The husband of a woman responsible for the deaths of their three children has revealed a disturbing detail he observed during a phone call with her before he knew about the tragic incident.
Lindsay Clancy, a mother from Duxbury, Massachusetts, is facing charges including two counts of murder, three counts of strangulation, and three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon after her children were killed in January 2023.
Her husband, Patrick, had left the house to pick up dinner when Lindsay used exercise bands to strangle the children before attempting suicide by jumping from a bedroom window.
The children tragically lost their lives, but Lindsay survived, though she was left paralyzed from the waist down.
Upon returning home, Patrick discovered the horrific scene and was described as ‘screaming in agony and shock’, according to a 911 call recording shared by The New Yorker.
Patrick has spoken about the harrowing experience in an interview with the publication, recalling the events leading up to his grim discovery.
While he was out, Lindsay texted him to pick up medication for their five-year-old daughter, Cora, and a takeout meal, noting: “I didn’t cook anything. It’s been a long day.”
Patrick attempted to call Lindsay to clarify which medicine to purchase, but she didn’t answer initially.
A minute later, she returned his call, sounding ‘like herself’, according to Patrick’s account to The New Yorker.
The call was brief, lasting only 14 seconds, but on reflection, Patrick realized something chilling.
He mentioned to the police that it seemed as though Lindsay had been preoccupied during their conversation.
In the interview with The New Yorker, Patrick also discussed Lindsay’s struggles with mental health leading up to the tragic events.
In her defense, Lindsay’s lawyer, Kevin Reddington, claimed that she suffered from severe postpartum depression and possibly postpartum psychosis, a condition associated with infanticide.
After her arrest, Lindsay called Patrick and revealed that she had heard a voice instructing her to harm the children.
Patrick recounted that during this call, Lindsay ‘did not sound like [his] wife’, and he ended the call after about a minute.
Despite everything, Patrick insists that he does not view his wife as a ‘monster’.
“I was married to someone who got sick,” Patrick explained.
The legal proceedings for Lindsay’s case are still underway.
If you or anyone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, support is available through Mental Health America. You can reach a 24-hour crisis center by calling or texting 988, or visit 988lifeline.org for a webchat. The Crisis Text Line is also available by texting MHA to 741741.
If you need to talk to someone about child welfare concerns, the Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) is accessible 24/7 and accepts calls from the United States, Canada, US Virgin Islands, Guam, and Puerto Rico.