Live

Lindsay Clancy trial: Judge declares mistrial after emergency request denied

The defense blamed one juror for the deadlock.

Last Updated: September 4, 2026, 2:40 PM EDT

The murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, the Massachusetts mom who killed her three young children while in the family's home on Jan. 24, 2023, has ended in a mistrial after seven days of juror deadlock.

Clancy's defense attorney, Kevin Reddington, claims she was suffering from postpartum psychosis when she strangled her children and attempted to take her own life. The prosecutors, Jennifer Sprague and Shanan Buckingham, argue that Clancy -- who pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder -- is criminally responsible for her children's deaths.

Judge William Sullivan, who is overseeing the trial, has set a court date of Sept. 29, 2026, to reconvene and determine next steps.

10:02 AM EDT

Judge declines to question holdout juror as jury continues deliberations

Lindsay Clancy's attorney said the juror he claims is preventing a unanimous verdict looked the judge "in the eye and lied" on Thursday, when the juror pledged to follow instructions about proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

Defense attorney Kevin Reddington said a note from the jury foreperson indicated the holdout juror "made statements acknowledging doubt but refuses to apply it."

"This person will not apply reasonable doubt to the evidence" and return a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, Reddington told Judge William Sullivan.

Sullivan disagreed, saying the note "does not indicate this is a person who refuses to follow the law."

Sullivan declined to conduct a further inquiry of the juror but said he would remind the entire jury it must follow the law whether they like it or not.

Reddington pushed the judge to be more forceful in his instruction.

Sullivan interrupted.

"What do you want me to do, get a brass band?" an exasperated Sullivan said. "I am not glossing over this issue."

Jurors then filed stoically into the courtroom to begin a seventh day of deliberations.

The judge told jurors not to identify one another in any future notes and reminded them about his instructions after Thursday's dust-up.

9:18 AM EDT

Defense asks for rest of trial to be conducted in open court

Lindsay Clancy's defense attorney Kevin Reddington requested Friday, ahead of a seventh day of deliberations, that the remainder of the trial be conducted in open court.

Reddington requested no more sidebars, which are private conferences at the bench out of public earshot.

7:56 AM EDT

Jury to begin day 7 of deliberations

The jury is scheduled to return to the courtroom at 9 a.m. Friday after 36 hours of deliberations with no verdict.

Lindsay Clancy watches jurors in her murder trial as Judge William Sullivan asks them to continue deliberations, in Plymouth, Massachusetts, U.S., September 2, 2026.
Greg Derr/Pool via Reuters

In court on Thursday, defense attorney Kevin Reddington said there is one juror who is refusing to adhere to Judge William Sullivan's instructions.

Sep 03, 2026, 4:20 PM EDT

Jurors sent home for the day

Jurors have concluded a sixth day of deliberations with no verdict.

The judge said he would excuse them until 9 a.m. Friday and speak to them at that point.

Judge William Sullivan address the court during an afternoon session in the triple murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, the Duxbury mother in Plymouth Superior Court, in Plymouth, Massachusetts, September 3, 2026.
Court Pool Feed

The jury has deliberated for 36 hours so far.

As jurors filed out of the courtroom, Lindsay Clancy looked on.

Clancy's family left the courtroom carrying a box of letters her attorney Kevin Reddington said were messages of support from around the world.

Related Topics

Sponsored Content by Taboola