Postpartum psychosis defence in Lindsay Clancy trial pits doctors, diaries against prosecutors

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Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial has spotlighted postpartum psychosis, a condition affecting one in 1,000 new mothers and linked to bipolar disorder, according to psychiatrist Dr Julia Riddle. Clancy’s defence argues she was in a psychotic episode when her three children, Cora, 5; Dawson, 3; and Callan, 8 months, were strangled in their Duxbury, Massachusetts home on January 24, 2023. Prosecutors counter she acted intentionally and rationally. Dr Alia Goodheart, who treated Clancy days before the killings, testified Clancy was discharged on January 5, 2023 after reporting improvement; her initial diagnosis was major depressive disorder without psychosis. Clancy did not sign a release for prior medical records, and a blood test did not reveal her medications. Diary entries read aloud include “I want help” and express guilt over sleep-training her infant. After the deaths, Clancy cut her wrists and neck and jumped from a window, leaving her partially paralysed. She required CPR and blood transfusions after cardiac arrest.