The jury tasked with deciding the case of Lindsay Clancy concluded another day of deliberations on Wednesday without reaching a verdict. After more than 28 hours of discussion, the panel informed Plymouth Superior Court Judge William Sullivan that they remained deadlocked, marking the second time they have reported an impasse.
In response to the jury’s note, Judge Sullivan delivered what is formally known as a “dynamite” instruction—or the “Tuey-Rodriguez” charge—which serves as a final effort to encourage jurors to reach a unanimous decision. Following the instruction, the jury was dismissed for the evening and is scheduled to resume their work on Thursday morning.
Addressing the jurors before their departure, Judge Sullivan acknowledged the difficulty of the process, stating, “I know it’s been a long day. First off, thank you for your time.” The group, consisting of nine women and three men, has been deliberating for five days since the case was handed to them last Thursday.
The jury first signaled their struggle on Tuesday morning, informing the judge they were unable to reach a unanimous decision. They sent a second note expressing the same difficulty on Wednesday afternoon around 2:15 p.m. This legal maneuver is considered a last resort in Massachusetts courts, similar to procedures used in other high-profile cases, such as the 2024 trial of Karen Read and the 2023 trial of Emanuel Lopes.
Lindsay Clancy faces first-degree murder charges in connection with the January 24, 2023, deaths of her three children—Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months—at their home in Duxbury. The jury is tasked with choosing between five potential outcomes: first-degree murder, second-degree murder, manslaughter, not guilty, or not guilty by reason of insanity.
Defense attorney Kevin Reddington has argued that Clancy was suffering from postpartum psychosis and was overmedicated at the time, rendering her not criminally responsible. Conversely, prosecutors contend that she planned the actions and possessed the capacity to distinguish right from wrong. Reddington has previously criticized the decision to charge Clancy with first-degree murder, noting that it removed the possibility of a plea deal or a bench trial.
Legal analysts suggest the deadlock could stem from the complexity of the available verdicts. Jennifer Roman, a legal analyst, noted that the jury might be grappling with the distinction between the various charges or the insanity defense, though the specific nature of their internal debate remains unknown.
The trial has also faced external complications. On Tuesday, 56-year-old Dawn Light of Sutton, Massachusetts, was arrested outside the courthouse and charged with intimidation of jurors. Authorities allege she was attempting to film jurors as they exited the building. Her attorney entered a plea of not guilty on her behalf, claiming she intended only to photograph the defendant, and she was released on the condition that she return to court on October 15.
Judge Sullivan reportedly consulted with the jury regarding the incident before they began their deliberations on Wednesday. If the jury ultimately fails to reach a verdict, it could result in a mistrial, a scenario that has occurred recently in other Massachusetts cases.
Should the jury return a guilty verdict, Clancy faces imprisonment. A finding of not guilty by reason of insanity would require her to remain at Tewksbury State Hospital, subject to periodic case reviews.
For those seeking mental health support, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available by calling or texting 988. Additionally, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) HelpLine provides resources Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET, at 1-800-950-6264 or via email at info@nami.org. The report also notes that who has been in the courtroom for the trial, said the instruction is considered a “Hail Mary.” This instruction, also known as the “dynamite charge,” happened in Karen Read’s first trial in 2024, wBZ-TV’s Kristina Rex. The report also notes that his first trial in 2023 ended in a mistrial due to a hung jury. The report also notes that the jury told the judge three times that it was deadlocked, during the retrial in 2024. The report also notes that the jury eventually reached a unanimous guilty verdict after six days and 32 hours of deliberations. The report also notes that wBZ-TV’s Penny Kmitt asked Reddington what Clancy had to say about potentially facing another trial. The report also notes that generally, I don’t talk about what I talk to clients about,” Reddington said as he was swarmed by reporters and photographers on his way into court Wednesday morning.
Source: CBS News
