PLYMOUTH, Mass. — The defense in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial asked Plymouth Superior Court Judge William Sullivan to declare a mistrial on Monday afternoon as prosecutors continued to call their final rebuttal witnesses before the case moves closer to closing arguments.
Kevin Reddington moved for a mistrial over “intentional misconduct” by the Commonwealth after rebuttal witness Dr. Kirk Heilbrun mentioned Catholicism during his testimony on evaluating Clancy.
Sullivan heard the motion but denied Reddington’s request and instructed the jurors to disregard the testimony.
“I’m not going to declare a mistrial. What I am going to do is bring the jury in and tell them to disregard it,” Sullivan said. “This witness’ understanding of Catholic dogma or Catholic teaching is irrelevant.”
Sullivan sent the jury home early following the incident.
Monday’s proceedings followed a dramatic week of testimony that featured dueling expert opinions about Clancy’s mental state when prosecutors say she killed her three children, Cora, Dawson, and Callan, in January 2023.
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Aug. 24, 2026, 3:26 p.m.
Judge says, he is going to instruct the jury, then send them home for the day. Will try to minimize the damage. Jury can follow instructins. @boston25 #lindsayclancy
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Aug. 24, 2026, 3:24 p.m.
Judge said he is NOT going to declare mistrial. Instead will talk to the jury. @boston25 #lindsayclancy
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
To Commonwealth: talk to witness, tell him he cant go into that.
Aug. 24, 2026, 3:23 p.m.
The issue mentions in court that Catholic Church considers murder a mortal sin. There was warning last week after questioning with Susan Clancy. Gov't witness just brought it up. Defense "this was intentional." @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Aug. 24, 2026, 3:20 p.m.
BREAKING: DEFENSE ATTORNEY KEVIN REDDINGTON IS CALLING FOR MISTRIAL IN #LINDSAYCLANCY TRIAL @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Aug. 24, 2026, 2:54 p.m.
Dr. H said, I asked #LindsayClancy, a devout Catholic, isn't that a mortal sin? Objection. Sidebar. @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Aug. 24, 2026, 2:53 p.m.
Dr. H: In the course of strangling each child, #LindsayClancy said go to God. So she and the children could go to heaven. @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Aug. 24, 2026, 2:53 p.m.
Dr. H. #LindsayClancy was in pain. She was suffering. She was desperate. She decided to stop it, and wanted to take the children with her. She didn't want to leave them. They would suffer without her. @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Aug. 24, 2026, 2:49 p.m.
Dr. Hielbrun: When Patrick found her, he asked "What did you do? She answered I tried to kill myself." if she experienced hallucination, she would say i did what i had to do, i did what the voice said. @boston25 #lindsayclancy
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Aug. 24, 2026, 2:38 p.m.
Dr. H: #LindsayClancy told different people different versions about what the voice said to her. "Inconsistency is important because it questions accuracy." @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Aug. 24, 2026, 2:35 p.m.
Dr H: #LindsayClancy said she never heard the male voice ordering her to kill her children before that night, she never heard it since. "For the 18 minutes it took to kill the children, to put it mildly, that would be very, very unusual. @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Aug. 24, 2026, 2:30 p.m.
Dr Heilbrun said he believes #LindsayClancy killed her children as part of a serious suicide attempt. "She wanted kids to be with her so they wouldn't suffer when she was gone." @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Aug. 24, 2026, 2:25 p.m.
Dr Heilbrun: the killing of the children was out of character for #lindsayclancy. Children were not spanked, discipline was not hands on. she and Patrick felt bad when they yelled at the children. @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Aug. 24, 2026, 2:20 p.m.
We are back in session. Dr Heilbrun on stand, still on direct. He said #LindsayClancy has been on 1 to 1 suicide watch at Tewksbury State Hospital for 3 years. She still is. @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Aug. 24, 2026, 12:57 p.m.
We are breaking for lunch. Back around 2pm Dr. Heilbrun is still on stand. @boston25 #lindsayclancy
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Aug. 24, 2026, 12:50 p.m.
Dr. Heilbrun: diagnosed #lindsayClancy w/ Bipolar 2 diagnosis. Less severe than Bipolar. @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Aug. 24, 2026, 12:37 p.m.
Dr. Heilbrun: #LindsayClancy at time of discharge from McLean Hospital was cooperative, pleasant, no psychosis, no suicidal or homicidal thinking. A week later, suicidal thoughts came back. @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Aug. 24, 2026, 12:31 p.m.
Dr. Heilbrun: that's important distinction. if voice was outside her head, it's likely a psychotic symptom. @boston25 #lindsayclancy
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Aug. 24, 2026, 12:29 p.m.
Dr. Heilbrun: in December #LindsayClancy said she had instrusive thoughts. "they would pop until my head. your brain is damaged, you could kill yourself." These were not auditory hallucinations. she said they were her own thoughts. @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Aug. 24, 2026, 12:28 p.m.
Dr. Heilbrun; 9/22 #LindsayClancy began having anxiety about returning to work and concern baby Callan wouldn't take bottle. @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Aug. 24, 2026, 12:18 p.m.
Dr. Heilbrun: her anxiety did not interfere with her life before September 2022. #lindsayclancy @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Aug. 24, 2026, 12:18 p.m.
Dr. Heilbrun: #LindsayClancy was highly achieving person. Straight A student. Hard working, self disciplined. Anxiety fueled her. Didn't like to leave any of her children with anyone: school, babysitter before September 2022. @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Aug. 24, 2026, 12:15 p.m.
Dr. Heilbrun: Dr. Mack and I came up with own report, own analysis. We wrote separate reports, did not agree with each other on diagnosis, even though we interviewed her at same time. #lindsayclancy @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Aug. 24, 2026, 12:14 p.m.
Dr. Heilbrun met w/ #LindsayClancy over 3 days in April. First and third day with Dr. Mack. Those sessions were videotaped. he has spent 180 hours on the case. @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Aug. 24, 2026, 12:05 p.m.
Dr. Heilbrun has extensive courtroom experience for both defense & prosecution.
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
DA:When you work for prosecution and you find person is not criminally responsible for a crime, do you tell the prosecutor?
Dr.Yes, it's something we have to be able to do. @boston25 #lindsayclancy
Aug. 24, 2026, 11:54 a.m.
Next Govt rebuttal witness is Dr. Kirk Heilburn, forensic psychologist, he interviewed #LindsayClancy at Tewksbury State Hospital in April alongside previous witness, Dr.Mack. @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Aug. 24, 2026, 11:07 a.m.
Dr. Mack testimony is finished. Morning break now. #LindsayClancy @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Aug. 24, 2026, 11:03 a.m.
This testimony with Dr. Mack, questioning his credentials, his findings, DSM definitions, etc. is lengthy and challenging. Members of the jury seem to be paying close attention to this. some are taking notes. @boston25 #lindsayclancy
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Aug. 24, 2026, 11:00 a.m.
Prosecution's redirect of Dr. Mack is moving on. @boston25 #lindsayclancy
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Aug. 24, 2026, 10:52 a.m.
Prosecutor Buckingham is moving to introduce to trial video interview of #LindsayClancy recorded at Tewksbury State Hospital in April. Sidebar now. @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Aug. 24, 2026, 10:24 a.m.
Reddington's cross of Dr. Mack is contentious. Reddington is asking direct questions, Dr is offering lengthy technical answers.
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Reddington: "I'm referring to postpartum psychosis when she killed her kids. Do you know postpartum psychosis means?" @boston25 #lindsayclancy
Aug. 24, 2026, 9:38 a.m.
Reddington: is it fair to say when you go into an evaluation you have confirmatory bias. You are hoping you can help them (DA) out.
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Dr. Mack: No. #LindsayClancy @boston25
Aug. 24, 2026, 9:26 a.m.
Reddington is focusing on other cases in which Dr. Mack was "found unqualified to give an opinion." Dr. Mack is answering that Reddington is not being accurate in his assessment of what happened in those cases. @boston25 #lindsayclancy
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Aug. 24, 2026, 9:21 a.m.
In cross of Dr. Mack defense attorney Reddington is continuing his examination of Dr. Mack's resume. Today Reddington is focusing on Dr. M's testimony in other cases. @boston25 #LindsayClancy
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Aug. 24, 2026, 9:15 a.m.
Dr. Mack will appear via Zoom for remainder of his testimony this morning. @boston25 #LindsayClancy
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Aug. 24, 2026, 9:12 a.m.
Good Monday Morning. Back in Plymouth Superior Court for #LindsayClancy triple murder trial. Cross of Dr. Avram Mack continues, then 2 more gov't rebuttal witnesses are on tap for today. Sidebar now, jury coming in. @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) August 24, 2026
Outside the courthouse, people supporting different sides of the case held demonstrations.
Some attendees wore white in remembrance of the three children, while supporters of Clancy have previously gathered wearing pink.
The defense rested its case Friday after calling forensic psychiatrist Dr. Phillip Resnick as its final witness.
Resnick testified that Clancy was suffering from postpartum psychosis at the time of the killings and said she told him she had no control over her actions that night. He examined Clancy approximately four months after the deaths and supported the defense’s argument that she was experiencing a severe mental illness when the children were killed.
Prosecutors began their rebuttal case Friday by calling psychiatrist Dr. Avram Mack to the stand.
Mack testified that Clancy was experiencing a major depressive episode. He told jurors that even if Clancy had been experiencing psychosis, that condition alone would not necessarily prevent someone from understanding the difference between right and wrong.
“There’s no reason why psychosis in and of itself inhibits a person from knowing right from wrong,” Mack testified.
The testimony highlights the central dispute in the case, with defense experts arguing Clancy suffered from postpartum psychosis, while the prosecution’s experts have challenged that conclusion.
While there had been expectations that closing arguments could begin Monday or Tuesday, those plans have been delayed after prosecutors indicated they still have two additional rebuttal witnesses to call.
Once the prosecution finishes its rebuttal case, both sides are expected to deliver closing arguments before jurors begin deliberating on a verdict in one of Massachusetts’ most closely watched criminal trials.
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