Will prosecutors drop 1stdegree charge in Clancy retry?
Probably not. Asked will prosecutors drop 1stdegree murder charges against Lindsay Clancy if they retry the case, former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told People he does not think they will. He said a plea bargain also looks unlikely because it would be politically hard for the district attorney to appear lenient on such serious charges.
Key Takeaways
- Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told People prosecutors are unlikely to drop first-degree murder charges if they retry Lindsay Clancy.
- Clancy’s trial ended in a mistrial on Sept. 4 after jurors deadlocked 11-1.
- Three jurors said a holdout admitted he had reasonable doubt but still would not acquit.
- Defense attorney Kevin Reddington has signaled openness to negotiating and publicly floated a presidential pardon request.
- Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz has stressed that justice for Clancy’s children remains paramount.
Why did Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial end in a mistrial?
Lindsay Clancy, 32, a former nurse, faces first-degree murder charges in the January 2023 deaths of her three children — Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months — in their Duxbury, Massachusetts, home. After the killings, she attempted suicide and was left paralyzed from the waist down.
The core dispute at trial was her mental state. Prosecutors said she acted with intention and awareness. Her defense argued postpartum psychosis and heavy medication left her unable to understand her actions. The panel heard testimony from more than 80 witnesses before deadlocking 11-1, and a mistrial was declared on Sept. 4.
Three jurors later spoke out about the lone holdout. They said he admitted he had reasonable doubt yet still refused to find Clancy not criminally responsible. The case remains a major story in true crime and unsolved mysteries coverage.
Will prosecutors drop 1stdegree charges if they retry Clancy?
“I don’t think the prosecution will drop the first-degree murder charges,” Rahmani told People. He also cast doubt on a workable plea bargain. “Politically, it would be very challenging for the District Attorney to be seen as lenient on such serious charges.”
After the mistrial, Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz said the pursuit of justice remains paramount. He stressed that Clancy’s children would not be overlooked as prosecutors weigh how to proceed. People’s exclusive reporting left open how — and whether — a retrial would be structured.
What has Clancy’s attorney said about a deal or pardon?
Defense attorney Kevin Reddington appeared on Good Morning America and voiced hope of reaching a resolution with prosecutors. He also urged former President Donald Trump to consider a pardon, even though the charges are state-level.
Rahmani said the pardon talk looked more like leverage than a realistic legal path. A pardon for a state charge can only come from a governor, and that outcome is widely viewed as exceedingly unlikely.
Reddington separately explained why he was upset with the holdout juror. Citing a note from the jury foreperson, he said the juror acknowledged doubt but would not apply the judge’s reasonable-doubt instructions. “That’s not right and that’s why I was upset,” Reddington said. Related reporting on the aftermath is available via CBS Boston.