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Evidence in Clancy trial shows search history for mental health terms and medication side effects

The trial of a Massachusetts mother accused of killing her three children moved to evidence involving her phone search history for mental health terms and medication.

Published August 13, 2026 at 5:41 PM EDT

The short answer

The trial of a Massachusetts mother accused of killing her three children moved to evidence involving her phone search history for mental health terms and medication.

Evidence in Clancy trial shows search history for mental health terms and medication side effects

The Facts

Who
Lindsay Clancy, Massachusetts prosecutors, and defense attorneys.
What
Testimony in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial regarding her digital search history for mental health symptoms and medications prior to the deaths of her children.
When
Thursday, August 13, 2026
Where
Massachusetts
Why
To determine the defendant's state of mind and whether the deaths involved premeditation or were influenced by mental health conditions.

Timeline of what happened

Key dates and decisions, in the order they occurred.

  1. January 2023

    Deaths of three children in Massachusetts house

  2. August 13, 2026

    Testimony regarding phone search history presented at trial

Evidence presented in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy focused on digital search history related to mental health and medication side effects found on her phone. The data covers the weeks leading up to the death of her three children in January 2023.

The trial follows an incident in early 2023 where Clancy was accused of strangling her children in their Massachusetts home. The defense has previously cited her mental state and medical treatment as factors in the case, while the prosecution has examined her actions and preparations prior to the event.

According to court testimony, Clancy’s phone contained searches for terms including "hallucinations," "psychosis," and "ways to die." The search history also showed she looked for information regarding the side effects of various medications she had been prescribed for mental health concerns.

A person following this case would notice a shift in focus toward the defendant's private medical inquiries and day-to-day digital habits prior to the deaths. The testimony regarding her searches for "psychosis" and "ways to die" provides the jury with a specific timeline of her documented concerns. This evidence may influence the jury's determination of her legal responsibility under Massachusetts law, specifically regarding whether she was capable of forming intent or was suffering from a mental defect that precluded criminal liability.

The knock-on effects of this trial could influence future legal standards in Massachusetts for how psychiatric care and medication history are weighed against evidence of planning in homicide cases. It sets a precedent for the admissibility of detailed health-related search queries as evidence of a defendant's state of mind. The trial is currently ongoing in a Massachusetts court, though the source does not report a specific date for a verdict or future hearings.

Summaries are written by The Plain Record to state the facts of a story plainly and without political slant. See our editorial standards, or report a correction.

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Questions readers ask

What happened: Evidence in Clancy trial shows search history for mental health terms and medication side effects?

Testimony in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial regarding her digital search history for mental health symptoms and medications prior to the deaths of her children.

Who is involved?

Lindsay Clancy, Massachusetts prosecutors, and defense attorneys.

When did this happen?

Thursday, August 13, 2026

Where did this happen?

Massachusetts

Why does this matter?

To determine the defendant's state of mind and whether the deaths involved premeditation or were influenced by mental health conditions.