Lindsay Clancy Verdict: What Are the 5 Possible Jury Outcomes?

The jury deciding Lindsay Clancy’s fate ended its second day of deliberations without a verdict Friday, Aug. 28, leaving five possible outcomes on the table when deliberations resume Monday in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Clancy is charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the January 2023 deaths of her children, 5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson and 8-month-old Callan.

Her defense does not dispute that she killed the children but argues she was not criminally responsible because she was experiencing severe postpartum psychosis and other mental-health problems.

Prosecutors argue she understood what she was doing and deliberately planned the killings.

The 12-person jury with nine women and three men began deliberating Thursday after more than five weeks of testimony.

By the end of Friday, jurors had spent about 10½ hours reviewing the case but had not reached a unanimous decision.

They were excused for the weekend and are scheduled to return Monday, Aug. 31.

What Are the 5 Possible Verdicts?

The verdict form gives jurors five choices for each of the three murder counts. The options are:

1. First-degree murder

Jurors could find Clancy guilty of first-degree murder.

The prosecution has presented two theories for first-degree murder: deliberate premeditation or extreme atrocity or cruelty.

Under Massachusetts law, first-degree murder carries life imprisonment.

This would mean jurors concluded the prosecution proved the required elements of first-degree murder beyond a reasonable doubt.

2. Second-degree murder

The jury could instead convict Clancy of second-degree murder.

This is a lesser degree of murder than first-degree murder but would still result in a prison sentence.

Massachusetts sentencing information lists a life maximum with a 15-year minimum for second-degree murder.

This outcome could reflect a finding that the killings were criminally intentional but did not meet the legal requirements for first-degree murder.

3. Manslaughter

Jurors can also choose manslaughter, a lesser homicide offense.

Massachusetts recognizes voluntary and involuntary manslaughter, with a maximum prison term of 20 years under the state’s sentencing framework.

CBS Boston legal analyst Jennifer Roman described manslaughter as a possible “compromise position” for jurors who conclude Clancy was struggling severely with her mental state but still remained criminally responsible.

4. Not guilty by lack of criminal responsibility

This is the outcome at the center of Clancy’s defense.

Her attorneys argue that postpartum psychosis and other psychiatric problems left her unable to understand the wrongfulness of her actions or control her conduct.

If jurors accept that argument, Clancy could be found not guilty because she lacked criminal responsibility.

That would not mean she simply walks free.

CBS Boston reported that such a finding would require her to remain at Tewksbury Hospital, where she has been held, with her continued confinement subject to periodic review.

5. Not guilty

The jury could also return a straightforward not-guilty verdict if prosecutors fail to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.

This is legally distinct from a finding of lack of criminal responsibility as a conventional acquittal means the prosecution did not establish guilt under the required legal standard.

Why Has the Jury Not Reached a Verdict?

The jury’s request to examine physical evidence offered one important clue about the deliberations, although experts caution against reading too much into it.

On Friday, jurors asked to review pill bottles and the knife that was entered into evidence, according to defense attorney Kevin Reddington.

The panel has also been left with a substantial record from the trial: CBS Boston reported that 85 witnesses testified and there were more than 200 pieces of evidence.

“Jurors have a really difficult task in this case,” jury consultant Laura Niemi told CBS Boston. “I wouldn’t infer anything about the timing.”

The competing arguments are sharply different.

Defense attorney Kevin Reddington portrayed Clancy as a severely mentally ill mother who repeatedly sought help before the killings.

Prosecutor Jennifer Sprague acknowledged her mental-health struggles but argued that Clancy understood her actions and deliberately created an opportunity to kill the children.

The jury was dismissed Friday afternoon and will resume deliberations Monday morning.

The jurors must reach a unanimous verdict on each count.

That means the eventual result could differ across the three children rather than necessarily producing identical findings on all three charges.

If the jury cannot reach unanimity, the case could end in a mistrial, potentially allowing prosecutors to seek a new trial.

But that is not one of the five verdict choices listed on the verdict form and would arise from a deadlocked jury rather than a verdict.