Massachusetts murder trial resumes with State Police testimony

The trial of Lindsay Clancy, charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of her three children in Duxbury, Massachusetts, resumed Thursday with the testimony of two State Police investigators.

State Police Sergeant Kyle Pavao, a former cybercrime unit member, described his analysis of a Microsoft Surface Pro seized from the home. He confirmed that the device showed a visit to a website titled “suicide methods” on Aug. 23, 2022, accessed through a series of clicks that began on a Wikipedia page for singer-songwriter Tom Hall, who died by suicide.

"That search was not actually methods of suicide; it was from the Tom Hall link," defense attorney Kevin Reddington said, questioning whether anyone other than Clancy could have used the computer.

After Pavao’s testimony, former State Police detective Timothy Chiappini, now a critical investigations unit commander, testified about a forensic examination of Clancy’s iPhone. He read entries from Clancy’s notes app dated Oct. 25, 2022, in which she described feelings of sadness, depression, and difficulty parenting her children. Chiappini also presented text messages and call logs from Jan. 24, 2023, the day the children died, showing brief communications between Clancy and her husband, Patrick, about dinner plans and several short phone calls.

Clancy, 36, has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors allege she planned the murders and later staged a suicide attempt, while her lawyer argues she was suffering from postpartum psychosis and was overmedicated, claiming she should not be held criminally responsible. The case could result in life imprisonment without parole, or a commitment to a state psychiatric facility if the jury finds her not criminally responsible.

Judge William Sullivan indicated the jury might conclude deliberations early Thursday, granting them a day off on Friday. So far, 70 witnesses have testified as the prosecution nears the end of its case.