Jury selection began Monday in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, a Massachusetts mother accused of strangling her three children in January 2023 before attempting suicide. Clancy, 36, has pleaded not guilty, arguing she was not criminally responsible due to severe mental illness, including postpartum-related conditions. Prosecutors contend she acted intentionally and with premeditation.
The trial will focus on Clancy's mental state at the time of the killings. Her defense team plans to argue she suffered from postpartum psychosis, a rare condition causing delusions and hallucinations. Clancy, a former labor and delivery nurse, was undergoing psychiatric treatment at the time. She used exercise bands to strangle her children—Cora, 5; Dawson, 3; and Callan, 8 months—while her husband was out running errands. After the killings, she jumped from a window, leaving her paralyzed.
Eighteen jurors, including six alternates, are being selected. The process includes individual questioning to assess impartiality, given the emotional nature of the evidence. Defense attorney Kevin Reddington acknowledges Clancy killed the children but argues she lacked criminal intent due to her mental state. Prosecutors dispute this, citing evidence they say shows premeditation.
Clancy and her husband have sued her medical providers, alleging failure to diagnose and treat her postpartum psychiatric condition properly. The trial is expected to last several weeks, with testimony likely to include medical records, expert opinions, and witness accounts.