Lindsey Clancy Jurors Remain Deadlocked: What Happens if they cannot reach a unanimous verdict?

By Easton Martin | September 2, 2026

The jury deciding the fate of Lindsay Clancy, the Massachusetts mother accused of killing her three young children, announced Tuesday morning that they are deadlocked. In response, Judge William Sullivan instructed the panel to return to the deliberation room and keep trying to reach a unanimous verdict.

​The jury, consisting of nine women and three men, had been deliberating for nearly 19 hours over the course of four days before informing the court of their impasse. Judge Sullivan acknowledged the complexity of the case, noting that the trial featured over 80 witnesses and more than 300 exhibits. ​Clancy, a 36 year old former labor and delivery nurse, is facing charges for the January 2023 strangulation deaths of her children, five year old Cora, three year old Dawson, and eight month old Callan, at their family home in Duxbury.

She has pleaded not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility. Her defense attorney, Kevin Reddington, has argued throughout the five week trial that Clancy was suffering from severe postpartum psychosis and was hearing a male voice instructing her to commit the acts.​Prosecutors maintain that Clancy was aware of her actions and planned the killings methodically while her then husband was out running errands.

The prosecution contends that Clancy made a calculated choice to end the lives of her children before attempting to take her own life, a suicide attempt that left her paralyzed from the waist down. ​The deadlock leaves five possible outcomes on the table for the jury to consider. They must choose between first degree murder, second degree murder, manslaughter, not guilty by lack of criminal responsibility, or a complete acquittal. A finding of lack of criminal responsibility could result in Clancy being committed to a mental health facility, while a first degree murder conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.​

Defense attorney Kevin Reddington indicated that if the jury remains completely unable to agree and the judge is forced to declare a mistrial, the defense is prepared to try the case again.