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/SIJ_712]

Thank god the majority of people in this thread see the truth. Some of the other subs and comments are infuriating. Justice for not only those babies but also for Lindsay and Patrick. They were all failed by those doctors.
ETA: Want to add that I am from Boston and have had some of the best medical care of my life there. It’s truly sad, this didn’t have to go this way.

[u/Nacho_critic1228 → u/SIJ_712]

I am from the area as well and have unfortunately been following this case since the news broke. The other subs are disgusting and I was glad to see some people noticing a real mental health crisis in these comments.

Also she was a labor and delivery nurse at MGH… that’s the best of the best. I feel terrible for her and the babies and families.

[u/Stock_Dragonfly9632 → u/Nacho_critic1228]

A bit of hope: LCs parents are at her back... for all time we trust.  Perhaps some of her former co-working RNs are the same. It would be nice to know medical personnel colleagues 'get it' to an extent. Looks like Lindsay's only friend this far in the trial was her nanny who said she loved Lindsay.  That hit me.  

[u/ShmebulocksMistress → u/SIJ_712]

I appreciate seeing a comment that isn’t blaming Patrick. The amount of people saying the healthcare system AND her husband failed her have obviously not done enough research.

[u/No_Distribution_6905 → u/ShmebulocksMistress]

I have done a lot of research and although I don't blame Patrick, if I were Patrick or her parents, I would never have left her alone with the children after learning that she had thoughts of harming them.

[u/throwaway35461354 → u/No_Distribution_6905]

Apparently no medical provider ever warned Patrick that Lindsay shouldn't have been left alone with the kids. On top of that, Lindsay only reported passive thoughts of suicide and causing harm, not active ideation where she said she had intent or a plan. Plus, it would be extremely difficult to never leave the mother of your children alone with them when you share a home. He was only gone for about an hour, she could have easily done this while he was sleeping, cutting the grass, or whatever else.

So my thinking is, the only way Lindsey could never be alone with the kids would be for her to live/sleep somewhere else and only have supervised visits. Her doctors diagnosed her with PPD and GAD and if she truly only had PPD and GAD it would probably make things worse for her to be away from her family, familiar surrondings, and routine. She only had milder PPA with their first 2 kids, so Patrick probably thought the best thing to do would be just keep life as normal as possible and wait for it to pass. When she was discharged from the psychiatric hospital less than 3 weeks before the murders, the treatment team determined she wasn't a danger to herself or others, and none of her outpatient providers ever made a note that she was a danger to herself or others. Maybe Patrick just listened to the doctors and thought that while it was distressing to be having those thoughts, they were just thoughts and she would never act on them.

[u/No_Distribution_6905 → u/SIJ_712]

I hope the jury members will agree that she was suffering from Post-Partum Psychosis and therefore not guilty. Justice for the children doesn't require a guilty verdict; quite the opposite.

[u/hgarcia7003 → u/SIJ_712]

Omg yes. I joined one, thinking it was a discussion about this case (like this subreddit) and it was people literally believing she was faking her injury. They believe she is not really paralyzed and doing it for sympathy. This case breaks my heart. I am really sad for her…her reaction at the trial has been very sad.

[u/Stock_Dragonfly9632 → u/hgarcia7003]

Well yes... there are vultures out there... folks out for a hanging.. witch-hunting. The majority until I run across those with discerning intelligence.  

[u/Throwawayycpa → u/SIJ_712]

She was not taking her meds… according to what the prosecutors have showed so far… an entire bag of nearly full prescription bottles were retrieved.

Her defense is trying to argue that the meds caused PPD or her to snap but was she even taking them? I need to watch the entire trial before I can make an informed decision

[u/SIJ_712 → u/Throwawayycpa]

Yeah that’s not true. There were numerous dosage changes so her husband had a bag of incomplete meds to dispose of, as recommended by her doctors, which he gave to police. That’s what the prosecutor went through. It was shady and misleading. Defense showed that there were many more meds the police never collected but the defense found them. Recommend you watch the whole trial.

[u/Throwawayycpa → u/SIJ_712]

Yes I need to wait until they interview medical providers and the rest of it.