Glossary - Commonwealth v. Lindsay Clancy

Legal Terms

Insanity Defense / Lack of Criminal Responsibility

A legal defense arguing that the defendant, while committing the act, was suffering from a mental disease or defect so severe they did not know the act was wrong or could not conform their conduct to the law. In Massachusetts, this is called "lack of criminal responsibility."

Commonwealth v. McHoul (1967)

The landmark Massachusetts case establishing the standard for criminal responsibility. A defendant is not criminally responsible if, at the time of the act, they had a mental disease or defect that prevented them from appreciating the criminality of their conduct or conforming to the requirements of the law.

First-Degree Murder (MA)

An unlawful killing with malice aforethought and premeditation and deliberation. In Massachusetts, first-degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment without parole.

Second-Degree Murder (MA)

An unlawful killing with malice aforethought but without premeditation and deliberation. Carries a sentence of life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 15 years.

Involuntary Manslaughter (MA)

An unlawful killing without intent to kill, resulting from wanton or reckless conduct. Carries a sentence of up to 20 years in state prison.

Premeditation and Deliberation

The mental process of forming a specific intent to kill before the act, and weighing the meaning and consequences of that act. In Massachusetts, premeditation can occur in a very brief period of time.

Malice Aforethought

The intent to kill, or the intent to cause grievous bodily harm, or a depraved indifference to human life. In Massachusetts, malice aforethought can be implied from the circumstances.

Guilty Except Insane

A proposed verdict in Massachusetts (under Bill H.4484) that would find a defendant guilty but mentally ill, requiring commitment to a state mental health facility rather than prison.

Burden of Proof

In Massachusetts, the Commonwealth bears the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was not lacking in criminal responsibility. The defendant does not have to prove they were insane.

Medical / Psychiatric Terms

Postpartum Psychosis (PPP)

A rare and severe mental illness affecting 1-2 per 1,000 women after childbirth. Characterized by hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, disorganized thinking, and mood instability. Considered a psychiatric emergency.

Postpartum Depression (PPD)

A mood disorder affecting up to 19% of new mothers, characterized by persistent sadness, anxiety, hopelessness, difficulty bonding with the baby, and thoughts of self-harm. Less severe than postpartum psychosis but more common.

Baby Blues

Mild mood changes and sadness affecting up to 80% of new mothers in the days following delivery. Typically resolves within two weeks without treatment.

Bipolar Disorder

A mental health condition characterized by extreme mood swings between manic/energetic states and depressive states. A significant risk factor for postpartum psychosis.

Command Hallucination

A type of auditory hallucination in which a voice gives orders or commands to the individual. The person may feel compelled to obey the voice. In this case, Lindsay Clancy reported hearing a voice telling her to kill her children.

Delusion

A fixed false belief that is not based on reality and persists despite evidence to the contrary. Common in psychosis.

Hallucination

A sensory experience that appears real but is created by the mind. Can be auditory (hearing voices), visual (seeing things), tactile (feeling sensations), or other senses.

Mania

A state of abnormally elevated mood, energy, and activity levels. Can include impulsivity, decreased need for sleep, grandiosity, and risky behavior. A hallmark of bipolar disorder.

Depression (Major Depressive Disorder)

A mood disorder causing persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest. Can include thoughts of death or suicide.

Amitriptyline

A tricyclic antidepressant prescribed to Lindsay Clancy. She was on 10mg, increased to 20mg before the killings.

Trazodone

An antidepressant and sleep aid prescribed to Lindsay Clancy.

Valium (Diazepam)

A benzodiazepine prescribed for anxiety. Lindsay Clancy was taking low-dose Valium.

Sertraline (Zoloft)

An SSRI antidepressant. Lindsay Clancy was prescribed sertraline and reported negative side effects.

Seroquel (Quetiapine)

An antipsychotic medication. Lindsay Clancy was prescribed Seroquel at McLean Hospital and weaned off before discharge.

McLean Hospital

A private psychiatric hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts, where Lindsay Clancy was voluntarily admitted in late 2022.

Tewksbury State Hospital

A state psychiatric hospital in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, where Lindsay Clancy was committed after the killings.

Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

A rehabilitation hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts, part of the Mass General Brigham system, where Lindsay Clancy was transferred after acute care.

Brigham and Women's Hospital

A major teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, where Lindsay Clancy was treated after the killings.

Case-Specific Terms

Filicide

The killing of a child by a parent. Dr. Phillip Resnick, a defense expert, described several categories of filicide including altruistic (out of love), psychotic, and acutely psychotic.

Altruistic Filicide

A filicide committed out of a belief that the killing is in the child's best interest, often accompanied by the parent's desire to die. This is the defense's characterization of Lindsay Clancy's actions.

Involuntary Intoxication

A defense arguing that the defendant's mental state was caused by prescribed medications taken as directed, or by side effects of medications, resulting in a state that was not voluntary.

Diminished Capacity

A reduction in mental capacity that may negate the specific intent required for certain crimes, even if it does not rise to the level of legal insanity.

Delirium

An acute state of confusion and disorientation, often caused by medical illness, medication, or substance use. Can include hallucinations and disorganized thinking.

Bipolar Disorder with Psychotic Features

Bipolar disorder accompanied by hallucinations or delusions during manic or depressive episodes. Lindsay Clancy's defense team argued she had this condition.

People

Lindsay Clancy

Defendant. Former labor and delivery nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital. Mother of three children: Cora (5), Dawson (3), and Callan (8 months). Killed her children on January 24, 2023, in Duxbury, Massachusetts.

Patrick Clancy

Lindsay Clancy's ex-husband. Father of the three children. Made the 911 call after discovering the children.

Cora Clancy

5-year-old daughter, killed January 24, 2023.

Dawson Clancy

3-year-old son, killed January 24, 2023.

Callan Clancy

8-month-old son, killed January 24, 2023.

Kevin Reddington

Defense attorney for Lindsay Clancy. Based in Quincy, Massachusetts.

Jennifer Sprague

Assistant District Attorney, Plymouth County. Lead prosecutor.

Shanan Buckingham

Assistant District Attorney, Plymouth County. Co-prosecutor.

Judge William F. Sullivan

Presiding judge in Plymouth Superior Court.

Dr. Phillip Resnick

Defense expert witness. Forensic psychiatrist and expert in filicide. Testified that Clancy was "clearly psychotic" at the time of the killings.

Dr. Kirk Heilbrun

Prosecution expert witness. Forensic psychologist. Concluded Clancy was "criminally responsible" for the killings.

Dr. Gregory Saathoff

Prosecution rebuttal witness. Forensic psychiatrist at University of Virginia and FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit. Found Clancy's account of hearing voices "unconvincing."

Dr. Jennifer Tufts

Lindsay Clancy's psychiatrist. Testified about prescribing medications and treatment.

Sheila Cavanaugh

Board-certified chaplain at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Visited Clancy over 200 times. Testified about Clancy's statements including "I am so glad my children are safe."

Paula Musgrove

Lindsay Clancy's mother. Testified about Clancy's deteriorating mental health.

Allison Ozga

Lindsay Clancy's sister. Testified about Clancy's suicidal thoughts.

April Vincent

Supporter who spoke at the courthouse rally. Paralegal from Providence, Rhode Island.

Renee Kimball

Rally organizer outside the courthouse.

Jeanne Zaborski

Retired nurse and supporter who spoke at the rally.

Dr. Susan Hatters Friedman

Reproductive and forensic psychiatrist at Case Western Reserve University. Commented on postpartum psychosis.

Dr. Lauren Osborne

Vice chair of clinical research at Weill Cornell Medicine. Commented on postpartum psychosis.

Dr. Veerle Bergink

Director of Mount Sinai's Women's Mental Health Center. Advocating for postpartum psychosis inclusion in DSM.

Wendy Davis

Executive director of Postpartum Support International. Commented on postpartum psychosis awareness.

Meghan Cliffel

Maternal mental health advocate who experienced postpartum psychosis in 2015.

Ayana Lage

Mother who experienced postpartum psychosis and wrote a memoir about it.

Bridget María Chesterton

History professor who experienced postpartum psychosis. Poet who wrote about her experience.

Andrea Yates

Texas mother who drowned her five children in 2001 while experiencing postpartum psychosis. Referenced in trial coverage.

Organizations

Plymouth County District Attorney's Office

Prosecuted the case. Located in Brockton, Massachusetts.

Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)

Where Lindsay Clancy worked as a labor and delivery nurse.

McLean Hospital

Private psychiatric hospital where Clancy was voluntarily admitted in late 2022.

Tewksbury State Hospital

State psychiatric hospital where Clancy was committed after the killings.

Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

Where Clancy was transferred for physical rehabilitation after the killings.

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Where Clancy was treated after the killings and where Chaplain Cavanaugh worked.

Postpartum Support International (PSI)

Organization providing support and resources for perinatal mental health.

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)

Advocacy organization for people affected by mental illness.

Timeline Terms

January 24, 2023

The date of the killings. Lindsay Clancy strangled her three children in their Duxbury, Massachusetts home while her husband was running errands.

January 25, 2023

The day after the killings. Lindsay Clancy was arrested and charged with murder.

Late 2022

Period when Lindsay Clancy's mental health began deteriorating. She sought treatment from multiple providers and was admitted to McLean Hospital.

19 Days

The time between Lindsay Clancy's discharge from McLean Hospital and the killings.

January 31, 2023

The date Chaplain Cavanaugh first spoke with Lindsay Clancy after she was extubated. Clancy said, "I am so glad my children are safe."

Last updated: August 31, 2026