A Massachusetts judge declared a mistrial Friday in the murder case against Lindsay Clancy, after jurors spent nearly a week in deliberations and told the court three times they could not reach a unanimous verdict.
"At this point, I'm going to declare that the jury is deadlocked, and I'm going to declare a mistrial," Judge William Sullivan told the jury Friday, dismissing them after weeks of testimony.
Clancy, 36, a former nurse, had pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of her children: Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, eight months. Prosecutors alleged she strangled all three in the family's Massachusetts home on Jan. 24, 2023, before attempting to take her own life. After killing the children, Clancy cut herself with a knife and jumped from a second-story window, which has left her paralyzed.
Her defense attorney, Kevin Reddington, argued she was suffering from postpartum psychosis at the time and should not be held criminally responsible. Prosecutors Jennifer Sprague and Shanan Buckingham maintained she was criminally liable for the deaths.
The day ended with a series of procedural twists. Friday morning began with Reddington pushing to have a juror removed after the jury indicated in a note the previous day that a panel member was not following instructions on reasonable doubt. The defense later filed an emergency request asking the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to intervene and "preserve the integrity of the court system." The high court denied the request, and Sullivan declared the mistrial shortly after.
In a note delivered Friday, jurors said it was "with a heavy heart" that they remained unable to agree.
A hearing was scheduled for September 29, where prosecutors could outline their next steps, which could include a second trial or a plea agreement. In the meantime, Clancy will remain held on the same murder charges and continue staying in the mental health facility where she is currently housed, according to BBC News.
Outside the courthouse, nearly three dozen Clancy supporters gathered on the third floor and in surrounding areas. The case drew significant attention throughout the trial, particularly from women and mothers, some of whom traveled from out of state.
"I will be back for a second trial," said one supporter named Shannon, who spoke to ABC News just before the mistrial was formally declared. "And we'll come back in bigger numbers."
Another supporter, Nancy, said she traveled from Connecticut. "We need more help," she told ABC News. "We need change."
Shannon also told ABC News that women's mental health issues "need to be addressed."
The hung jury does not constitute a finding of guilt or innocence. Under U.S. law, a jury must unanimously believe beyond a reasonable doubt that someone is guilty in order to convict them of a crime.