Judge declares mistrial in case of US woman who killed her children

Lindsay Clancy looks on as jurors (out of frame) enter the courtroom during Clancy's murder trial at the Plymouth County Superior Court in Plymouth, Massachusetts, on September 4, 2026. CREDIT: AFP

A judge declared a mistrial on Friday in the high-profile trial of an American woman who killed her three young children after a jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict in a case that cast a spotlight on maternal mental heath.

Lindsay Clancy, 36, acknowledged strangling Cora, five, Dawson, three, and Callan, eight months, but claimed she was suffering from postpartum psychosis, excusing her from criminal responsibility.

After seven days of deliberations the 12-member jury was unable to reach unanimity, as required in criminal proceedings in the United States. A single juror opposed finding Clancy not guilty by reason of insanity.

“At this point, I’m going to declare that the jury is deadlocked, and I’m going to declare a mistrial,” Judge William Sullivan said.