Watch psychiatrist detail Lindsay Clancy’s ‘miserable’ hospital life
Lindsay Clancy detailed her daily life at Tewksbury Hospital, describing isolation, limited interests and struggles with personal care.
This article discusses suicide and suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
Lindsay Clancy’s recent day-to-day life in a psychiatric hospital was laid out in new detail by a psychiatrist testifying at her murder trial on Aug. 21.
Dr. Avram Mack, a forensic psychiatrist, testified that he evaluated Clancy in April for the prosecution. He was called as a rebuttal witness for the prosecution after the defense rested.
Clancy, 36, is on trial for strangling her three children at their Massachusetts home in January 2023 before attempting suicide.
Prosecutors allege that Clancy planned the killings by sending her husband to run errands, and then, while he was gone, using exercise bands to strangle Cora, 5; Dawson, 3; and Callan, 8 months. Afterward, Clancy cut her wrists and neck and jumped out of a second-story window, leaving her paralyzed.
While Clancy’s defense does not dispute her role in the killings, attorney Kevin Reddington argues that she is not guilty because she lacks criminal responsibility, which is more commonly known as an insanity defense. He argues that she was suffering from postpartum depression and psychosis at the time of the killings.
Lindsay Clancy described ‘not wanting to be alive’ to psychiatrist
Mack, in part, testified about what Clancy described of her day-to-day life at Tewksbury Hospital, a psychiatric hospital in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, where she has been held for court-ordered mental health treatment since May 2023.
At the time of their interview in April – more than three years after the killings – Clancy often spent her days in bed or alone, though she was visited by family members on a “not infrequent basis,” Mack said.
“She said that she wasn’t very interested in the physical therapy that she was getting there. She wasn’t interested in the food there,” he said.
Mack said Clancy also described not being interested in her hygiene or grooming, such as showering, because she’s in a wheelchair.
“Showering is embarrassing. It requires staff to help her, and that’s one way in which she would rather not,” Mack said.
When it came to Clancy’s mood, she described feeling depressed, Mack added.
“She described feeling, I’m not sure the exact terms she used, but feeling miserable, not wanting to be alive,” he said.
Mack also testified that Clancy was, at the time of their interview, taking antipsychotic and anti-anxiety medications including olanzapine (brand name Zyprexa), bupropion (brand name Wellbutrin), clonidine and propranolol.
What could happen to Lindsay Clancy?
Lindsay Clancy is facing three counts of first-degree murder. She has pleaded not guilty to all three counts.
In Massachusetts, first-degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.
While more commonly known as not guilty by reason of insanity, Clancy’s defense under Massachusetts law is called a lack of criminal responsibility.
Under Massachusetts law, if a defendant is found not guilty or lacking criminal responsibility, they are typically committed to a state hospital for mental health treatment and evaluation.
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. Keep up with her on X @melinakh and Instagram @bymelinakhan.