Patrick Clancy speaks publicly after mistrial in children deaths case
Patrick Clancy, former husband of Lindsay Clancy, told "60 Minutes" he did his best to protect their children and condemned online defamation, while noting his new marriage and plans for a family.
Patrick Clancy, the ex-husband of Lindsay Clancy, appeared on CBS' "60 Minutes" on Sunday, marking his first public comments since the mistrial in the case over the deaths of their three children. He said he believes he acted to the best of his ability but was unable to manage his ex-wife's postpartum mental illness, adding that mental illness can be "tragically deceptive."
"I think I did the best I could with what I had at the time, and I live with the outcome. I live with it every day," Clancy said.
Clancy said he has not been asked for forgiveness by Lindsay but offered it himself, and he rejected media characterizations of her as a "killer mom" or "monster," attributing her actions to mental illness. He described experiencing suicidal thoughts after the children’s deaths, noting a period when he doubted he would reach his 35th birthday.
He criticized online conspiracy theories that blame him for the deaths, calling them harmful distractions from the broader issue of perinatal mental health. He reiterated that his legal team has described the online attacks as a "relentless, escalating and destructive defamation campaign."
"The stuff that's out there online… is painful to see, and it makes it difficult to be in public," he said.
Clancy also spoke about his recent marriage to Dr. Rachel Danis, whom he met in a New York running club, and announced that the couple is planning to start a family. He expressed a desire to tell future children about their older siblings.
The jury in Lindsay Clancy's trial remained deadlocked after seven days of deliberation, leaving the case unresolved. A hearing on the next steps is scheduled for Sept. 29, and Clancy warned that a second trial would be "extraordinarily painful."
Background: Lindsay Clancy faces three murder charges for the 2023 deaths of her children, Cora, Dawson and Callan, and is currently held at Tewksbury State Hospital. She also suffered injuries after jumping from a second-floor window and is pursuing a civil case alleging medical negligence in treating her psychiatric condition.