Watch Lindsay Clancy’s defense grill her former psychiatrist
In the Lindsay Clancy murder trial, defense attorney Kevin Reddington grilled Clancy’s former psychiatrist, Dr. Jennifer Tufts.
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Medical providers who previously treated Lindsay Clancy took the stand in her murder trial to testify about medications they prescribed to the Massachusetts mother in the months before she allegedly strangled her three children to death.
Clancy’s prescription medication use has been a focal point of the trial, which began in late July. Prosecutors argue that Clancy manipulated her providers and sought quick fixes for her depression and anxiety. Clancy’s defense argues that she repeatedly sought treatment and was overmedicated before the killings.
In January 2023, Clancy allegedly killed her three children – Cora, 5; Dawson, 3; and Callan, 8 months – by strangling them with exercise bands at her Duxbury, Massachusetts, home. Afterward, Clancy cut her wrists and neck and jumped out of a second-story window, leaving her paralyzed.
Clancy, who turned 36 on Aug. 11, has pleaded not guilty to all three counts. Her defense argues that Clancy lacks criminal responsibility because she was suffering from postpartum depression and psychosis at the time of the killings – also known as an insanity defense.
Psychiatrists, nurse practitioners testify about treating Lindsay Clancy
Two psychiatrists and two psychiatric nurse practitioners who oversaw Clancy’s medication use before the killings have testified in her trial.
Dr. Jennifer Tufts, a psychiatrist at Aster Mental Health, testified on Friday, Aug. 7, and Monday, Aug. 10. She first began seeing Clancy in September 2022, four months after Callan was born, and continued treating her through January 2023.
Two psychiatric nurse practitioners at the South Shore Perinatal Behavioral Health clinic – Julie Paul and Rebecca Jollotta – also prescribed medication to Clancy. Paul, who left the practice in December 2022, briefly saw Clancy in November 2022 before transferring her care to Jollotta. Paul testified on Aug. 10 and 11 and Jollotta took the stand on Aug. 11.
Dr. Alia Goodheart, a psychiatrist at McLean Hospital, the psychiatric hospital where Clancy was admitted for five days in January 2023, also testified about her medication use on Friday, Aug. 7.
Tufts and Jollotta are both named as defendants in two separate civil medical malpractice lawsuits filed by Clancy and her ex-husband Patrick Clancy.
Which medications were prescribed to Lindsay Clancy?
Throughout the four-month period before the killings, Lindsay Clancy was treated primarily by Tufts and Jollotta, but saw both at different points.
Each practitioner testified that they did not have access to the other’s records about their treatment of Clancy. Both Tufts and Jollotta testified that they did not request a release form from Clancy for access to the other facility’s medical records because they trusted Clancy was being forthcoming with them.
Prosecutors presented a list in court of Lindsay Clancy’s prescription medications filled between September 2022 and January 2023 from her CVS patient records. Clancy’s defense attorney Kevin Reddington also presented a list in court, though it varies slightly from the prosecution’s list.
Prosecutors have also argued that Lindsay Clancy took few, if any, of many of the medications she was prescribed. Her defense has argued she experienced negative side effects from many of them.
See the full list below:
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. Keep up with her on X @melinakh and Instagram @bymelinakhan.