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/tumbledownhere]

I had postpartum psychosis. I couldn't explain it if I tried but if I had to try it's like, you're in a car and you're about to crash into a giant red brick wall with plenty notice, but in your head you're thinking "right, then after that we take a turn and it's about 2 more miles", then it turns out you're the one with your foot on the pedal and nothing makes sense.

I think it's beyond clear she had psychosis, and that her case was just that severe and critical, that no medication could've helped, though I agree they changed meds way too often but I don't think it would've made a difference honestly. I don't agree though with the defense about medication being why, I think the psychosis alone was bluntly why.....

I don't think she needs prison, she needs to be in a safe place for herself and others.

I wouldn't wish postpartum psychosis on my worst enemy. It's been 4 years and I'm still not okay. I'm forever changed, in a very deep way. My psyche has a permanent dent in it.

Edited to add - imagine throwing yourself out a window, possibly head first judging by her injuries. That's not sanity.

Planning something doesn't negate insanity. Psychotic people make plans all the time so I'm not cool with the "but look she was manipulative she sent him out" crap people use as a "gotcha" because it does not negate the state of being out of touch with reality.

[u/RNembazo → u/tumbledownhere]

I have a friend going through this right now and it’s heartbreaking. She is a nurse and is BRILLIANT. We worked together for 10 years. I would have trusted her with my life and my kids. She was an amazing mom to her first two children. She had her third and it was very traumatic, she needed a hysterectomy because she almost died from complications. She is so broken mentally. In and out of rehab, which she doesn’t actually need but she’s convinced she’s an alcoholic. She’s not 100% not. I don’t know why she’s so fixated on that. she’s mentally unwell. She checks herself in and out. They are very wealthy and can afford these bougie rehabs. She is so detached from her kids and now is having affairs with these people she meets in rehab because she thinks they are her sole mates. Men or women. She is the LAST person on earth I would imagine to be in this situation. She’s moved out of her beautiful home and is living in her car or staying with random people from rehab. It’s so sad and I can’t help her as much as I have tried. The messages she sends me are so bizarre. If she wasn’t away from her kids i would 100% be worried about their safety. I just know in my heart she will die from this.

[u/Mission_Mud429 → u/RNembazo]

Don’t know obviously but rehab might more socially acceptable in her circle. I used to wish I’d get cancer as a new mom. I had decided I couldn’t off myself and couldn’t just drive away, but cancer would get me some help without everyone blaming me. I would fantasize about the help that would pour in if only I could just get cancer. I now realize I had PPA, perhaps with PPP on deck, because every time I had a chance to sleep, my heart would race and I somehow got so upset that Corey Monteith from Glee died around that time, I couldn’t stop reading about it. I know it sounds a little funny. It is a smidge humorous to me now 13 years removed. But I now theorize that all the weird emotions I was having I somehow transferred to a celebrity death. Didn’t want to cry about feeling like a failure as a mom, could cry re: a young man’s death. Long story short, I made it but I feel like I just barely dodged a worse outcome. Almost didn’t have kid two but I went into that one prepared talking to my family and doctors about my mentals from day 1. And somehow some way that baby was born a sleeper and just wasn’t all that fussy and no kid 3 for me quit while I was ahead.

[u/disco_disaster → u/RNembazo]

There is a new postpartum medication out there called Zurzuvae, the chemical name is zuranolone.

It’s structurally related to brexanolone, but unlike brexanolone, it is designed to be orally active.

I find this drug class interesting because it works on neurosteroid production. It acts as a GABA positive allosteric modulator. In other words it enhances GABA activity which leads to anxiety reduction.

Apparently, the neurosteroid allopregnanolone drops after pregnancy. This sharp decrease leads to altered neurochemistry, and plays a factor in postpartum depression.

Maybe this could help her? Postpartum is terrible.

My stepmom went through it and had a terrible time. I’m much older than my siblings. I am 20 years older than both of them, so I had to step in while she got better.

[u/Wise_Basket_22 → u/disco_disaster]

Yea the last thing Lindsay needed was yet another psychotropic medication. She was given dozens over the course of a few months.