By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-12 21:31:02 | Updated at 2026-08-12 22:57:30
1 hour ago
Lindsay Clancy pleaded for her trial to stop as a medical examiner shared the horrific details of her slain children's injuries.
The former nurse, 36, is accused of murdering Cora, five, Dawson, three, and eight-month-old Callan, at her home in Duxbury, Massachusetts, in January 2023.
Clancy's suicide attempt after the three killings failed but left her paralyzed and in a wheelchair for life.
She has pleaded not guilty to murder charges and claimed she is not responsible for her actions because she was suffering from postpartum psychosis after being prescribed a powerful cocktail of drugs to cope with depression.
The jury and courtroom had to be cleared twice on Wednesday as Clancy grew so overcome with emotion hearing the injuries she had inflicted on her own children.
'I can't do this,' Clancy cried out as she sat through the graphic testimony at Plymouth Superior Court.
Dr Barbara Olson described the neck trauma and injuries to Cora's arms and legs, and said that Dawson died of asphyxia after Clancy strangled them with exercise bands.
Clancy’s tears came even before the graphic photos from Cora and Dawson’s autopsies were shown to the jury.
Lindsay Clancy cried out, 'I can't do this,' as a medical examiner testified about her children's injuries at Plymouth Superior Court, Massachusetts, on Wednesday
Clancy strangled her children - Cora, five, Dawson, three, and eight-month-old Callan - back in January 2023, then attempted to kill herself
While the little children’s bodies were shown on screens, one female juror grew increasingly upset.
She wiped away tears with a tissue before closing her eyes for a moment. The woman then pursed her lips and swallowed, as though trying to stop the tears flowing.
Another juror also briefly dabbed a tissue to her face. Clancy put her head in her arms on the defense table and cried loudly.
Prosecutors Jennifer Sprague and Shanan Buckingham turned to each other and pulled faces - seemingly annoyed - as Clancy was comforted and taken out of the room by her nurses.
Earlier, Renee Stonebridge, who works at the Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, testified about the injuries to the children's eyes and brains.
Clancy appeared to be hyperventilating as Stonebridge spoke, and made quiet gulping sounds and her back and shoulders were shuddering.
Her attorney, Kevin Reddington, leaned forward and clutched her hand in his.
As the judge called a break, Reddington stood over Clancy with his arm around her shoulder. She leaned her body into his as she appeared to be desperately trying to muffle her sobs.
The former nurse, 36, is accused of murdering her three children. Her suicide attempt after the killings failed but left her paralyzed and in a wheelchair for life
Renee Stonebridge, who works at the Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, testified about the injuries to the children's eyes and brains
Reddington objected to the witness before she was brought to the stand.
'It's not contested, it's not necessary,' Reddington said.
Last week, Clancy, who does not deny killing her children, agreed to a stipulation of facts in regard to several pieces of evidence and to help alleviate the government from having to call dozens of witnesses.
After Clancy's outburst, the judge reminded the jury that the evidence can give emotional reactions - but, as jurors, they must separate emotion from the evidence.
'Your verdict in this case is going to have to be based solely on the evidence. It cannot be based on sympathy or anger or passion or prejudice,' he said.
If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US on 988. There is also an online chat available at 988lifeline.org.
