Lindsay Clancy murder trial: prosecutors revive theory of faked suicide attempt

Prosecutors pointed to internet searches made on the family computer in the months before the killings to make their case

Prosecutors revived a theory in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial case this week, suggesting she had faked a suicide attempt after allegedly strangling her three children.

While prosecutors have been arguing that Clancy acted intentionally and should be held criminally responsible, her defense has said she suffered from postpartum psychosis.

To make their case, prosecutors pointed this week to internet searches made on the family computer in the months before the killings – including for “suicide methods”, searches for psychiatric medications, detox programs, mania, ketamine therapy and concerns about a psychiatrist overprescribing medication.

Clancy’s cellphone revealed searches for “can you treat a sociopath?” four days before the killings, along with notes about depression, exhaustion and concerns over her relationship with her youngest child, Callan, who she struggled to breastfeed.

“I want to feel love and connection with all my kids … I just want to feel happy. I want to be able to relax and take care of my kids. And when they go to bed at night, I want to deeply relax and hang out with Pat and then fall into a deep sleep for 8 hours, get up and pour hard into myself for an hour and a half. Cal was so very planned and desired. I want to be able to give him all the love he deserves,” read an entry from Clancy’s notes app on 25 October 2022.

Then, in a note created just prior to the killings and modified a day before they took place, Clancy wrote: “Medication stole my motherhood and my life … prescription medication stole me from my own body.”

In January 2023, the prosecution claimed Clancy made a series of internet searches, including one for “hallucinations” and “intrusive” a day later. Clancy, who had been prescribed 13 different medications and reported trouble sleeping, also searched for “premade goodie bags” and “best kids movies”.

On the day of the murders – which Clancy has admitted to but is pleading not guilty by reason of insanity, citing postpartum psychosis – the 36-year-old mum took the elder kids out to build a snowman, later texting her former-husband, Patrick: “Any chance you want to do takeout from Three-V,” referring to a local restaurant.

When Patrick responded “Yeah”, Clancy wrote back: “Okie dokie. Check the menu when you can.” Soon after, prosecutors claim, she strangled her kids with exercise bands.

Without a legal obligation to offer motive, prosecutors contend her actions – particularly in sending her husband out for a take-out and medicines on the evening of the murders – show she planned to kill her children.

But to her defense team and others, Clancy was a mom struggling to hold her life and family life together.