Lindsay Clancy Said a “Male Voice” Ordered Her to Kill Her Three Children, Psychologist Testifies

A Massachusetts mother accused of killing her three young children allegedly told a psychologist that she heard a male voice ordering her to kill them and then take her own life. The testimony became a central part of the defense’s argument that she was experiencing a severe psychiatric crisis at the time of the deaths.

Lindsay Clancy, 36, is charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of her children: Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, who was just eight months old. The children died in January 2023 at the family’s home in Duxbury, Massachusetts.

On August 19, 2026, clinical and forensic psychologist Dr. Paul Zeizel testified for the defense during Clancy’s trial. He recalled visiting her in the hospital after the incident and later allowing her to speak with her husband, Patrick Clancy, using his phone.

According to Zeizel’s testimony, Lindsay told Patrick that she loved him and described hearing a male voice that allegedly told her she had no choice but to kill her children and then herself.

When questioned about whether she might have fabricated her symptoms, Zeizel testified that he saw no evidence that she was pretending to be mentally ill. He described her as presenting honestly during their interactions.

The defense has argued that Lindsay suffered from postpartum psychosis and that her mental state left her unable to appreciate the nature or wrongfulness of her actions. Her attorney has also said that she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and that medication prescribed for postpartum depression may have worsened her condition.

Prosecutors have presented a different interpretation. They argued that the killings were deliberate, alleging that Lindsay arranged for Patrick to leave the house so she could be alone with the children. Prosecutors also pointed to the circumstances surrounding the deaths and her actions before the incident as evidence that she should be held criminally responsible.

Testimony from family members offered further insight into her condition in the months before the tragedy. Her mother, Paula Musgrove, described messages in which Lindsay said she was frightened, struggling with severe insomnia and worried that something was wrong. Her former mother-in-law, Susan Clancy, also testified that Lindsay had been asking for help.

The trial has highlighted the difficult questions surrounding postpartum mental illness and criminal responsibility. The defense’s account of a psychiatric crisis has been contested by prosecutors, and expert witnesses have offered differing views on whether Lindsay understood the consequences of her actions.

The case centers not only on what happened to three young children, but also on whether Lindsay’s mental state meets the legal standard for criminal responsibility. The psychologist’s testimony forms one part of the evidence jurors must consider.

Source: usmagazine