Jury in Lindsay Clancy murder trial deadlocked, trial resumes after arrest outside courthouse

Jurors in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial returned to deliberations on Wednesday for a fifth day after notifying Judge William Sullivan on Tuesday that they had not reached a unanimous verdict. The 12-person panel, composed of nine women and three men, had previously informed the court after about an hour of discussion that they were deadlocked.

Around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, state police arrested 56-year-old Dawn Light of Sutton, Massachusetts, outside the Plymouth courthouse. Light was charged with aggravated intimidation of jurors, witnesses, police or court officials. She pleaded not guilty, claiming she was waiting to wave to the defendant rather than taking photos, though officials said her phone contained images and videos of jurors leaving the courthouse. Her attorney described the incident as a “complete misunderstanding” and said Light has “utmost respect” for the judicial process. The judge ordered Light to stay away from the courthouse and prohibited her from distributing any related photos.

Judge Sullivan briefly questioned each juror and alternate juror individually before sending them back to deliberate. Under Massachusetts law, a judge may request a jury to continue deliberations twice without their consent; further deadlock could lead to a mistrial.

Defense attorney Kevin Reddington called the jurors “incredibly hardworking” and said he could not predict when a verdict would be reached, but expressed confidence that a second trial would be possible if needed. He previously stated he would “absolutely” go to trial again.

The case centers on whether Lindsay Clancy is criminally responsible for the deaths of her three children—Cora, 5; Dawson, 3; and Callan, 8 months—who were killed on Jan. 24, 2023. The defense argues Clancy acted under auditory hallucinations linked to postpartum psychosis, while prosecutors contend she was not psychotic at the time and planned the killings, seeking a first-degree murder conviction that carries life imprisonment. The jury may also consider lesser charges or a verdict of not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility.