Illinois woman charged in toddler death amid psychosis claims
Illinois woman charged in toddler death; defense cites psychotic episode similar to postpartum psychosis pattern.
Event / Security
Maternal Infanticide Cases Media Impact
High-profile infanticide cases and their connection to maternal mental health crises, including the Lindsay Clancy trial and related incidents involving mothers experiencing psychotic episodes.
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40 articles0 articles
2026-08-22 to 2026-11-06 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 22 Aug, 03:22 UTC
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What happened
Defense attorney criticizes media coverage of Lindsay Clancy trial
Kevin Reddington, Lindsay Clancy's defense attorney, publicly criticized media coverage of the trial, particularly targeting broadcasters Nancy Grace and Sean Hannity. Reddington accused them of misrepresenting facts and criticizing Clancy's symptoms. He challenged Grace to show evidence that Clancy ever searched for how to kill, stating these claims were inaccurate and harmful.
Dawn Light's background and criminal history
Dawn Light, 56, is a retired nurse with a Massachusetts registered nurse license issued in 1993 and expired in 2022. She is a resident of Sutton, Massachusetts and holds real estate properties across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Florida. Light has no prior criminal history beyond a minor 2023 Florida traffic case. She has been described as a self-proclaimed true crime enthusiast who has attended other high-profile murder trials including those for Alex Murdaugh and Karen Read.
Nancy Grace and Sean Hannity respond to defense attorney's criticism
Nancy Grace appeared on Sean Hannity's Fox News show and responded to defense attorney Kevin Reddington's criticism, stating it was not her duty to appease him. Sean Hannity also responded to the criticism, questioning why Reddington continues to make public comments before media if he does not want press commentary, and invited Reddington to appear on his show.
Lindsay Clancy accused of murdering three children by strangulation
Lindsay Clancy, a 36-year-old former nurse, is on trial for strangling her three children—Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and 8-month-old Callan—to death with exercise bands inside their home in Duxbury, Massachusetts on January 24, 2023. She does not deny taking the lives of her children but maintains she acted under the overwhelming effects of postpartum psychosis. Her defense seeks a not guilty verdict by reason of insanity.
Judge issues strict order prohibiting photography and recording of jurors in Clancy trial
Judge William Sullivan issued a strict order prohibiting any photographing or recording of jurors in the Lindsay Clancy trial. Prosecutors argued that the alleged breach of this order threatened the sanctity of the judicial system.
Lindsay Clancy jury deadlocked after 23 hours of deliberation
The jury in the Lindsay Clancy triple-murder trial, composed of nine women and three men, reported they were deadlocked after 18 hours of deliberations on Tuesday morning. Judge William Sullivan ordered them to continue deliberating. By 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, after 23 hours of deliberation, the jury requested to be dismissed. The panel was scheduled to return Wednesday morning for a fifth day of deliberations, with experts indicating a mistrial is likely if they cannot reach a unanimous verdict.
Woman arrested outside Massachusetts courthouse for allegedly filming jurors in Lindsay Clancy trial
Dawn Light, 56, of Sutton, Massachusetts, was arrested on Tuesday outside Plymouth Superior Court for allegedly filming jurors during deliberations in the Lindsay Clancy triple-murder trial. State police found Light parked in a restricted area of the courthouse parking lot. When questioned, she claimed she was waiting to see if Lindsay Clancy would come out of the building. State police searched her phone with her consent and found deleted videos showing several people leaving the courthouse that appeared to have been taken from Light's vantage point in the vehicle.
Dawn Light charged with intimidation of a juror in Lindsay Clancy case
Dawn Light was arraigned Wednesday on a charge of intimidation of a juror, witness, police or court official in connection with the Lindsay Clancy trial. She pleaded not guilty to the charge of aggravated intimidation of a juror. The judge released her on personal recognizance with conditions including staying away from the courthouse, its grounds, and from jurors and witnesses in the case, and refraining from sharing any images.
Mistrial possible if jury remains deadlocked after Tuey-Rodriguez charge
If the jury cannot reach a unanimous verdict after receiving the Tuey-Rodriguez charge, Judge Sullivan may declare a mistrial. Prosecutors would then decide whether to retry the case. A similar scenario occurred in Karen Read's first trial in July 2024, which ended in a hung jury and mistrial; she was subsequently acquitted of second-degree murder in a new trial in June 2025.
Prosecutors allege Clancy planned murders by sending husband on errands
Prosecutors allege that Lindsay Clancy deliberately planned the killings of her three children by sending her husband out on errands and then strangling them with exercise bands while he was away. After the killings, Clancy cut her wrists and neck and jumped from a second-story window, resulting in paralysis.
First-degree murder conviction carries mandatory life sentence in Massachusetts
If Lindsay Clancy is convicted of first-degree murder, she faces a mandatory life sentence with no possibility of parole in Massachusetts. Convictions for second-degree murder or manslaughter carry lesser sentences. If found not guilty by reason of insanity, she would remain at Tewksbury Hospital for mental health treatment with periodic case reviews.
Lindsay Clancy jury deadlocked in murder trial after five days of deliberations
The jury in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial reported being unable to reach a unanimous verdict after deliberating for more than 27 hours across five days starting August 27, 2026. The jury first indicated deadlock on September 1 and reaffirmed it on September 2 after Judge William Sullivan encouraged further deliberations.
Woman arrested for allegedly filming jurors outside courthouse
Dawn Light, 56, a retired registered nurse from Sutton, Massachusetts, was arrested on September 1 outside the courthouse and charged with intimidation of jurors. State police found recently deleted video of jurors exiting the courthouse building on Light's phone. Light's attorney claims she was attempting to photograph Lindsay Clancy, not the jury.
Lindsay Clancy charged with three counts of first-degree murder in deaths of her children
Lindsay Clancy, 36, is charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the January 2023 strangulation deaths of her three children—Cora (age 5), Dawson (age 3), and Callan (8 months old)—at the family home in Duxbury, Massachusetts. Clancy has pleaded not guilty and does not dispute killing the children but claims she was suffering from postpartum psychosis and lacks criminal responsibility.
Judge Sullivan issues Tuey-Rodriguez charge to deadlocked jury
Judge William Sullivan delivered a Tuey-Rodriguez charge to the deadlocked jury on September 2, instructing jurors to reconsider their positions and think carefully about opposing viewpoints while maintaining honestly held beliefs. This charge, unique to Massachusetts and also known as a 'dynamite charge,' is designed to encourage further deliberation before a mistrial is declared.
Defense argues Clancy not criminally responsible due to postpartum psychosis
Defense attorney Kevin Reddington argues that Lindsay Clancy is not guilty by reason of insanity, claiming she was suffering from postpartum depression and psychosis at the time she killed her children. Prosecutors counter that Clancy knew it was wrong to kill her children and was legally sane when she committed the murders.
Prosecution argues Clancy acted with intent and premeditation
Prosecutors argued that Clancy strangled her children because she was depressed and tired of living, made a conscious choice to kill them before attempting suicide, and knew right from wrong at the time of the killings.
Lindsay Clancy charged with murdering three children in 2023
Lindsay Clancy, a 36-year-old former labor and delivery nurse, is on trial for allegedly strangling her three young children at her home in 2023. Clancy does not deny the killings but pleads not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility, claiming postpartum psychosis led to her actions. Prosecutors argue she knew what she was doing and made a conscious choice to kill them.
Lindsay Clancy jury reports deadlock after nearly 18 hours of deliberations
The jury in the Lindsay Clancy trial informed Judge William Sullivan that they were unable to reach a unanimous decision after deliberating for nearly 18 hours over four days. The jury consists of nine women and three men. The judge instructed them to continue deliberating despite the impasse.
Defense argues postpartum psychosis caused Clancy's actions
Clancy's defense team argued at trial that she killed her children because she lost her grip on reality due to postpartum psychosis, a rare mental illness that can follow childbirth. In the months before the killings, Clancy sought treatment for worsening mental health, including a stay in a psychiatric hospital.
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2 alternative perspectives
Clancy murder trial ends in mistrial after jury deadlock
Jury deadlocks in Clancy murder trial after seven days, risking mistrial on criminal responsibility question.
Jury deadlock deepens uncertainty in Clancy criminal responsibility verdict
Jury deadlocks after seven days in Clancy trial; conflicting psychiatric evidence divides jurors on criminal responsibility question.
Judge allows defendant to join sidebar discussion in courtroom
Defense motion for open proceedings accompanied Clancy's participation in sidebar conversation.
Jury deadlocks after seven days; mistrial path emerges in Clancy case
Jury deadlocked after seven days; mistrial possible if impasse continues.
Jury deadlocks in Clancy trial as psychiatric evidence divides deliberations
Jury deadlocks in Clancy case as conflicting psychiatric testimony prevents verdict on criminal responsibility.
Defense attorney challenges media coverage of Clancy trial proceedings
Defense attorney criticizes media coverage; Grace and Hannity defend their reporting on Clancy trial.
Jury deadlocks in Clancy criminal responsibility verdict after 23 hours
Jury deadlocked after 23 hours on whether Clancy possessed criminal responsibility for killing her three children.
Jury deadlocks after 23 hours deliberating Clancy criminal responsibility verdict
Jury deadlocked after 23 hours deliberating whether Clancy possessed criminal responsibility for her admitted actions.
Woman arrested for filming jurors at Clancy trial courthouse
Woman arrested for filming jurors during Clancy trial; charged with juror intimidation.
Woman arrested for filming jurors outside courthouse during trial
Woman arrested for filming jurors outside courthouse during Clancy trial.
Prosecution alleges premeditation; defense cites postpartum psychosis defense
Prosecution claims premeditation; defense argues postpartum psychosis eliminated criminal responsibility.