Lindsay Clancy appeared back in Plymouth Superior Court on Tuesday to discuss a potential retrial in her high-profile murder case that ended in a hung jury on September 4, 2026, after six weeks of testimony and nearly 40 hours of deliberations.
Retrial Date Hearing
Defense attorney Kevin Reddington asked the single question that all of the high-profile trial spectators have been asking since day one: Where is the evidence that proves she admitted to strangling her children? During trial, Reddington only argued that Clancy should not be held criminally responsible for her actions because she was suffering from postpartum psychosis.
But now, he told the judge there is “no evidence” that Clancy admitted to the crime, despite the state’s repeated claims that she admitted to it multiple times. He even pointed out some holes in Patrick Clancy’s, the former husband, testimony, asking where he states before a judge that she admitted to doing the unspeakable act.
The hearing with Judge William Sullivan concluded without a retrial date, and prosecutors did not say they intend to retry Clancy or mention which charges they would try her on. Another hearing is set for November 2, 2026, to hear multiple motions, including the defense’s request to investigate the holdout juror and dismiss the case, and the prosecution’s request for a gag order.
Defense Says There is No Evidence
Reddington argued in the hearing that the police failed to properly investigate the case, and that there is no evidence of Clancy admitting to killing her three children, Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months, in her Druxbury home in January 2023.
He said police “just immediately assumed that this woman is guilty,” even though Clancy has no memory of doing so and was just told that she committed the crimes. “There’s no evidence that she admitted she did this,” Reddington said, adding, “Why would she kill those three children?“
The prosecution countered that this was the first time they were hearing this from the defense and said they were surprised they were switching arguments. Prosecutor Shanan Buckingham said there is “voluminous” evidence proving Clancy is guilty.
As Reddington left the courtroom Tuesday, several media personnel swarmed him for details from inside the hearing. When asked if Reddington has changed his tune since the trial and is now arguing that Clancy did not commit the murders, and if it ends up going to trial, would there be a chance for a plea deal, he was vague.
“Look, I argued that in the trial, I argued it on a motion for required finding. It’s not new rocket science by any means. It’s the fact that they cannot prove probable cause,” Reddington said. “If there was a discussion of a plea deal, I wouldn’t talk about it because it would be private between myself and [DA Tim Cruz].“
“It’s up to Tim,” Reddington added. “He could reduce the charge to second-degree [murder]. … I know enough to know it doesn’t matter what I’d like. All I know is that I’m not ever going to agree to let this young lady do a day in jail.”
A Retrial is Unknown
The Plymouth District Attorney’s Office has not decided whether or not to bring Clancy back for a second trial. DA Tim Cruz told WBZ-TV that they are proceeding as if there will be another trial, but they are waiting to make a final decision after all the motions have been heard and decided on.
“We’re doing a very thorough review right now. And we’re going to continue to do our job and make sure we do what’s best for the interest of justice and the interest of the three children,” Cruz said.
One of the biggest worries in retrying Clancy is finding a new jury of peers who weren’t enthralled in the first trial and can be impartial in their decision. Even the first jury had one member who claimed he could not be unbiased, which led to the mistrial.
Sullivan would have preferred a tentative new trial date, but both sides agreed it was best to wait on the motion rulings. “That’s my goal in this thing is to get this thing tried as soon as possible,” Sullivan said.
