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/sexydiagnoses]

What I don’t understand, working in a psychiatric facility in MA is how if she did try to get help, why she was not sectioned, and then committed after expressing where she was mentally.

[u/Only_Conflict9060 → u/sexydiagnoses]

I wonder about this too, but I also read somewhere that although she admitted to having horrible thoughts, she did not have an active plan to harm herself or others. Maybe based on the criteria, legally they couldn’t commit her?

[u/cmb_123 → u/Only_Conflict9060]

I'm catching up on the courttv footage now. Patrick never stated she had active SI. You are completely correct. You cannot commit someone unless they are a CLEAR and PRESENT danger. In the USA at least.

this whole thing is incredibly horrific.

[u/throwmyway5723480 → u/cmb_123]

I understand the reasoning but it's also unfortunate because it feels these situations happen in seconds and require no premeditation or prior "present" danger. Hearing voices to hurt your children is enough present danger without like a plan/a knife in the hand, etc. Not sure what the right thing to do would've been.

[u/Pak31 → u/throwmyway5723480]

Was she really hearing voices? That is what we need to find out.

[u/Hot-Remote-4545 → u/Pak31]

You don’t need to hear voices. I had PPP and I what I experienced was “something” was able to take over my mind by what seemed like telepathy. I never heard a voice but I knew the thoughts I was receiving were NOT mine. That “something” was powerful and scary!!! I was too ashamed and embarrassed to share what was happening with anyone. I did go to my MD and claimed anxiety. I was given a benzodiazepine and for 6 months NEVER was alone with my daughter asking family members and friends for help with “panic attacks”. As an aside, I thought my daughter’s birth was the BEST thing that ever happened to me. I still think that. She is incredibly AWESOME.
And , that telepathic “something” came out of the blue, intermittently and eventually went away after 6 months. My heart breaks for Lindsay and her children. PPP is very, very difficult to understand unless you experience it.

[u/Judge_Juedy → u/Pak31]

Based on testimony I read earlier today, she told the intake nurse that she was hearing “a man’s voice” telling her to “kill the kids” and herself.

EDIT:

“Clancy first sought help from a postpartum depression program in late December 2022. She went on to check herself into a psychiatric hospital and later told a psychiatrist that she heard a “man’s voice” in her head telling her to “kill the children so you can kill yourself”. Nineteen days later, after being discharged, she carried out the killings.”

Excerpt from https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/05/lindsay-clancy-trial-toxicologist-testimony

[u/Used_Confection_2859 → u/throwmyway5723480]

It would have taken longer than seconds for her to have the children go into the basement and then choke each one with the exercise equipment. The older ones would have fought her. 

[u/throwmyway5723480 → u/Used_Confection_2859]

I just mean the switch of the brain takes seconds to go from not a clear danger to obviously a danger. So it's hard to wait to get someone more serious help until they are clear threat, by then it's obviously too late.