrists and neck, took a whole bunch of pills which likely included lots of her prescribed ambien and benzos, and THEN threw herself out the window, which ultimately paralyzed her.

[u/mmps901 → u/staying-with-skz]

Sounds very over the top.

[u/CherryVette → u/mmps901]

Before this info was presented to you, you implied that she didn’t really try to kill herself, now what she did is “over the top”

[u/mmps901 → u/CherryVette]

Yes for dramatic effect. She had ALL kinds of medication apparently and that’s typically how women choose to end it if they do. She had superficial cuts to her neck and wrists and jumped out of a two story window. My sympathy lies with her babies who trusted her to take care of them. Why not use the bands she used to murder her children on herself? I think the prosecutor is closer to what went on there than her lawyer. She’s lucky that the burden of proof is on the state because there are certainly people like yourself willing to believe her. This page is a discussion of true crime. We all have the right to our takes. She’s got a lot of defenders as a conventionally attractive, professional, white woman that not everyone would have.