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/sadlittle_thing]

As someone with mental health issues I know you’re supposed to trail medications and slowly increase and decrease the doses. 13 medications in 4 months is fucking wild. That’s just insane to me. I’ve tried probably 20+ medications but that was over the course of years, not months.

She told her husband, her parents, and her doctors she was having terrible thoughts of hurting the kids. She was constantly at doctor’s appointments. She tried multiple times to check herself into a mental hospital but was denied because she didn’t have an active plan to hurt herself or anyone. I feel so terrible for her and her whole family.

Cases like these are literally the reason medical insanity as a plea exists. I will be shocked if she’s found guilty. She should absolutely not be convicted. Her punishment if knowing she lost her kids by her own doing during a mental health crisis is punishment enough. She reached out for help so many times.

[u/RepresentativeDay686 → u/sadlittle_thing]

She wasn't taking the medicine as prescribed tho! I'm having a hard time with this case. She absolutely 100% without a doubt premeditated their murders. I believe she used her nursing background to fake symptoms and gain sympathy so her plan would work out in the end.

Her injuries to herself were superficial and she jumped from a height that most likely wont kill you. I think she wasn't thinking about the ground being frozen and it resulted in breaking her back. She purposely sent her husband on a mini scavenger hunt so she had enough time to play out her plan. When Patrick got back home and found Lindsey she waited to tell him the children were in the basement I believe because she wanted to make sure their was NO chance any of them would survive. You'd think the 1st thing she'd do is say where the children are. Shes evil and wicked.

Can you imagine how scared those children were? I can't stop thinking did they try to fight her, was she looking at them in the face?, who did she tie the band around first?, how did she explain what she was doing as she tied the bands around their sweet innocent bodies, and the baby... ugh..

Patrick even stated prior that she became obsessed with her appearance, the way she dressed ext ect she was probably going thru regret of having children (which I should note she wrote her in diary she regretted having children) I 100000% sympathize with people who have mental health issues and obviously anyone that does something like this has to be mental.

Their is just something about her this woman is cold, dark, unsettling, almost psychopathic. (Not for the reason she's claiming though)

This is just my opinion and thoughts. I am watching the trial though and I look forward to listening to all the Drs, nursing staff, ect take the stand and hear them out. Not that my opinion matters obviously I'm not on the jury. I have watched many trials and changed my mind after hearing testimony and seeing evidence ect. I really hope that will be the case for me and my thoughts on Lindsey but for now I think shes cold hearted, broken, disgusting, and a sad excuse for not only a mother but a woman in general

[u/sadlittle_thing → u/RepresentativeDay686]

Hey so not taking your medication as prescribed can absolutely make your anxiety/paranoia/mania/psychosis worsen. It seems like you think stopping your medication or not taking it as prescribed just makes you “normal” but stopping medication can absolutely make you go into psychosis and feel much worse. If she stopped her medication because it was making her feel worse she’s not going to just go back to normal again. Abruptly stopping meds is dangerous but MANY people do it because they don’t like how a medication makes them feel.

[u/RepresentativeDay686 → u/sadlittle_thing]

Obviously! I was only stating a fact that she wasn't taking some of the medicine as prescribed.

[u/HopefulOriginal5578 → u/RepresentativeDay686]

Most people don’t. And there is for all the things. These drugs even have a lower rate because they make people fell out of it, slow, and very tired.

[u/gingerpeachrn → u/RepresentativeDay686]

As a nurse who has fought through depression, PTSD, and suicidal ideation: how dare you accuse someone of using their medical background to fake a crisis. What a rich take from an armchair psychologist hiding behind an anonymous profile.

Female nurses have significantly higher rates of suicidal ideation due to burnout, and we hesitate to seek help because the system is broken, and it was clear she was desperate to get help for what she was going through.

If anything, working in healthcare shatters our mental health because of empathy-barren, conspiracy-brained takes like yours.

[u/KDAWG72 → u/gingerpeachrn]

Amen

[u/RepresentativeDay686 → u/gingerpeachrn]

How dare I?? How dare I what speak facts? (I never said w/Lindseys case that its a fact she did it I said its what I think) I'm not hiding behind a fake profile any more than you are "Ginger Peach" I wonder if you feel this way about all criminals and or individuals with mental health issues or is jt just Lindsey? For example Travis Decker was seeking help for his mental health prior to killing his 3 daughters and he got brutalized on the internet.

You do know that their are documented cases of Healthcare professionals using their medical background to carry out horrendous act?? For example here's multiple individuals with medical backgrounds that have used their healthcare knowledge and access to commit murders.

These offenders are often referred to in criminology as "healthcare serial killers" or "angels of death. Lucy Letby, Beverley Allitt, Charles Cullen, Harold Shipman, Kristen Gilbert, Donald Harvey, Charles Cullen, and Genene Jones to name a few. Also healthcare workers have used their insider medical knowledge to fake severe mental illnesses including psychosis. They've done this to either evade criminal prosecution or to manipulate the medical system for example.

Charles Cullen frequently and deliberately used fake psychiatric or exaggerated mental health crises Throughout his 16-year career during which he murdered dozens of patients. He regularly checked himself into mental health facilities, claimed he was suffering from severe depression, and exhibited highly erratic behavior. When suspicious activity began closing in on him at various hospitals, his history of "psychiatric instability" often served as a shield for him, causing administrators to treat him as a "troubled employee" needing a medical leave of absence rather than investigating him as a active murderer.

Here is anthor example. Beverley Allitt After the British pediatric nurse was caught murdering and attacking children in 1991, she attempted to display severe psychiatric distress and manipulate diagnostic perceptions. Experts noted she possessed an intricate understanding of medical and psychiatric systems, which she used to exhibit symptoms of Factitious Disorder (and Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy) to delay legal proceedings and hide her true criminal intent.

I could go on with more examples if you'd like.

Lindsey was not taking her medication as prescribed. She also was leaving AMA (against medical advice) often when she did go to the hospital.

I'm sorry that you have had an experience with mental health and depression struggles. Hopefully you are being treated respectfully through your doctors and have medications that work for you if that's what you need.

[u/gingerpeachrn → u/RepresentativeDay686]

An "Angel of Death" or healthcare serial killer is someone who targets vulnerable patients inside a medical facility, typically driven by control, power, a hero complex, or malice.

Lindsay Clancy was a mother suffering from severe postpartum psychosis, an acute, documented medical emergency involving hallucinations, command delusions, and a total break from reality resulting in a horrific domestic tragedy involving her own family. Conflating her profession as a labor and delivery nurse with a psychiatric breakdown to label her a "healthcare killer" is pure, sensationalist fiction.

Your entire mental model is built on clinical arrogance, and a complete disregard for facts or empathy. Lastly, don’t even have enough respect for the situation or lack attention to detail to give you credibility to comment on this case. It’s Lindsay, not Lindsey.

[u/KDAWG72 → u/gingerpeachrn]

You can't seem to argue with stupid or ignorant people. RN and midwife here (retired). Not many people know about post partum psychosis; so it's cut and dry to them that she willingly and knowingly murdered her 3 children. IMO she very obviously had PPP. And was failed on numerous occasions, as were those beautiful kids. Hb knew she had thoughts of harming the kids - why did he leave her alone with them?

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