Legal & psychiatric glossary

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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."

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.

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

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

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

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*

Retired nurse and supporter who spoke at the rally.

Assistant District Attorney, Plymouth County. Lead prosecutor.

Presiding judge in Plymouth Superior Court.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Where Lindsay Clancy worked as a labor and delivery nurse.

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

Maternal mental health advocate who experienced postpartum psychosis in 2015.

Advocacy organization for people affected by mental illness. --- ## Timeline Terms

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

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

Prosecuted the case. Located in Brockton, Massachusetts.

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.

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.

Organization providing support and resources for perinatal mental health.

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.

Rally organizer outside the courthouse.

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.

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

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

Assistant District Attorney, Plymouth County. Co-prosecutor.

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."

Where Clancy was transferred for physical rehabilitation after the killings.

State psychiatric hospital where Clancy was committed after the killings.

An antidepressant and sleep aid prescribed to Lindsay Clancy.

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

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