Lindsay Clancy’s husband Patrick Clancy placed the 911 call alerting Massachusetts police to his wife’s suspected suicide attempt, Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz revealed in a news conference on January 25, 2023. Lindsay Clancy is accused of killing her two young children and attempting to kill her third child at her Duxbury home, the district attorney said.
Cruz said Patrick Clancy called the police at 6:11 p.m. on January 24, 2023, to report a female resident had jumped from a window at the couple’s Duxbury home. When first responders arrived, they located Lindsay Clancy, 32, and treated her injuries at the scene before transporting her to a nearby hospital.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Patrick Clancy. It has raised more than $560,000.
Responders then found the couple’s three children “unconscious, with obvious signs of severe trauma,” Cruz said. They were taken to the hospital, where the two older children, Cora Clancy, 5, and Dawson Clancy, 3, were pronounced dead. The third child, a 7-month-old male infant, was taken to the hospital, Cruz said.
However, on January 27, authorities confirmed the infant has also died, according to WMUR.
Here’s what you need to know:
The DA Says Lindsay Clancy Will Be Charged With Murder, Strangulation & Assault With a Deadly Weapon, But Her Husband Says He Forgives Her
Cruz said Lindsay Clancy will be charged in the deaths of her two young children to and injuring of the third.
“An arrest warrant has been issued for Lindsay Clancy for 2 counts of Homicide and 3 counts each of Strangulation, and Assault and Battery with a Deadly Weapon for the deaths of 5-year-old Cora Clancy and 3-year-old Dawson Clancy. Lindsay Clancy is under police custody,” Cruz tweeted on January 25, 2023.
UPDATE: An arrest warrant has been issued for Lindsay Clancy for 2 counts of Homicide and 3 counts each of Strangulation, and Assault and Battery with a Deadly Weapon for the deaths of 5 year-old Cora Clancy and 3 year-old Dawson Clancy. Lindsay Clancy is under police custody.
Cruz said the manner and means of the children’s deaths will be determined by the medical examiner’s office, but “preliminarily, it appears the children were strangled.”
When a reporter asked if postpartum psychosis could have played a role in the incident, Cruz said he was “not in a position to comment on any mental health issues,” but that “everything is being looked at.”
At the time of the news conference, Lindsay Clancy remained hospitalized in Boston, but will be arraigned as soon as possible, Cruz said. He described her medical status as a “moving target,” and said he was waiting for updates on her condition.
Through a GoFundMe page, Patrick Clancy released a lengthy statement on January 28, 2023, asking people to forgive his wife. The statement read:
Thank you all for your love and support. The warmth I’ve received from the community is palpable and your generosity gives me hope that I can focus on some sort of healing. I’ve seen all of your messages and contributions, including some from people I haven’t seen in over a decade and many I’ve never met. I see and appreciate everyone of you.
A lot of people have said they can’t imagine and they’re right, there’s absolutely nothing that can prepare you. The shock and pain is excruciating and relentless. I’m constantly reminded of them and with the little sleep I get, I dream about them on repeat. Any parent knows, it’s impossible to understand how much you will love your kids until you have them. The same goes for understanding the devastation of losing them. Cora, Dawson, and Callan were the essence of my life and I’m completely lost without them.
My family was the best thing that ever happened to me. I took so much pride in being Lindsay’s husband and a dad to Cora, Dawson, and Callan. I always reminded myself that each day with them was a new gift. Callan usually woke up first and would rest his head on my shoulder for a few minutes as he adjusted to morning. Dawson typically sang or spoke his thoughts out loud for a while before we’d go get him. Cora was a big girl and would simply walk downstairs. I can still vividly picture her coming into the living room each morning with her hair in a mess, smile on her face. We always started our days together, reading books, cuddling up on the couch, and playing with magnet tiles. I loved taking them places, whether it was scooting at Chandler elementary, vacation, skiing, out on the boat, or to Duxbury Beach, one of our favorite places on earth. They gave me purpose and I never took it for granted. There is now a massive void where that purpose once was.
Cora had an infectious laugh and was stunningly beautiful. She was the cautious one, but it was really because she was so caring. She used to say she wanted to be a doctor and a mama when she grew up and she would practice by giving Callan check ups. If she was leaving the house to go somewhere, she would pick someone to take care of Caroline and Charlotte, her baby dolls. She had all the doll accessories available, so her sitters were well-equipped. Before she turned 2, she was already wrapping them in perfect swaddles. We would tell her she’s such a “good little mama.” She loved all babies, both real and pretend. She loved sloths, unicorns, tea parties, going to lunch with Nana and Grandpa, and giving presents to people. She knew everything about princesses, her favorite being Sofia the First. She truly loved her brothers and us and said it often in her sweet voice. We did a lot of father-daughter activities together, like skiing and visiting San Francisco or just talking. I loved her, my first born, so much.
Dawson had beautiful, bold, brown eyes that beamed with friendship. He was naturally humorous and generous beyond the norm of a typical toddler, always willing to share his toys with others. For all the love he received, he always gave back more. His best quality was his pure kindness. He loved trucks, tractors, dinosaurs, Paw Patrol, “worker guys” and being outside. He was adventurous and mischievous and enjoyed causing trouble, which he typically found hilarious. He was also remarkably smart. We always said if we didn’t save enough for retirement, it’ll be ok – we’ll just live in Dawson’s guest house. He would hug me tighter than most adults and every night he told me in consistent words at bedtime, without fail, “goodnight dada, I love you.” We had a special bond from day 1. He was my buddy, my first boy, and truly a gift.
Callan was our easy going child. I always said it was because he was the third child – he had to adapt and he did easily. He was born with hardly any fuss and was by far our best sleeper. He was just an incredibly happy and vibrant baby, constantly smiling. Our nickname for him was “Happy Callan.” He was sitting on his own and you could tell he was enjoying his growing independence as he would grab any object within reach. Sometimes he joined my Microsoft calls in the background, playing in his jumpy. I would keep my camera on, too proud to leave it off. He started saying “Dada” whenever I walked in the room. The last moment we had together was our routine. I would come up from my office at the end of the day and swing him between my legs while he laughed and smiled. If I was ever having a bad day, Callan always knew how to heal me. Perhaps that’s why he held on a little longer – to spare me whatever pain he could. As excruciating as it was, I was fortunate and grateful to feel his warmth until his very last moment. Faith is my only hope of believing he felt mine.
Callan died with enormous courage despite being so little. Maybe it was his way of demonstrating what I need to do to press forward. I’ll always try to draw inspiration from him. He’ll always be my little hero.
I want to share some thoughts about Lindsay. She’s recently been portrayed largely by people who have never met her and never knew who the real Lindsay was. Our marriage was wonderful and diametrically grew stronger as her condition rapidly worsened. I took as much pride in being her husband as I did in being a father and felt persistently lucky to have her in my life. I still remember the very moment I first laid eyes on her and can recall how overcome I was with the kind of love at first sight you only see in movies. It really didn’t take long before I was certain I wanted to marry her. We said “I love you” to each other multiple times daily, as if it were a reflex. We habitually started every morning with a passionate hug, yielding a sigh of relief like we had each received the perfect medicine. If too much time passed with out a hug, she’d look at me and ask, “did you forget?” We mutually understood the reality that people can have bad days, but we stuck to the rule that when one of us got lost, the other was always there to bring them home, always. She loved being a nurse, but nothing matched her intense love for our kids and dedication to being a mother. It was all she ever wanted. Her passion taught me how to be a better father.
I want to ask all of you that you find it deep within yourselves to forgive Lindsay, as I have. The real Lindsay was generously loving and caring towards everyone – me, our kids, family, friends, and her patients. The very fibers of her soul are loving. All I wish for her now is that she can somehow find peace.
I promise I’ll put all my energy into healing and rediscovering my purpose. I owe that to all of you, Duxbury fire and police, our compassionate healthcare workers, our local faith leaders, the Microsoft community, and especially Cora, Dawson, and Callan. I don’t know how or when I’ll be able to do it, but your love and generosity will help me get started. I know that love always wins.
Cora, Dawson, and Callan, you gave me so much in your short time here. I don’t know if the pain will ever go away, but I’ll do my best to carry on in your honor. Dada loves you so much and will always remember you.
With love and endless gratitude
Lindsay Clancy Was a Labor & Delivery Nurse at a Major Hospital Who Was Being Treated for Postpartum Depression, Reports Say
Radio host John DePetro tweeted that Lindsay Clancy “was in a very intensive five day a week program for PPD, trying to get help. Curious to hear a statement from the individuals treating her and what was missed. Sounds like she was in a desperate situation.”
DePetro wrote that a friend of Lindsay Clancy told him that “her husband was working from home instead of going in to work to be able to try and support her daily while she went to a program 5 days a week for PPD. And in the 25 minutes it took him to pick up take out, the unthinkable happened.”
According to journalist Amanda Pitts of WPRI-TV, “[Lindsay] Clancy worked as a labor and delivery nurse at Mass General Hospital.”
Lindsay Clancy’s Facebook page listed her current profession as “Labor & Delivery RN at Massachusetts General Hospital.”
Massachusetts General Hospital officials confirmed Clancy’s employment, telling The Boston Globe, “We are shocked and saddened to learn of this unthinkable tragedy. We extend our deepest sympathies to all those affected by these devastating events.”
According to her Facebook page, Clancy previously worked as a nursing assistant at South Shore Hospital in Massachusetts.
A LinkedIn page for then-named Lindsay Musgrove lists her as certified or licensed in
“Neonatal Resuscitation Program”, “Pediatric Advanced Life Support” and “Advanced Cardiac Life Support.”
The Boston Globe reported that in July 2022, Lindsay Clancy posted about her past struggles with postpartum anxiety on Facebook. But six weeks after the birth of her third child, the mother of three posted she was feeling “dialed in,” and that focusing on nutrition, mindset and exercise had “made all the difference.”
A woman wrote in the comment thread of a GoFundMe page set up to help Clancy’s husband:
Lindsay was my nurse when I delivered my 3rd baby. It was her first night shift back to work after having her 1st baby. She was so sweet and happy talking about her new baby girl. She was an excellent nurse; smart & attentive. She advocated for me and my baby. She kept us safe and well cared for. I’m heartbroken that she and her family couldn’t be afforded the same support and safety in their time of need. Lindsay and Patrick you are not alone.
Lindsay Clancy Wrote of Life Being ‘Messy’ & ‘Not Perfect’ in High School Yearbook
According to the Boston Globe, an old engagement announcement in the Scituate Mariner newspaper said Lindsay Musgrove and Patrick Clancy were married in 2016 in Southington, Connecticut.
“She earned a biology degree from Quinnipiac University in 2012,” the Globe quoted the announcement. “Before that, she graduated in 2008 from Lyman Hall High School in Wallingford, Conn.”
“I know it’s not perfect, but it’s life. Life is messy sometimes,” Lindsay Marie Musgrove wrote in her high school yearbook, the Globe reported. “No matter how hard you fight it, you fall. And it’s scary. Except there’s an upside to free falling. It’s the chance you give your friends to catch you,” she quoted the long-running TV medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy.”
According to the Clancy’s wedding registry website at The Knot, the couple first met in South Boston through Patrick Clancy’s “cousin and sister,” and became engaged on December 31, 2015.
Lindsay Clancy Wrote That She Was ‘Unbelievably Thankful for This Family & Life’
Lindsay Clancy often posted photos of her children on Facebook along with captions professing her love and gratefulness for her family.
In 2019, she captioned a photo of the two oldest kids at Christmas, “I feel like the luckiest mama in the whole wide world.”
A December 2020 photo features Lindsay Clancy with her husband and two of their children at Christmas.
A July 2022 photo shows her kissing the infant’s cheek. In September 2022, she posted a picture of herself holding a baby in a swimming pool.
In a November 2022 Facebook post, she wrote, “So unbelievably thankful for this family and life ❤️.”
Her Facebook page profile and banner photos feature an infant and two young children holding a baby.
“He’s an old soul ❤️,” Clancy wrote with another picture of her oldest son.
“She completes me 🎃,” she wrote with a Halloween picture of her daughter.
“Best moment ever 💙,” she wrote with a picture showing her cradling a baby shortly after giving birth.
The Kids’ Great-Grandmother Told a Local Television Station That Nothing Seemed Wrong a Week Before the Killings
According to NBC Boston, the children’s great-grandmother, Rita Musgrove, said she had recently spoken with Lindsay Clancy and that everything seemed fine.
“It’s a pretty shocking thing, and it is heartbreaking,” Musgrove told the outlet.
“They were just beautiful, beautiful children. Well cared for — they were just beautiful, that’s it,” the children’s aunt, Donna Jesse, told NBC. “They had a beautiful life.”
At the news conference, Cruz said law enforcement are continuing to “build a criminal case,” with local and state police working “around the clock.”
Cruz also praised the “professionalism” of the Duxbury Police and Fire departments and the state police.
“I’m sure many of them will not forget what they saw last evening,” he said. “It’s a challenging event.”
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