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Mistrial in Lindsay Clancy Case After 11-1 Jury Split Over Insanity Claim

Prosecutors must decide whether to retry the state case at a Sept. 29 hearing.

Overview

  • Judge William Sullivan declared a mistrial after a 12‑member jury deadlocked 11 to 1 and could not reach a unanimous verdict on criminal responsibility.
  • Three jurors told NBC10 Boston that the lone holdout juror acknowledged having reasonable doubt but still refused to find Clancy not guilty by reason of insanity.
  • Clancy has admitted strangling her three children and pleaded not criminally responsible, with the defense saying postpartum psychosis and overmedication caused a psychotic break and prosecutors arguing the killings were planned.
  • If a retrial goes forward prosecutors could again seek first‑degree murder convictions that carry life without parole while a not‑guilty‑by‑reason‑of‑insanity finding would result in involuntary psychiatric commitment; Clancy remains under court‑ordered care at Tewksbury State Hospital.
  • The case has drawn intense national attention, raised questions about perinatal mental‑health care and prescribing, and produced a public plea from Clancy’s lawyer asking President Trump to consider a pardon even though federal pardon power does not apply to state charges.