Duxbury Mother Faces Court In Triple Murder Case

In a case that has gripped Massachusetts and sparked national debate on mental health and criminal justice, Lindsay Clancy, the Duxbury mother accused of killing her three young children, appeared in person at Plymouth Superior Court on February 20, 2026. This marked her first physical court appearance since the tragic events of January 24, 2023, when prosecutors allege she strangled her children—Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months—at their home before attempting to take her own life. Clancy, 35, has been paralyzed from the chest down since she jumped from a second-story window following the deaths of her children. For the past three years, she has attended all prior hearings remotely from a bed at Tewksbury State Hospital, where she remains under medical care and suicide watch. The logistical challenges of transporting her—requiring either an ambulance or specially equipped van—had delayed her in-person appearance until now. On Friday, court officers wheeled Clancy, dressed in a black sweater and cross necklace, into the courtroom. She was not restrained in the manner typical for murder defendants, a detail that did not go unnoticed by those present, as reported by The Boston Globe. During the brief hearing, Clancy spoke only to address the presiding judge, Judge William F. Sullivan, and conferred quietly with her attorney, Kevin Reddington. Her parents, Mike and Paula Musgrove, traveled from Connecticut to attend the hearing and offer support. They have reportedly spent much of the last three years in a hotel near Tewksbury State Hospital, visiting their daughter daily. Outside the courtroom, Paula Musgrove, visibly emotional, told reporters, "She's a loving mother, she always has been." Mike Musgrove added, "We love our daughter very much, and we’re here to support her in any way we possibly can." The hearing focused on several motions ahead of Clancy’s upcoming trial, now set to begin on July 20, 2026. Chief among them is a request by the defense to bifurcate the trial—a legal strategy that would split proceedings into two phases. The first phase would require the jury to determine whether Clancy committed the alleged murders. If found guilty, a second phase would follow, addressing whether she was suffering from a "mental disease or defect" at the time, as outlined in court documents and reported by The New York Post and WHDH. Oral arguments on this and other motions are scheduled for March 2, 2026. Reddington, Clancy’s defense attorney, explained the rationale behind the bifurcation request: "It makes sense if you think about it. You have the facts of the case, and respectfully to the DA, you know they want to just beat the drum on the facts of the case, all of these cases, to focus on the facts of the alleged crime. As opposed to what I feel is most important, which is the state of mind of the person, and you get into all of the testimony from the doctors and testing. So, you have the first part of the trial: the allegations and evidence on the alleged crime. The rest of the trial would be on the issue of whether or not there’s a lack of responsibility." Prosecutors, however, maintain that Clancy deliberately strangled her three children with exercise bands after sending her husband out on an errand. According to Boston 25 News, they argue that she was not suffering from postpartum depression, directly challenging the defense’s assertion that severe postpartum mental illness and overmedication drove her actions. The children’s father discovered them in the basement when he returned home, as detailed in multiple reports. Emergency responders found the children unconscious with signs of trauma; Cora and Dawson were pronounced dead at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Plymouth, while Callan died later at Boston Children’s Hospital. Clancy’s defense claims she was over-medicated and suffered from severe postpartum depression, with symptoms so severe that she reportedly heard voices. Both Clancy and her husband, Patrick, have filed lawsuits against her medical providers, alleging that doctors failed to properly diagnose, treat, and manage her postpartum mental health condition. These lawsuits claim that inadequate care and excessive medication contributed to the events of January 2023. Reddington emphasized the emotional toll the proceedings have taken on his client, telling reporters, "We are very protective of her and we don't want her to be stressed. I know it's been a very emotionally draining thing and she's nervous and scared, and I want her to gradually acclimate." He also noted that, despite earlier disputes with law enforcement over transport logistics, the sheriff’s and hospital staff had "done just a marvelous job of transportation and supplies and taking care of our ancillary issues." Prosecutors have charged Clancy with three counts of murder and two counts of strangulation. She has pleaded not guilty to all charges. A mental health evaluation by an expert selected by prosecutors is scheduled for April 10, 2026, and will likely play a pivotal role in the second phase of the trial if the bifurcation motion is granted. The defense has also requested that this evaluation be videotaped, seeking transparency in the process. The case has ignited fierce debate in the community and beyond about the intersection of mental health and legal responsibility. While some observers see Clancy as a tragic figure failed by the healthcare system, others argue that the law must hold her accountable regardless of mental illness. Prosecutors, for their part, insist that the evidence points to premeditation and reject the defense’s claims regarding postpartum depression. The defense, meanwhile, is preparing to present expert testimony and medical records to support their argument that Clancy’s actions were the result of a severe mental health crisis. Judge Sullivan, presiding over the case, has indicated that he will take time to review the motions before the next hearing. As the trial date approaches, both sides are preparing for what is certain to be a closely watched and emotionally charged legal battle. For now, the community of Duxbury—and indeed, much of the nation—waits for answers, grappling with the unthinkable loss of three young lives and the complex questions surrounding mental health and justice. The outcome of Lindsay Clancy’s trial may well set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future, forcing a reckoning with the challenges of assessing criminal responsibility in the context of mental illness. The next hearing in Clancy’s case is scheduled for March 2, 2026, with her trial slated to begin July 20. As the legal process unfolds, the story continues to stir strong emotions and difficult conversations about accountability, compassion, and the limits of the law.