The jury in Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial has deadlocked for a second time, raising the possibility that the case could end in a mistrial — and forcing prosecutors to decide whether to retry her.
Clancy faces three murder charges in the 2023 stranglings of her three children, ages 5, 3 and 8 months. Her defense attorney argues that postpartum psychosis drove her actions. Prosecutors say she knew what she was doing.
What a deadlock means
A deadlocked jury means jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict. This is now the second deadlock in the case, following five days of deliberations.
Local attorney Shannon Schott explained what happens if the jury deadlocks a third time.
“Once the jury tells the judge for the third time that they are deadlocked, the judge at that point will have to declare a mistrial,” Schott said. “The judge will probably consult with the attorneys at sidebar, and then go ahead and enter that mistrial and excuse the jurors from their service.”
What a mistrial would mean for Clancy
A mistrial would not end the case. Schott said the process would essentially restart.
“Whenever there is a mistrial, it essentially goes back to day one as if the defendant was charged from day one,” Schott said. “So it would be up to the district attorney’s office, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, to determine whether or not they are going to retry Lindsay Clancy.”
Schott added that if a mistrial is declared, the district attorney would likely make a decision quickly on whether to prosecute again. She also noted that once jurors are excused, some may choose to speak publicly about the case.
A broader conversation about maternal mental health
Beyond the courtroom, the trial has sparked a wider debate about mothers and mental health — specifically postpartum psychosis. Clancy’s defense team argues the condition caused her to strangle her children in January 2023. The prosecution maintains she was aware of her actions at the time.
