A judge in Massachusetts has declared a mistrial in the case of Lindsay Clancy after jurors, following roughly a week of deliberations, failed to reach a unanimous decision on whether she should be held criminally responsible for killing her three young children.
The case has divided public opinion across the United States, drawing comment even from President Donald Trump. With the jury deadlocked, what happens next to the 36-year-old former nurse remains undecided.
Judge Sullivan told the court on Friday that he would find the jury deadlocked and declare a mistrial. Jurors had already informed the court three separate times that they could not agree, after discussing the case for more than 40 hours over seven days.
The lack of a verdict amounts to neither a conviction nor an acquittal for Clancy. A new hearing has been scheduled for September 29, when prosecutors may indicate how they intend to proceed. Their options include pursuing a new trial or reaching an agreement with the defendant.
The killing of the three children
Clancy is accused of strangling her three children in 2023 inside the family's home in Massachusetts: five-year-old Cora, three-year-old Dawson and eight-month-old Callan.
After the killings, she stabbed herself and fell from a second-floor window, an incident that left her paralyzed.
Clancy does not deny killing her children, but she has pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder. Her defense argues that she was suffering from postpartum psychosis at the time and therefore cannot be held criminally responsible for her actions.
The defense's last effort
Shortly before the mistrial was declared, her attorney, Kevin Reddington, asked for one of the jurors to be removed. That request followed a note from the jury indicating that one member appeared not to be following instructions on the principle of reasonable doubt.
The judge denied the request and sent jurors back to continue deliberating. About an hour later they returned, saying the deadlock remained.
The defense then attempted to halt the mistrial by filing an emergency appeal with the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, without success.
Reddington later said that, in his assessment, 11 of the 12 jurors would have reached a decision favorable to Clancy. It has not been made public how each juror actually stood.
Prosecution weighs a new trial
Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz made clear that no immediate decision would be made on next steps and that the possibility of a new trial would be considered.
Cruz said the facts are that Lindsay Clancy killed her three children, and that the evidence showed she was in control of her actions when she committed the killings.
Clancy will continue to face the same charges and will remain at the mental health facility where she is being treated.
Trump weighs in
The case has drawn such wide attention that it was addressed on Friday by the American president.
Donald Trump described it as a horrific tragedy, saying she did something horrible, horrible, and that nothing could be worse.
He said he supposed there would be another trial. He added that people would find out what the price would be, saying there would be a price.
