Lindsay Clancy's ex-husband testifies about mental health before killings

Lindsay Clancy's murder trial opened Monday with emotional testimony from her ex-husband, Patrick Clancy, who told jurors that her mental health steadily deteriorated in the months before their three children were killed.

The Massachusetts mother is accused of strangling her children — Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and 8-month-old Callan — at the family's home in January 2023. While Lindsay Clancy does not dispute that she killed the children, her defence argues she was suffering from postpartum psychosis and plans to pursue an insanity defence.

Patrick Clancy describes wife's mental decline

Patrick Clancy testified that his former wife struggled with anxiety after each maternity leave, but said her condition worsened significantly following the birth of their youngest child.

"There were days when she had all three kids, different nap schedules, different needs. It was just really stressful," he told the court.

He said that by the autumn of 2022, "she kept getting worse and worse," prompting her to change psychiatrists because her treatment "wasn't working."

According to his testimony, Lindsay later returned home with different medications.

Testimony details suicidal and intrusive thoughts

Patrick testified that after switching medications in December 2022, "that was really where her big spiral started."

He said Lindsay lost a significant amount of weight, became severely depressed and began expressing suicidal thoughts.

Patrick also testified that she told him she was experiencing intrusive thoughts about harming their children. When he asked whether she believed she should stay away from them, she said no.

"It was very confusing because the next minute she was making them lunch or putting them to bed," he said. "I never saw Lindsay harm the kids."

Family sought psychiatric treatment

Patrick told jurors that Lindsay received treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital before attending a day programme in Providence. She later returned to hospital with concerns about suicide on Dec. 31, 2022, and also received treatment at McLean Hospital.

He testified that she appeared to improve in the days before the killings. On Jan. 24, 2023, he described it as "one of her best days."

Patrick said he left the house that afternoon to pick up takeout after Lindsay suggested ordering food. Prosecutors allege that while he was away, Lindsay took the children to the basement and used exercise bands to strangle them before jumping from a window, leaving herself paralysed.

Patrick Clancy is expected to continue his testimony on Wednesday.