A Massachusetts judge on Monday denied a motion to dismiss murder charges against Lindsay Clancy, a Duxbury woman accused of killing her three children in 2023. Judge William Sullivan ruled that a retrial would not violate double jeopardy protections, which prevent a person from being tried twice for the same crime. The decision follows a trial that ended in a mistrial in September when the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict.
The case stems from the January 24, 2023, deaths of five-year-old Cora, three-year-old Dawson, and infant Callan Clancy, who were strangled at their home. Clancy, a former nurse, also attempted suicide on the night of the deaths, which left her paralyzed. During the five-week trial, her defense argued she was suffering from severe postpartum psychosis and was overmedicated. Prosecutors argued the killings were intentional and that Clancy was criminally responsible.
In his ruling on November 9, 2026, Judge Sullivan stated there was a "manifest necessity" for the original mistrial due to the jury's deadlock. He rejected the defense argument that he acted prematurely in declaring a mistrial on September 4. Additionally, Sullivan denied a defense motion to access records of the lone holdout juror or to question that juror under oath, stating that doing so "would have been impermissibly coercive." He noted that while a mistrial is expensive, it is a necessary risk of the jury system to avoid "intrusion into the jury's domain."
The ruling clears the way for prosecutors to pursue the case. While the judge determined that a retrial does not constitute double jeopardy, prosecutors have the option to reduce the charges or dismiss the case entirely. To date, Clancy has not denied killing the children, but the legal outcome depends on a jury's determination of her mental state and criminal responsibility.
The next procedural steps involve a hearing on November 16, 2026, to discuss the scheduling of a potential second trial, which the judge previously suggested could begin in March. The Plymouth County District Attorney's office stated it is still evaluating whether to retry the case as it gathers information. The defense continues to pursue an insanity defense based on reports of postpartum psychosis.