Attorney Kevin Reddington publicly urged President Donald Trump to consider a pardon for his client Lindsay Clancy on Tuesday, one week after her murder trial ended in a mistrial. The request came during an interview on Good Morning America, where Reddington stated: “Mr. President, I would hope that you would consider this young lady—the type of person she is, what she’s been through—and consider a pardon.”
Prosecutors must now decide whether to retry Clancy after a jury of nine women and three men deadlocked 11-to-1 in favor of acquittal by reason of insanity, according to reporting from multiple outlets. The mistrial was declared on September 4, 2026, following 38 hours of deliberations over a five-week trial in Plymouth County Superior Court.
Clancy’s legal team signals openness to plea deal
In the same interview, Reddington also indicated that the defense would be open to negotiating with prosecutors. “I’m willing to listen to Tim,” he said, referring to Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz. Reddington added that he hoped Cruz would “revisit” the case after reviewing the evidence presented during trial. Prosecutors have not publicly commented on the possibility of a plea agreement.
Key facts of the case
Clancy, a 36-year-old former labor and delivery nurse, has never disputed that she strangled her three children—Cora (5), Dawson (3), and Callan (8 months)—at their home in Duxbury, Massachusetts, on January 24, 2023. She then attempted suicide by cutting her wrists and neck and throwing herself from a second-story window, resulting in paralysis from the waist down. Clancy pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder, arguing she was suffering from postpartum psychosis and could not be held criminally responsible.
Prosecutors countered that Clancy planned the killings and understood their wrongfulness, pointing to evidence such as her prior research into methods of strangulation and her actions afterward, including disposing of the children’s bodies and attempting to take her own life. The defense presented testimony from mental health experts who diagnosed Clancy with postpartum psychosis, a rare and severe condition characterized by hallucinations and delusions.
Jury deadlock and mistrial
After seven days of deliberations, the jury remained split, with 11 jurors favoring acquittal by reason of insanity and one juror holding out for conviction, according to reporting from NBC News and ABC News. The lone holdout’s reasoning has not been disclosed. Clancy’s legal team had sought an emergency stay to prevent the mistrial, but the request was denied.
Legal and political responses
President Trump, who has no authority to pardon state-level offenses, commented on the case on September 4, calling the killings a “horrible, horrible thing” and stating that Clancy would face “a price” whether through “mental institution or jail or something.” Trump’s remarks were made in response to a reporter’s question about the mistrial.
Reddington described Clancy as “intelligent” and “hardworking” during his interview, emphasizing a strong personal bond with his client. “I do feel a very strong bond with Lindsay because of the type of person she is,” he said. “She’s such a wonderful, wonderful person.”
Next steps
Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz has not indicated whether he will retry Clancy. A status hearing is scheduled for September 29, 2023, where further decisions on the case may be announced. If prosecutors proceed with a retrial, it would mark the second attempt to secure a conviction in a case that has drawn national attention over issues of mental health, postpartum illness, and criminal responsibility.