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Lindsay Clancy case: was it evil, or severe mental illness?

954 replies

KellyK2026 · 04/09/2026 16:50

Lindsay Clancy, what do we all think? Pure evil or mentally ill?

OP posts:
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9
CloverAndGrass · 05/09/2026 09:54

Dibdibbob · 05/09/2026 09:13

no I’m not saying everyone in those scenarios - I’m saying some people.

People can absolutely act outwardly normal when planning to do what would be considered awful things. That is not the same as saying that planning and acting normal are signs someone is unwell - what a ridiculous thing to say.

Post partum psychosis is real. LC (and her poor children) has been massively let down by health services and more needs to be done to raise awareness of it to prevent further tragedies from happening.

That is not the same as saying that planning and acting normal are signs someone is unwell - what a ridiculous thing to say.

Umm. It was you who said that acting normal is a sign of being unwell.

Planning and “acting normal” are not signs that the person was ok - quite the opposite.

I agree that it’s a ridiculous claim.

Post partum psychosis is real. But it doesn’t follow from this fact that LC was suffering from post partum psychosis.

mulberrymilk · 05/09/2026 09:53

If a man had done this he would be labeled a "family annihilator". No-one would be excusing him for reasons of mental health. Nobody would be saying - even if he was shown to have PTSD, major depression, anxiety, etc - that their "heart bleeds for him".

My heart bleeds for those three little children, conscious and aware of their mother murdering them and their siblings. They must have been terrified.

DeterminedRat · 05/09/2026 09:51

TomHanksIsMyHero · 05/09/2026 09:20

I wasn’t aware of all of this….does she still have no recollection?

I am suspicious of the family because, as ive said, it sounds like they all acknowledged she was unwell but carried on leaving her to care for three young children alone.

I was also really surprised to read that Patrick had remarried. I just don’t understand how that could even be on his radar with all his children gone and a court case hanging over everyone. They also met only a year after the killings took place.

The older children were at daycare/preschool, she had lots of support from both sets of parents, they used paid babysitters, her husband worked from home, she wasn't exactly left adrift caring for 3 children alone all day everyday.

She had an appointment the day before with a psychiatrist, she didn't say that she was a danger to her children or herself, she didn't show any signs of psychosis, her husband had no reason to believe that she would strangle his 3 children the minute he left the house to get dinner for them. He was gone for 45minutes, I don't think anyone could predict that things would escalate as they did in the 45minutes she left alone with them. She was playing with the children, had built a snowman earlier in the day, she called the restaurant to order dinner, she was hardly foaming at the mouth and gnashing her teeth at the children, there was no reason to think she would go from building snowmen and ordering dinner to a mass killer in the space of minutes.

BruachAbhann · 05/09/2026 09:50

vinhoepimenta · 05/09/2026 00:40

So you agree… you think Patrick’s getting loads of leeway a woman wouldn’t get then?
that’s great we’ll leave it here 😊

To that point, if it had been a man who had strangled his three young kids to death and then claimed he was suffering mental illness for that period I cannot imagine he would have hoards of other men showing solidarity as we see with LC's supporters. The narrative would be completely different. The man would still be criminally liable for his actions and sent straight to jail.

The fact is she killed 3 kids in cold blood. She planned it, timed how long it would take for her husband to travel, showed she knew she had committed a crime when she tried to kill herself. I find some women's reactions to this case very troubling and worry about the precedent it sets if it's somehow seen as understandable that a woman might kill her children under some circumstances.

TomHanksIsMyHero · 05/09/2026 09:50

mulberrymilk · 05/09/2026 09:35

I am suspicious of the family because, as ive said, it sounds like they all acknowledged she was unwell but carried on leaving her to care for three young children alone.

This is not true. Her mother-in-law came and stayed for several days to help her with the children. (She also had a nanny three days a week.)

It was her mother-in-law, also a nurse, who sought out help from a psychiatric nurse practictioner she knew, and who Lyndsay got several prescriptions from.

At times, her mother slept beside her, she was so concerned for Lyndsay.

I would not have left her alone with them for five minutes with how it sounds like she was presenting. Sorry, but I wouldn’t.

I can understand the comments about Patrick remarrying but I still can’t understand it fully. I say that as a year into a straight forward divorce, by comparison.

SeeingClearlyNow · 05/09/2026 09:42

This is a long thread and I haven’t read all of it but as someone who has bipolar disorder and who has experienced postpartum psychosis I can tell you for a fact that all these statements that you can ‘just walk away’ are just wrong.

When you’re that ill you loose all
connection with any sort of reality or rational thinking. No one can talk you down or make you ‘see’ sense. What you need is the right combination of medication and a lot of support.

This case is breaking my heart. There by the grace of god….

EasternStandard · 05/09/2026 09:37

bigboykitty · 05/09/2026 09:34

That's not the question. They had the option to say that the prosecution had not proved guilt beyond reasonable doubt and that's what 11 jurors wanted to do. The 12 juror also believed the prosecution had not done so, but was unwilling to vote for that finding or discuss further.

It is my question because these threads seem to have two issues going on. Some say she won’t be freed but will be in a MH facility if she gets NGRI but others feel sure the jurors wanted to acquit her entirely.

Nothing is coming up on the latter when googling except that the idea the husband did it is an online conspiracy theory.

Getalittle · 05/09/2026 09:35

Walkden · 05/09/2026 09:34

"I was also really surprised to read that Patrick had remarried. I just don’t understand how that could even be on his radar with all his children gone and a court case hanging over everyone. They also met only a year after the killings took place"

Perhaps surveying the desolate wreckage of his life and loss of his entire family at the hands of the person he had chosen to share his life with he decided to get busy living than get busy dying so to speak and try to build a new life for himself

Very few people alive can relate to what he's gone through but show a complete lack of empathy and feel entitled to judge and attack him despite his trauma.

Agree. Glad to hear someone with an ounce of empathy contribute.

mulberrymilk · 05/09/2026 09:35

TomHanksIsMyHero · 05/09/2026 09:20

I wasn’t aware of all of this….does she still have no recollection?

I am suspicious of the family because, as ive said, it sounds like they all acknowledged she was unwell but carried on leaving her to care for three young children alone.

I was also really surprised to read that Patrick had remarried. I just don’t understand how that could even be on his radar with all his children gone and a court case hanging over everyone. They also met only a year after the killings took place.

I am suspicious of the family because, as ive said, it sounds like they all acknowledged she was unwell but carried on leaving her to care for three young children alone.

This is not true. Her mother-in-law came and stayed for several days to help her with the children. (She also had a nanny three days a week.)

It was her mother-in-law, also a nurse, who sought out help from a psychiatric nurse practictioner she knew, and who Lyndsay got several prescriptions from.

At times, her mother slept beside her, she was so concerned for Lyndsay.

Walkden · 05/09/2026 09:34

"I was also really surprised to read that Patrick had remarried. I just don’t understand how that could even be on his radar with all his children gone and a court case hanging over everyone. They also met only a year after the killings took place"

Perhaps surveying the desolate wreckage of his life and loss of his entire family at the hands of the person he had chosen to share his life with he decided to get busy living than get busy dying so to speak and try to build a new life for himself

Very few people alive can relate to what he's gone through but show a complete lack of empathy and feel entitled to judge and attack him despite his trauma.

Getalittle · 05/09/2026 09:34

What is clear is that the people vehemently defending LC don’t do themselves any favours by calling anyone who doesn’t see the case the same way as them ‘ignorant of mental illness’, ‘witch hunters’ etc.

Is it so hard to believe that women, who have an understanding of PPD, and have taken in the full facts of the case, take the view that she is guilty of first degree murder?

You don’t have a special insight or understanding of the case, sorry.

The vitriol, conspiracy theories and emotions tied to this case really aren’t doing LC or the victims of the crime any favours.

Absolutely no time for the PC did it lot. Vile.

bigboykitty · 05/09/2026 09:34

EasternStandard · 05/09/2026 09:29

Yes but do you think the jurors thought she didn’t do it at all or that they wanted the verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity?

That's not the question. They had the option to say that the prosecution had not proved guilt beyond reasonable doubt and that's what 11 jurors wanted to do. The 12 juror also believed the prosecution had not done so, but was unwilling to vote for that finding or discuss further.

Sadcafe · 05/09/2026 09:34

35 years working in mental health, only ever saw one case of puerperal psychosis and it was probably the only time I genuinely saw a mental illness treated as an absolute emergency, when it happens lives are at risk

bigboykitty · 05/09/2026 09:32

Walkden · 05/09/2026 09:20

"It was in the note from the foreperson of the jury. and further information about it emerged in the court discussion about next steps. You can watch it on YouTube. But sure, it didn't happen"

I repeat "The trial judge and the supreme court of Massachusetts do not agree with you about this" but hell you watched it on YouTube so know best!

I know they disagree. Of course I'm not an authority. But what I have described are the undisputed facts.

mulberrymilk · 05/09/2026 09:31

bigboykitty · 05/09/2026 09:15

Because there was no proper investigation at the time by the police. Patrick said Lindsay had confessed (she could not speak) and the police believed him. He was not excluded from the scene. None of the proper forensic or toxicology investigations were done. The children of this Catholic family were quickly cremated and their ashes mingled. And that's just for starters. The conduct of the police prevented the possibility of establishing the truth and holding a fair trial. It's a travesty.

None of the proper forensic or toxicology investigations were done.

That's completely untrue.

EasternStandard · 05/09/2026 09:29

Worriedmummy1244 · 05/09/2026 09:04

There was an option for the jury to find her not guilty, aquitting her completely.

For those who haven’t watched the trial there are many many inconsistencies to Patrick’s story.

Firstly she would have had a very short time period to kill all 3 children, take them all individually down to basement, come up again, find a knife, cut her wrists, cut her throat (which was done in the way of a left handed person btw which her husband is, Lindsay is right handed) put the knife neatly down on the table, then whilst heavily bleeding from those wounds move a very heavy bed and nightstand and jump headfirst out the window, then once on the ground hose herself down (she was soaking wet all over her body more than could be accounted for from the snow) then her body temperature dropped to 27degrees (it’s been shown that this 10 degree drop in temperature usually takes hours even with the spinal injuries) Her thyroid was crushed and her injuries so severe she couldn’t speak. This all happened in about 25 minutes or less.

Then when Patrick came home she ‘told him’ the kids were in the basement and she had tried to kill herself. This was impossible as she couldn’t speak as demonstrated by the 999 call and all testimony from medical professionals. He waited 10 minutes to go and look for the kids.

When Lindsay woke up she was told by everyone that she had killed the kids.

Googke searches on ways to commit suicide and where is the carotid artery were done when Lindsay was at a GP appointment with one of the kids.

There were high levels of quetiapine in her system which she had stopped a month before and Patrick was keeping in her truck, the cocktail of other medication would have highly likely rendered her extremely sleepy. Her Apple Watch recorded her heart rate tailing from 117 to 57 throughout the day and 57 just before the children were killed.

The baby was able to be resuscitated, this means if she strangled him before jumping out the window he would have been in the basement for at least 30-40 minutes. Unusual to get a heart beat back after this time (he didn’t have one initially)

There are lots more than this too, all the ‘evidence’ came from what Patrick told everyone. There was no investigation.

She was profoundly failed by a lot of people, it’s very sad. Did she actually do it? I don’t know but there should have been far more investigation rather than just taking the word of the only person who wasn’t injured….

Yes but do you think the jurors thought she didn’t do it at all or that they wanted the verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity?

BruachAbhann · 05/09/2026 09:25

Walkden · 05/09/2026 09:13

"even though he shared the view that the case had not been proved beyond reasonable doubt by the prosecution"

I don't know how you supposedly know this when the information on the jury notes only commented he/she had doubts. Even the judge commented that "reasonable doubt" does not mean "no doubts"

"What it shows is flagrant disregard for the law and his duties as a juror."

The trial judge and the supreme court of Massachusetts do not agree with you about this.

Edited

I agree. Presumably if the juror had been actually breaking the law they would have had grounds to remove him but they didn't. The case had to be referred to the supreme court.
That man might just think she's guilty and I've huge respect for him having the courage of his own convictions in that situation.

TomHanksIsMyHero · 05/09/2026 09:20

Worriedmummy1244 · 05/09/2026 09:04

There was an option for the jury to find her not guilty, aquitting her completely.

For those who haven’t watched the trial there are many many inconsistencies to Patrick’s story.

Firstly she would have had a very short time period to kill all 3 children, take them all individually down to basement, come up again, find a knife, cut her wrists, cut her throat (which was done in the way of a left handed person btw which her husband is, Lindsay is right handed) put the knife neatly down on the table, then whilst heavily bleeding from those wounds move a very heavy bed and nightstand and jump headfirst out the window, then once on the ground hose herself down (she was soaking wet all over her body more than could be accounted for from the snow) then her body temperature dropped to 27degrees (it’s been shown that this 10 degree drop in temperature usually takes hours even with the spinal injuries) Her thyroid was crushed and her injuries so severe she couldn’t speak. This all happened in about 25 minutes or less.

Then when Patrick came home she ‘told him’ the kids were in the basement and she had tried to kill herself. This was impossible as she couldn’t speak as demonstrated by the 999 call and all testimony from medical professionals. He waited 10 minutes to go and look for the kids.

When Lindsay woke up she was told by everyone that she had killed the kids.

Googke searches on ways to commit suicide and where is the carotid artery were done when Lindsay was at a GP appointment with one of the kids.

There were high levels of quetiapine in her system which she had stopped a month before and Patrick was keeping in her truck, the cocktail of other medication would have highly likely rendered her extremely sleepy. Her Apple Watch recorded her heart rate tailing from 117 to 57 throughout the day and 57 just before the children were killed.

The baby was able to be resuscitated, this means if she strangled him before jumping out the window he would have been in the basement for at least 30-40 minutes. Unusual to get a heart beat back after this time (he didn’t have one initially)

There are lots more than this too, all the ‘evidence’ came from what Patrick told everyone. There was no investigation.

She was profoundly failed by a lot of people, it’s very sad. Did she actually do it? I don’t know but there should have been far more investigation rather than just taking the word of the only person who wasn’t injured….

I wasn’t aware of all of this….does she still have no recollection?

I am suspicious of the family because, as ive said, it sounds like they all acknowledged she was unwell but carried on leaving her to care for three young children alone.

I was also really surprised to read that Patrick had remarried. I just don’t understand how that could even be on his radar with all his children gone and a court case hanging over everyone. They also met only a year after the killings took place.

Walkden · 05/09/2026 09:20

"It was in the note from the foreperson of the jury. and further information about it emerged in the court discussion about next steps. You can watch it on YouTube. But sure, it didn't happen"

I repeat "The trial judge and the supreme court of Massachusetts do not agree with you about this" but hell you watched it on YouTube so know best!

bigboykitty · 05/09/2026 09:18

Walkden · 05/09/2026 09:13

"even though he shared the view that the case had not been proved beyond reasonable doubt by the prosecution"

I don't know how you supposedly know this when the information on the jury notes only commented he/she had doubts. Even the judge commented that "reasonable doubt" does not mean "no doubts"

"What it shows is flagrant disregard for the law and his duties as a juror."

The trial judge and the supreme court of Massachusetts do not agree with you about this.

Edited

It was in the note from the foreperson of the jury. and further information about it emerged in the court discussion about next steps. You can watch it on YouTube. But sure, it didn't happen.

mulberrymilk · 05/09/2026 09:17

There were high levels of quetiapine in her system

That's not what the toxicologist at the trial said. He said the levels of drugs in her system were well below therapeutic levels.

Walkden · 05/09/2026 09:16

"I believe there is an option for a judge-only trial."

As I understand it only if the charge is second degree murder.

bigboykitty · 05/09/2026 09:15

EasternStandard · 05/09/2026 07:51

Ok so why are some posters talking about LC not having committed the crime at all

Have they just misunderstood what the jury was deciding?

Because there was no proper investigation at the time by the police. Patrick said Lindsay had confessed (she could not speak) and the police believed him. He was not excluded from the scene. None of the proper forensic or toxicology investigations were done. The children of this Catholic family were quickly cremated and their ashes mingled. And that's just for starters. The conduct of the police prevented the possibility of establishing the truth and holding a fair trial. It's a travesty.

Dibdibbob · 05/09/2026 09:14

mids2019 · 05/09/2026 09:13

How do you get a new jury for a retrial that are unbiased? Not many people live under rocks.

With the internet there is just too media coverage including SM to bias future juries.

Is there a non trial way forward?

I believe there is an option for a judge-only trial. Although a criticism of judge-only is that they can be equally biased, possibly even more so than the average member of the public.

Dibdibbob · 05/09/2026 09:13

CloverAndGrass · 04/09/2026 22:22

Are you saying that everyone who takes their own life is not of sound mind? If so, I disagree.

Also claiming that planning and acting normal are signs that someone is unwell, well … what can I say to that?

There is so much circular thinking going on on this thread, interpreting events based on an already decided explanation to support the explanation and so on.

no I’m not saying everyone in those scenarios - I’m saying some people.

People can absolutely act outwardly normal when planning to do what would be considered awful things. That is not the same as saying that planning and acting normal are signs someone is unwell - what a ridiculous thing to say.

Post partum psychosis is real. LC (and her poor children) has been massively let down by health services and more needs to be done to raise awareness of it to prevent further tragedies from happening.