Psychologist Testifies Clancy Heard Male Voice Commanding Her to Kill Children, Self

A clinical and forensic psychologist told jurors Tuesday that Lindsay Clancy reported hearing a disembodied male voice commanding her to murder her three young children during her ongoing murder trial in Massachusetts. Dr. Paul Zeizel testified that after the deaths of Cora, Dawson, and Callan — all younger than 6 — Clancy relayed details of the alleged commands to her then-husband Patrick, stating the voice gave her no choice in the matter.

The 36-year-old Clancy faces three counts of first-degree murder stemming from the 2023 deaths of her children, discovered strangled at the family’s Duxbury residence. The prosecution concluded its case Monday, paving the way for the defense to present evidence supporting its assertion that Clancy was experiencing postpartum psychosis at the time of the killings. Clancy allegedly told her husband she loved him deeply while expressing difficulty controlling her emotions, Zeizel recounted during testimony.

When pressed by defense attorney Kevin Reddington about whether Clancy might be fabricating her reported symptoms, Zeizel firmly rejected the suggestion. The psychologist stated there was no indication of malingering and characterized Clancy as “an honest citizen” based on his clinical assessment following her hospitalization after the alleged killings.

Susan Clancy, the defendant’s mother-in-law, provided corroborating testimony about the defendant’s struggles during the 2022 holiday season, describing her as both a devoted parent and someone actively “begging for help.” The defense resumed presentations Wednesday morning as it continues efforts to convince the jury of Clancy’s mental state at the time of the children’s deaths.