Vigil held for Lindsay Clancy's children, 5 and 3, as Duxbury mom faces charges for fatal strangling
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DUXBURY, MASSACHUSETTS: A vigil was held on the night of January 26 for two Massachusetts children, aged three and five, who were strangled to death by their mother Lindsay Clancy, before she tried to kill her eight-month-old infant and leaped out of her home's top window.
The alleged homicide-suicide attempt was survived by midwife Lindsay Clancy, 32, and her eight-month-old child, but Cora, 5, and Dawson, 3, were pronounced dead when they arrived at the hospital. According to witnesses, CPR was performed on the infant there. Duxbury's Holy Family Church kept vigil for the family and offered its gratitude to the emergency personnel who attended to the devastating fallout of the catastrophe.
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Fr Robert Deehan, who oversaw the event, said, "Before this tragic event, they were a happy and loving family. Sadly, the struggle Lindsay had in trying to deal with mental illness became overwhelming which led to such devastating results."
“Before this tragic event, they were a happy, loving couple & family.” Emotional vigil addresses mental health/postpartum struggles following pending charges against Lindsay Clancy in deaths of 3-year old & 5-year-old, baby boy’s critical injuries #Boston25 AT 10 & 11 pic.twitter.com/GAqUSGA6Y7
— Drew Karedes (@DrewKaredes) January 27, 2023
According to sources, detectives are considering the likelihood that Lindsay Clancy experienced postpartum psychosis, WBZ-TV reported on January 25. The vigil took place at the same time that Matthew Glaser, who identified himself as an extended family member, launched a GoFundMe page to raise money to help Lindsay's husband Patrick Clancy, 34, pay for medical bills, funeral expenses, and legal assistance. Patrick returned home on January 24 at around 6 pm to discover his wife had attempted suicide. He immediately called the police.
The website exceeded its initial $250,000 goal in less than 14 hours and has since received over $324,000, including a gift from Charlie McAvoy, a standout defenseman for the Boston Bruins, according to the Boston Herald. "This assistance is especially needed because Pat will be unable to work for the foreseeable future as he weathers this painful, life-altering tragedy," Glaser wrote. "We all know Pat to be the most kind and genuine person. As someone who is always willing to support others, we sincerely thank you for offering yours."
Following her discharge from the hospital, Lindsay, who is still in police custody, will be charged with two counts of homicide, three counts of strangling, and three counts of assault and battery with a deadly weapon for the deaths of her two children.
On the night of January 24, Patrick Clancy, Lindsay's husband, "popped out for 25 minutes" to pick up a takeaway order. When he came back, he discovered his wife had passed out. Friends of the family now assert that Patrick started working from home in order to keep a close eye on his wife, who was also enrolled five days a week in an "intense" post-partum depression clinic.
I was told Lindsay Clancy was in a very intensive five day a week program for PPD, trying to get help. Curious to hear a statement from the individuals treating her and what was missed. Sounds like she was in a desperate situation. https://t.co/o39RhvlGqL
— John DePetro Show (@JohnDePetroshow) January 26, 2023
Although postpartum depression is common among new mothers, it can also occasionally progress to full postpartum psychosis. A mother may experience severe despair and hallucinations in this severe form of PPD, which may inspire her to hurt herself, her children, or both.
Officers were called to the family's house on January 24 when the distraught husband saw his wife lying on the ground under a second-story window. They found the three small children "unconscious" and "with obvious signs of trauma" upstairs. Timothy Cruz, the district attorney for Plymouth, said they appeared to have all been strangled. The seven-month-old boy was airlifted to Boston's Children's Hospital where he is alive and receiving medical care. Cora, 5, and Dawson, 3, were both declared dead when they arrived at the hospital.