Lindsay Clancy, 36, faces three counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of her children—Cora, Dawson, and Callan, all under age 6—who were found strangled at the family's home in January 2023. Her defense claims she was suffering from postpartum psychosis at the time of the killings. However, the prosecutor, who previously secured a conviction in the Susan Smith case, argued that Clancy's defense has not demonstrated a "break with reality."

The prosecutor questioned Clancy's intent, stating, "In these circumstances, Clancy had, like I said, all the prior treatment. But I still don't really see the break with reality." He also noted the difficulty in understanding her actions after the killings, saying, "What was her goal after? Let's say that even jumping out the window was a suicidal gesture, which obviously went terribly wrong for her, if that was the case. But what was her end game? And that's one disconnect I see."

Susan Smith, a South Carolina mother convicted of drowning her two young sons in 1994, was mentioned in the trial as a point of comparison. Smith is now eligible for parole after previously being denied release. Prosecutors in Clancy's case contended that she killed her children at least in part because the man she was romantically involved with did not want a relationship with a woman who had children.

Prosecutors rested their rebuttal case on Wednesday afternoon, with closing arguments scheduled for Thursday, August 27, 2026, before the jury begins deliberations at Plymouth Superior Court.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).