In Plymouth, Massachusetts, a crowd of roughly 300 women and a few men gathered Thursday outside the district courthouse, many wearing pink apparel with slogans such as “Believe,” “She Needed Help,” and “Peace For Lindsay.” The rally marked the first large‑scale public show of support during the month‑long trial of Lindsay Clancy, who faces murder charges for the deaths of her three children.
Supporters cite mental‑health concerns
Participants said they were motivated by concerns over how the mental‑health system treats women. Clancy’s attorney, Kevin Reddington, acknowledges that she killed the children but argues she should not be held criminally responsible because she suffered from postpartum psychosis—a rare, severe mental illness linked to hormonal changes, sleep deprivation, and stress after childbirth. Reddington also notes that Clancy has a history of bipolar disorder.
According to the defense, Clancy repeatedly sought help: she consulted multiple outpatient providers, tried prescribed medications, called a suicide hotline, visited an emergency room, and even checked herself into a psychiatric hospital before the killings.
Prosecutors present a different narrative
Prosecutors contend that Clancy, a former labor and delivery nurse, planned the Jan. 24, 2023 killings and deliberately sent her husband out of the house to obtain medicine and dinner for the family. They have questioned the seriousness of her suicide attempt and highlighted witness testimony that she sometimes refused prescribed medication.
Rally highlights faith and family
During the gathering, the crowd stood silently for more than an hour before proceedings began. A chaplain called by the defense testified about visiting Clancy in the hospital after the incident. When the defense attorney appeared, the audience applauded.
Rally organizer Renee Kimball urged attendees to trust that Reddington “has Lindsay’s fight.” Near the end of the event, participants formed a circle, recited the Lord’s Prayer, raised their arms, and made heart shapes with their hands. Some displayed flags from various countries, indicating global interest in the case.
Family members speak
April Vincent, a 52‑year‑old paralegal from Providence, Rhode Island, said, “Women are being dismissed, neglected and ignored when we speak up. We’re scared because nobody takes us seriously.”
Jeanne Zaborski, a 72‑year‑old retired nurse from Rockland, Massachusetts, expressed hope that the case would raise awareness about postpartum health. “I am a mother, a grandmother, and I have a sister who had problems after birth. I hope Lindsay gets the care she needs and that other women will come together like we did today,” she said.
Legal and medical background
Clancy, 36, has pleaded not guilty to the murders of her children—Callan, Dawson and Cora—who were between eight months and five years old. Researchers estimate postpartum psychosis affects 1 to 2 per 1,000 women after delivery, making it far less common than postpartum depression.
In court, chaplain Sheila Cavanaugh of Brigham and Women’s Hospital testified that when she first visited Clancy after the killings, Clancy was unconscious. By Jan. 31, 2023, she was conscious and off the ventilator, though Cavanaugh described her emotional state as “very neutral – a flat affect.” Cavanaugh recalled Clancy saying, “I’m so glad my children are safe,” to which the chaplain responded, “Lindsay, your children are safe. They’re safe in heaven with God.”
Cavanaugh also noted that Clancy mentioned hearing a voice that warned her of danger if she did not follow its commands. Prosecutors questioned why this disclosure was not documented in Clancy’s hospital records, noting that chaplains are not medical evaluators and their notes are not verbatim transcripts.
The trial continues to draw national attention, sparking online discussions about postpartum psychosis, mental‑health treatment, and the criminal responsibility of individuals suffering severe mental illness.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
