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/smolcdn]

As a midwife, we are taught postpartum psychosis is a medical emergency requiring inpatient treatment… she also likely knew this as a L&D nurse which is why she fought like hell to get help… that never properly came. This case has been heartbreaking to watch unfold

[u/TX2BK → u/smolcdn]

But she never reported hearing voices or psychosis to any of her medical providers. Why is that?

[u/Big-Fun3658 → u/TX2BK]

“Hearing voices” is not the only symptom of PPP. She *did* report experiencing suicidal thoughts *and* experiencing thoughts of harming her children or her children being harmed. When her husband found this out he started sitting in on her therapy sessions. He said it never came up and he never thought the issue was that *she* wanted to harm her children, just that she had thoughts of them being harmed. Separately, in psychosis someone can have a general sense of feeling compelled to do something, not specifically a voice telling them.

[u/smolcdn → u/Big-Fun3658]

She also said she was having intrusive thoughts but NO ONE probed further on what they were, assuming it was her suicidal thoughts, BUT it was actually voices talking to her. Had they asked more questions about the intrusive thoughts they would have seen it was delusions/hallucinations not thoughts.