Prosecution Experts Testify Lindsay Clancy Is Criminally Responsible

Prosecution expert witnesses testified Wednesday in Plymouth, Massachusetts, that 36-year-old Lindsay Clancy remained in control of her actions and maintained criminal responsibility when she killed her three children on January 24, 2023.

Dr. Gregory Saathoff, a forensic psychiatrist at the University of Virginia and senior psychiatrist for the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit, testified that Clancy's deliberate actions indicated a structured sequence while her husband was away picking up takeout and a prescription.

Prosecutors detailed how Clancy strangled 5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson, and 8-month-old Callan with exercise bands in the basement before attempting suicide. Defense attorney Kevin Reddington argued Clancy suffered from postpartum psychosis, pleading not guilty to murder charges.

During direct examination, prosecutor Jennifer Sprague questioned Saathoff about whether any voice instructed Clancy on the specific locations, methods, tools, or sequence to execute the killings, to which Saathoff answered negatively.

"Having no instructions as to how to do it, but being able to execute those decisions … that is surprising that she’s able to accomplish all of this without any other kind of direction or plan," said Dr. Gregory Saathoff, forensic psychiatrist for the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit.

Saathoff noted that Clancy carried out the acts during a brief window of time without her husband present.

"In the small amount of time that Miss Clancy had in the home without her husband, it was important, in order to carry this out, as well as her suicide, to do this quickly, methodically, and alike," said Dr. Gregory Saathoff, forensic psychiatrist for the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit.

The witness further challenged Clancy's statements regarding an auditory hallucination that commanded her to kill the children, pointing out inconsistencies in her reported timelines to medical evaluators.

"'This is your last chance, you have to kill your kids and then kill yourself,'" said Dr. Gregory Saathoff, repeating statement reported by Lindsay Clancy.

Saathoff emphasized that genuine psychotic episodes do not immediately cease upon completing a violent act.

"Committing the act is not curative of the voice," said Dr. Gregory Saathoff, forensic psychiatrist for the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit. "I’ve not ever seen that."

Earlier in the trial, prosecution expert Dr. Kirk Heilbrun, a forensic psychologist at Drexel University, also evaluated Clancy's mental state during the incident following a defense motion for mistrial that Judge William Sullivan denied.

"She retained an awareness of the illegality of killing people, including killing her children," said Dr. Kirk Heilbrun, forensic psychologist at Drexel University. "My clinical opinion is that she was criminally responsible on January 24."

Defense cross-examination of Saathoff precedes closing arguments scheduled to begin Thursday.