Health · postpartum psychosis trialDefense Says Psychosis Leaves Mom Not Responsible for 3 DeathsAired August 27, 2026 at 9:23 PM UTCWritten September 7, 2026 at 9:22 PM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:00Three children are dead, and the defense says psychosis erased their mother's0:03capacity.0:04Jurors were asked to return a verdict of not guilty by reason of lack of criminal0:07responsibility, with the entire case turned from what happened to whether Lindsay0:11Clancy could substantially appreciate what she was doing when her three children0:14died, including a child identified as Dawson Clancy.0:17Will the jury find reasonable doubt that a qualifying mental disease or defect0:21removed that capacity, or find that capacity remained and a guilty verdict is0:26required?0:27Journals from late 2022 and early 2023 were presented as a contemporaneous record of0:32decline.0:32Prescribed medications logged, thoughts worsening, motivation gone, deep depression0:37deepening, while photographs, social media posts, journals, and family activities0:42from the same period were offered to show sustained love and care for the children0:46before the killings.0:47An out-of-character contrast central to the claim that psychosis, not intent, drove0:52the acts.0:52The psychosis claim was anchored to expert testimony.0:55Dr.0:56Phil Resnick was cited as finding Clancy in psychosis when the children died.1:00with Dr.1:00Paul Zizel and psychopharmacology expert Dr.1:03Carney cited as also supporting a qualifying disease or defect at that time linked1:07to postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis, prescription drug effects, and1:12inadequate medical care.1:13Against that, the closing argued government experts had not rebutted the showing1:17beyond a reasonable doubt, pointing to a government expert identified as Halburn1:21described as saying either conclusion was possible.1:24The law was framed as a twofold burden.1:27Jurors were told the prosecution must prove both guilt and that Clancy was not1:31suffering from a mental disease or defect that removed substantial capacity to1:35appreciate what she was doing.1:37Psychosis was presented as that defect with postpartum illness, medication effects,1:41and poor medical care together, leaving her without that capacity at the moment the1:45children died.1:46Three children died.1:47The closing asked jurors to separate that fact from the legal question of capacity,1:51arguing love and care before the killings, documented across journals and family1:56life, made the acts unrecognizable as the mother's prior conduct, and pointed toward2:00illness rather than understanding.2:02Records and Internet searches were cited as markers of escalating distress, multiple2:06prescription drugs, side effects, ketamine treatment, and suicide-related subjects,2:11alongside journals tracking worsening thoughts in late 2022 and early 2023.2:16The close also alleged investigative gaps.2:18A cup and powder, medication residue, and a possible pill crusher were collected but2:22not analyzed, leaving open what substances were in the home while the medication2:26effect theory was central.2:28Physical and digital evidence was contested directly.2:31Testimony that the children were strangled with knotted bands was disputed, and a2:34bull was argued not to prove chicken McNuggets were being prepared.2:38A phone record logging three flights of stairs at 5.38 p.m.2:41was argued not to fix location because the phone was later left on a bed, so device2:45movement could not be equated with her movement.2:47And the closing urged jurors not to decide psychosis by whether reported voices were2:52experienced as inside or outside the head.2:55Citing Dr.2:56Resnick's research that location does not determine psychosis.3:00The suicide attempt was characterized as severe and significant throat and wrist3:04wounds, a fall from a window, spinal and rib injuries, major surgery and a blood3:07transfusion.3:08With post-incident contacts with Chaplain Sheila and Dr.3:11Paul Ziesel offered as windows into mental state immediately after.3:14What jurors have not heard in this record is the prosecution's closing, the judge's3:18actual written instructions on how to apply burden and criminal responsibility, the3:22full testimony of the government experts, whether any forensic analysis was done on3:26the cup, powder, residue, or crusher, and the specific drugs, doses, and timing at3:31issue.3:31No verdict is contained in this record, so the decision between conviction and not3:35criminally responsible turns entirely on whether jurors find reasonable doubt about3:40a qualifying mental disease or defect.Explore with HeyDexFollow via RSSThe shortThe short ↗