By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-12 14:31:03 | Updated at 2026-08-12 17:21:02
2 hours ago
A mental health nurse who treated Lindsay Clancy testified that she suspected the 'manic' Massachusetts mother had bipolar disorder but did not formally diagnose her a month before she killed her children.
Nurse practitioner Rebecca Jollotta told the court on Tuesday that Clancy was exhibiting 'manic symptoms' and suggested she may be bipolar, but her husband, Patrick Clancy, shut down the possible diagnosis.
Clancy, 36, is on trial for killing her three children, Cora, five, Dawson, three, and eight-month-old Callan, at her home in Duxbury, Massachusetts, in January 2023.
Her suicide attempt after the killings failed but left her paralyzed and in a wheelchair for life.
She has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, citing postpartum psychosis, and is also suing her former healthcare providers for medical malpractice and negligence.
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Jury shown Lindsay Clancy's bloodied clothing she was wearing the night of killings
The first witness called to the stand today is Massachusetts State Police Sergeant Dan Lawlor.
He responded to the hospital where Lindsay Clancy was brought after she killed her three children and attempted suicide.
Jurors were then shown clothing Clancy was wearing the night of killings.
Assistant DA Shanan Buckingham put on black latex gloves and began rifling through brown evidence bags.
She pulled out Clancy’s dark tank top, blue jeans and gray sports bra that she was wearing that night.
They had both been cut down the middle by medical staff treating Clancy.
Jurors leaned forward to look at the items and taking down notes.
Jury exits courtroom, witness questioning resumes
The sidebar took a long time and appeared to be very animated.
The judge sent the jury out of the courtroom and allowed the defense to continue questioning Massachusetts State Police Sergeant Dan Lawlor.
This is called a voir dire, which is a legal process when a judge allows lawyers to question a witness to prevent biased testimony from reaching the jury.
Defense gets animated while cross-examining investigator
The defense has previously pointed out that investigators failed to search Clancy’s bedside drawers.
If they had, they would have found a drawer containing multiple pill bottles and Clancy’s Apple Watch.
‘I don't need to ask if you saw this,’ defense attorney Kevin Reddington said, picking up the white-painted drawer and showing it to Sgt Lawlor.
Reddington then got animated as he asked the witness: 'Did you know that the prosecutor is saying that MY doctor told her to call Patrick to say she heard voices?'
The state objected and the judge quickly called a sidebar.
Reddington said that Clancy’s parents and previous attorney weren’t allowed to see her.
Reddington had to get a court order so that a psychiatrist, Dr Paul Zeizel, could see her.
Prosecutors have raised questions about Clancy being alone in the hospital room with Zeizel after the killings, suggesting that this is when she first mentioned hearing a voice that told her to kill the children and herself.
Court kicks off with attorney sidebar
Lindsay Clancy is dressed in a khaki green blouse in her wheelchair at the defense table.
Her parents Mike and Paula Musgrove are once again here to support their daughter.
Before the jury is brought into the courtroom to begin the day’s proceedings, the defense and prosecution are speaking with the judge about 'scheduling.'
Lindsay Clancy murder trial resumes
Testimony is set to resume in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy at 9am ET today.
Around 20 members of the public - predominantly female - are in line to get inside the courtroom today.
One mother and daughter told the Daily Mail they wanted to come see the trial for themselves after watching it online for the past couple of weeks.
They said they feel very sorry for Clancy and feel she was let down by everyone in the lead up to the killings.
Nurse suspected Lindsay Clancy was 'manic' and may have had bipolar disorder
Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Rebecca Jollotta testified on Tuesday that she suspected Lindsay Clancy had bipolar disorder based on her symptoms and reaction to medication.
'A mixed state presentation is clinically acute, unstable. I really wanted to get he manic symptoms under control. I really wanted to get her to sleep,' Jollotta said.
In a December 12, 2022, message exchange with Clancy, Jollotta said she 'strongly, strongly recommend a partial hospitalization program.'
The nurse also testified that during a December 2022 appointment with Clancy and her ex-husband, Patrick, she suggested the mother of three may have bipolar disorder.
However, Jollotta said Patrick immediately shut down the suggestion.
‘My wife is not bipolar,’ Patrick responded, according to Jollotta.
The nurse said that Clancy just looked at her but said nothing.
Lindsay Clancy murder trial descends into ugly squabble over claims prosecutor said 'shut her up' as killer mom wept
Lindsay Clancy’s high-profile murder trial descended into a courtroom clash on Friday, when the prosecution team was accused of a stunning hot mic incident.
In a wild moment inside Plymouth County Superior Court, the mom-of-three’s defense attorney Kevin Reddington accused prosecutors of muttering 'shut her up' when Clancy sobbed loudly and uncontrollably as her son’s autopsy photos were shown to the jury.
Patrick Clancy's unnerving reaction when nurse suggested wife Lindsay was 'bipolar' is revealed
A mental health nurse who treated Lindsay Clancy revealed her husband's blunt reaction to the suggestion she may have bipolar disorder before she allegedly strangled their children.
Both Patrick and Lindsay Clancy have filed separate lawsuits against several of her medical providers, including nurse Rebecca Jollotta, alleging that they overmedicated Clancy while treating her for postpartum mental health issues.
