PLYMOUTH, Mass. — Tensions flared in Plymouth Superior Court Monday after religion was brought up for a second time during the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, prompting defense attorney Kevin Reddington to request a mistrial.
The judge denied the request. When court resumed Tuesday morning, Forensic Psychologist Dr. Kirk Heilbrun returned to the stand.
Prosecutors have one other rebuttal witness to call after Heilbrun before the case moves closer to closing arguments.
Watch Boston 25’s live trial coverage
Follow Bob Ward’s court updates
Aug. 25, 2026, 3:54 p.m.
Judge is sending jury home. Anticipated evidence will close tomorrow. He says likely closing arguments will be Thursday. Deliberations after that @boston25 #lindsayclancy
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Aug. 25, 2026, 3:52 p.m.
There is a sidebar. I can’t see any emotion in courtroom. The jurors I can see have serious looks on their faces. @boston25 #lindsayclancy
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Aug. 25, 2026, 3:50 p.m.
Dr s: Lindsay told me she took Dawson to basement and strangled him in Patrick’s office, went back upstairs took Cora to diff basement room, strangled her, then back upstairs, grabbed Callan and also strangled him in basement @boston25 #lindsayclancy
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Aug. 25, 2026, 3:39 p.m.
Dr Saathoff: #lindsayclancy researched the distance to 3v Restaurant. And she researched CVS and Miralax and hour before asking to pick it up. "It lengthened the trip, added one more obligation for Patrick, make for longer time he would be away. @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Aug. 25, 2026, 3:35 p.m.
Dr Saathoff testified that there are discrepancies in #lindsayclancy account of patrick's errands on 1/24/23 and what she told him. @boston25 #lindsayclancy
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Aug. 25, 2026, 3:10 p.m.
De Saathoff: the two versions of when #lindsayclancy heard the voice has a significant difference in time. "The two stories don't match. Which version is the one I should consider?" @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Aug. 25, 2026, 3:08 p.m.
Dr S: #LindsayClancy said she first heard voice when getting dinner of chicken nuggets out of the fridge after patrick's call. But DA said Patrick Clancy last saw Dawson eating chicken nuggets and green beans from bowl on couch. Crime scene photos show bowl on couch. @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Aug. 25, 2026, 3:02 p.m.
DA: Is it typical for someone in psychosis to hear an external voice only one time.
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Dr Saathoff: no time
DA: is it typical for someone in psychosis to hear command hallucination and then stops?
Dr S: No commiting the act is not curative. Never saw it. @boston25 #lindsayclancy
Aug. 25, 2026, 2:59 p.m.
Dr Saathoff: #LindsayClancy told different account to defense expert Spinelli, claiming then she first heard the command voice the moment Patrick Clancy left the house on the errand to CVS and 3V Restaurant. @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Aug. 25, 2026, 2:57 p.m.
Dr Saathoff: #lindsayclancy never heard the voice before that night. Dr. S. said that is unusual. @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Aug. 25, 2026, 2:56 p.m.
Dr Saathoff: #LindsayClancy told me the voice stopped with the strangulation death of Callan Clancy. Then she went upstairs to her bedroom. @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Aug. 25, 2026, 2:55 p.m.
Dr Saathoff: #lindsayClancy told me the external command voice came right after patrick Clancy called her. She was standing at the fridge, and the voice repeated the command. "This is your last chance. You have to kill your kids than kill yourself." @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Aug. 25, 2026, 2:49 p.m.
Dr Saathoff: #LindsayClancy was very pleasant and responsive to questions. @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Aug. 25, 2026, 2:47 p.m.
Dr Saathoff interviewed #Lindsayclancy for 11.5 hours via zoom on 5.29.26 and 6.4.26 @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Aug. 25, 2026, 2:43 p.m.
Dr Saathoff was not paid for his services reviewing #LindsayClancy case @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Aug. 25, 2026, 2:35 p.m.
Dr Saathoff in 1987 co-wrote article about post partum psychosis and bromocriptine involving two women. #lindsayclancy @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Aug. 25, 2026, 2:30 p.m.
Dr Saathoff said he has treated thousands of people with psychosis. @boston25 #lindsayclancy
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Aug. 25, 2026, 2:25 p.m.
Dr Saathoff: has treated and evaluated 5-7 incarcerated women who have killed their children. #lindsayclancy @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Aug. 25, 2026, 2:21 p.m.
Dr. Saathoff is a forensic psychiatrist for FBI's Behavioral Science Unit @boston25 #lindsayclancy
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Aug. 25, 2026, 2:18 p.m.
Back from lunch break. Prosecution witness Dr. Gregory Saathoff FBI and University of VA is on the stand. @LindsayClancy @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Aug. 25, 2026, 1:04 p.m.
Dr. H is finished testifying. One more witness to go in #LindsayClancy trial @boston25 after lunch break.
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Aug. 25, 2026, 12:31 p.m.
Reddington cross of Dr. H. is over. DA redirect now. @boston25 #lindsayclancy
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Aug. 25, 2026, 12:26 p.m.
Reddington: I misspoke, when i asked you if you wrote a paper with your father on post partum psychosis 49 years ago. it was schizophrenia.
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Dr H. Yes
Reddington: You never wrote about post partum psychosis
Dr. H. yes @boston25 #lindsayclancy
Aug. 25, 2026, 11:48 a.m.
Reddington: "I suggest you listen to 911 call. She can only make grunting noises. You never listened to that tape did you?"
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Dr. H: No. @boston25 #lindsayclancy
Aug. 25, 2026, 11:47 a.m.
Reddington: what was your source for information that Patrick asked Lindsay, what did you do?
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
LC, "I tried to kill myself"
PC "Where are the kids?"
LC In the basement."
Reddington: "Did you listen to the 911 call?"@Boston25 #lindsayclancy
Aug. 25, 2026, 11:41 a.m.
We are back in session. Reddington cross of Dr. Heilbrun continues. @boston25 #lindsayclancy
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Aug. 25, 2026, 11:01 a.m.
We are taking morning recess. #linsayclancy. @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Aug. 25, 2026, 10:21 a.m.
Reddington: You had an open mind when you went to talk to #LindsayClancy at Tewksbury State Hospital?
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Dr. H: I did my best to keep an open mind. @boston25
Aug. 25, 2026, 10:19 a.m.
Kevin Reddington, after lengthy review of Dr. Heilbrun's resume, including articles written and talks given
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
"Is there one article about a woman who is pregnant undergoing postpartum depression and God forbid psychosis?
Dr. H: No. @boston25 #LindsayClan
Aug. 25, 2026, 9:55 a.m.
Reddington's cross of Dr. Heilbrun is beginning. @boston25 #lindsayclancy
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Aug. 25, 2026, 9:55 a.m.
Dr.Heilbrun: My clinicial opinion, she was criminally responsible for her actions on 1.24.23 She retained ability to decide whether, when, how to carry out her suicide and the inclusion of her children. @boston25 #lindsayclancy
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Aug. 25, 2026, 9:49 a.m.
Dr. Heilbrun interviewed and evaluated #LindsayClancy in April. "She is still grieving, still mourning. She said, "I lost everything. I dont want to be here." @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Aug. 25, 2026, 9:41 a.m.
Dr. Heilbrun: says he believes this was a serious suicide attempt accompanied by killing the children out of love. @boston25 #lindsayclancy
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Aug. 25, 2026, 9:38 a.m.
Dr Heilbrun "There were many decisions that have to be made to commit a killing like this in 18 minutes. Who goes first? What do you say to keep the other kids from panicking." #lindsayclancy @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Aug. 25, 2026, 9:37 a.m.
Dr Heilbrun about the deaths of the children: "She talked about feeling like it wasn’t her. she was gong through no thinking, no decision making, only responding to the voice and taking action." @boston25 #lindsayclancy
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Aug. 25, 2026, 9:31 a.m.
Forensic Psychologist Dr. Kirk Heilbrun is still on the stand. He is a prosecution witness. We are about to get started. @boston25 #lindsayclancy
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Aug. 25, 2026, 9:27 a.m.
Good Tuesday Morning. Back in Plymouth County Superior Court for Lindsay Clancy triple murder trial. It's possible DA's rebuttal case could be finished today. If that happens we could have closings tomorrow. @boston25 #LindsayClancy
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 25, 2026
Get caught up with what happened on Monday
The controversy arose during testimony from prosecution expert witness Dr. Kirk Heilbrun, a forensic psychologist who interviewed Clancy at Tewksbury State Hospital. While discussing that interview, Heilbrun referenced the concept of suicide as a mortal sin before being interrupted by the court.
Following the exchange, prosecutors told the court they did not believe the witness intentionally attempted to influence or inflame the jury.
Judge William Sullivan ultimately denied the defense’s motion for a mistrial but ordered the Commonwealth to speak with its witness about the testimony.
Outside court, Reddington said he expected the judge to address the issue if he denied the mistrial request.
“I knew that Judge Sullivan would exercise his discretion and he would give a strong instruction if he denied the motion. So that’s what he did,” Reddington told reporters. He also said he believes jurors will follow the judge’s instructions and be able to disregard the comment.
This is not the first time religion has surfaced during the trial.
According to testimony referenced in court Monday, a similar sidebar occurred last week when prosecutors questioned Patrick Clancy’s mother about whether she was aware that murder is considered a mortal sin.
Clancy, of Duxbury, is charged with three counts of murder in the January 2023 deaths of her children, Cora, Dawson, and Callan Clancy.
Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
©2026 Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/7QOJU3BNCJERBNKJC5LWTBYFLU.png)
