Lindsay Clancy trial: Judge tells jurors to keep deliberating after tense sidebar
By Peter Charalambous, Mason Leib, Katie Kindelan, and Melanie Schmitz
Jury deliberations are underway in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, the Massachusetts mom who killed her three young children while in the family's home on Jan. 24, 2023.
Clancy’s defense attorney claims she was suffering from postpartum psychosis when she strangled her children and attempted to take her own life. Prosecutors argue that Clancy -- who has pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder -- is criminally responsible for her children's deaths.
If she is found guilty, Clancy could face life in prison without parole. If found not criminally responsible for the three murder charges, she will be sent to a state mental health facility.
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Defense attorney says 1 juror refusing to follow instructions
In open court, defense attorney Kevin Reddington said there is one juror who is refusing to adhere to Judge William Sullivan's instructions. He has asked the judge to remove the juror who is refusing to listen.
"I don't feel it is proper for me to side with one side or the other in deliberations," Sullivan said.
It appears that is what Sullivan polled the jury about, whether they can adhere to the instructions.
Judge reiterates instructions to jury
Judge William Sullivan told the jury, "You are required to follow my instructions on the law as I gave them."
Sullivan reiterated his instruction about reasonable doubt.
He then returned jurors to their deliberations.
Judge polling jurors at sidebar
The judge is polling the jurors individually at sidebar.
Clancy is present while this occurs.
It was preceded by a disagreement between the two parties.
Courtroom called to order as judge sidebars with attorneys and Clancy
About 35 hours into deliberations, the courtroom was called to order. Judge William Sullivan immediately summoned both sides to a sidebar to eventually include Clancy herself.
Defense attorney Kevin Reddington and prosecutor Jennifer Sprague clearly disagreed about something.
The sidebar is ongoing.
8:30 AM MDT: What happens if there is a mistrial?
After deliberations spanning more than five days, the jury in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy has still not reached a verdict.
On Wednesday afternoon, after the jury reported they were at an impasse for a second time in as many days, Judge William Sullivan read the jury a Tuey-Rodriguez instruction, encouraging them to continue working together toward a verdict and to remember it is their "duty to decide this case if you can do so conscientiously."
Sending the jury back to deliberate again could force a hung jury if the deadlock continues, legal experts say.
"At that point, the judge has to declare a mistrial, unless he has the consent of the jury who would want to go out again, and that's rather doubtful," Boston-based criminal defense attorney Peter Elikann said in an interview with ABC News on Wednesday. "This is really it. This is kind of the final push."
If a mistrial is declared, prosecutors could decide to try the case again, drop the charges, change the charges, or begin plea negotiations with Clancy, according to legal experts.
Click here for what to know about a potential mistrial.
7:51 AM MDT: Lindsay Clancy's family in attendance as day 6 of deliberations get underway
Lindsay Clancy, in a brown sweater over a green top, chatted quietly with defense attorney Kevin Reddington prior to the jury entering. Her parents and sister are sitting in their usual seats behind her, in the second row.
Judge William Sullivan asked whether jurors had read or seen anything that would impact their ability to be fair and whether they had anything to bring to his attention.
Jurors said no and filed out to resume deliberations, beginning a 31st hour.
Sep 03, 2026: Court resumes for 6th day of deliberations
Jurors are back in court and will continue to deliberate for a sixth day on Thursday after signaling they were at an impasse for a second time on Wednesday.
Sep 02, 2026, 2:21 PM MDT: Jury sent home for the day after 2nd deadlock
A fifth day of deliberations is over, as Judge William Sullivan sent the jury home for the evening, asking the group to report back Thursday morning.
"I know it has been a long day," Sullivan said. "I'm going to ask you to come back tomorrow morning."
Jurors were sent home not long after signaling they were deadlocked for a second time. The judge instructed them at that point to keep working toward a unanimous verdict.
The jury has deliberated for about 30 hours total so far, indicating twice that they were at an impasse. Both times, the judge sent them back to continue deliberations.
Court will resume at 9 a.m. on Thursday.
Jury returns to deliberations after reporting 2nd deadlock
Lindsay Clancy and defense attorney Kevin Reddington looked on as jurors filed out of the courtroom to continue deliberations.
Reddington then asked Clancy if she was all right, and she nodded in the affirmative.
This is the fifth day of deliberations and nearly 30 hours in.
Judge William Sullivan sent copies of the charge into the jury room so the nine women and three men could refer to it.
Jury reports they are deadlocked for a 2nd time
The jury has signaled for a second time it is deadlocked and unable to reach a verdict.
"After much deliberation, we are still unable to come to a unanimous decision," jurors said in a note, according to Judge William Sullivan.
Sullivan delivered what is known in Massachusetts as the Tuey-Rodriguez charge, instructing the jurors to keep deliberating.
8:48 AM MDT: Woman accused of juror intimidation pleads not guilty
Dawn Light, 56, pleaded not guilty to aggravated intimidation of a juror Wednesday morning.
Police alleged Light tried to photograph jurors from her vehicle in the courthouse parking lot on Tuesday afternoon.
When officers spoke with Light, she allegedly told them she was waiting for Lindsay Clancy, police said.
After Light consented to a search of her phone, state troopers found video of jurors exiting court, according to the prosecutor.
Prosecutors asked for $50,000 bail and an order to stay away from the courthouse and from potential jurors and witnesses involved in the Clancy case. Prosecutors also asked that Light be prevented from disseminating any photographs or videos stored on her phone.
"It's very clear this is a situation that is very serious for the commonwealth," the prosecutor told the judge on Wednesday. "The sanctity of the judicial system is at risk because of her actions."
Light, a retired nurse, has no prior criminal record. A defense attorney said Light is on a fixed income with no ability to pay a high bail.
"This is a complete misunderstanding," the defense lawyer said. "She has the utmost respect for the judicial system."
The judge declined to impose a cash bail but ordered her to stay away from jurors and witnesses associated with the Clancy trial. The judge also ordered Light not to disseminate any photographs or videos stored on her phone.
Light was released on her own recognizance and will be back in court Oct. 15 for a preliminary hearing.
8:18 AM MD: Judge addresses court after woman arrested for allegedly trying to photograph jury
Judge William Sullivan reminded the audience Wednesday morning about the standing orders and laws meant to prevent jurors from being harassed.
"Everybody should be well aware of that order and that statute," Sullivan said.
His reminder followed the arrest of a woman who allegedly attempted to photograph the jury on Tuesday.
Then, one by one, the judge summoned each juror to the bench, swore him or her in and asked each a question. This was done with attorneys present but out of public earshot.
The woman arrested, Dawn Light, was taken into custody on Tuesday around 3:40 p.m. ET and charged with one count of intimidation of a witness, jurors, or person furnishing information in connection with criminal proceedings, a Massachusetts State Police spokesperson told ABC Boston affiliate WCVB-TV.
Light is being arraigned this morning in a different courtroom.
7:49 AM MDT: Jurors resume deliberations for 5th day
Jurors in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy returned to a third floor courtroom at Plymouth County Superior Court on Wednesday for a fifth day of deliberations.
They previously told the judge they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict, and Judge William Sullivan instructed them to keep trying.
