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Patrick Clancy recalled the harrowing moments when he found his three children unresponsive after they were allegedly strangled by their mother, Lindsay Clancy.Lindsay Clancy, Patrick's ex-wife, is facing murder charges in the January 2023 deaths of Cora, 5; Dawson, 3; and Callan, 8 months. She has pleaded not guilty to all three counts.Prosecutors allege that Lindsay methodically planned the murders by sending her husband to pick up medication and takeout, and then strangling the children with exercise bands at their Duxbury, Massachusetts, home.After the alleged killings, Lindsay cut her wrists and neck and jumped out of a second-story window, leaving her paralyzed.The defense argues that she lacks criminal responsibility – also known as an insanity defense – because she was suffering from postpartum depression and psychosis at the time of the killings.Patrick, who was the first witness called to the stand, testified on July 27 and 29 in part about the hours leading up to the killings.Patrick Clancy details finding three children strangledWhen Patrick Clancy returned home after picking up takeout, he recalled the house being quiet, which was unusual. When he called out without a response, he began checking upstairs for his wife and children.After looking in the children's bedrooms, Patrick went to his and Lindsay's bedroom door, which was locked. Once he unlocked the door and entered, he "saw blood everywhere," he said. Eventually, he made his way downstairs and outside, where he discovered his wife on the ground.It wasn't until after he called 911 and emergency personnel arrived to render aid to Lindsay that Patrick went back inside the home to continue searching for the children.In the basement, Patrick found Cora and Callan with bands around their necks. After removing them, he looked for Dawson, who he found in another room in the basement.When prosecutors asked what condition Dawson was in when he found him, Patrick said, "I knew he was gone."Watch Patrick Clancy's testimony in the video at the top of this story.Patrick Clancy recounts hours before children's killingsOn July 27, Patrick testified about the day of the killings. On the morning of Jan. 24, 2023, Lindsay brought their daughter, Cora, to the pediatrician for her 5-year checkup, he said.At home, where Patrick was caring for the two other children, he texted a photo of Dawson to his then-wife. The 3-year-old was excited because he fully dressed himself for the first time that morning, Patrick said.During the day, Patrick worked from his basement office while Lindsay played outside with the children, building a snowman in their yard.By that evening, Lindsay texted Patrick asking if he wanted to get takeout for dinner. He texted her his order, which she called in.Before leaving to pick up dinner, Patrick rocked Callan on his knees and kissed Cora on the head, while Dawson was eating chicken nuggets on the couch, he said.When asked about his wife's mood that day, Patrick said, "She seemed happy.""She was having one of her best days," he added.Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. Keep up with her on X @melinakh and Instagram @bymelinakhan.
