Judge Denies Request to Question Holdout Juror in Lindsay Clancy Murder Case

PLYMOUTH, Mass. — October 21, 2026 — A Massachusetts judge has denied a request from Lindsay Clancy’s defense attorneys to question a holdout juror whose position contributed to a deadlocked jury and a mistrial in her high-profile murder case.

Judge William Sullivan rejected the defense’s request Wednesday, ruling that the court would not conduct an evidentiary hearing to investigate allegations concerning the juror’s conduct during jury selection and deliberations, according to ABC News and other media reports. Source: ABC News

Clancy, a Duxbury mother charged with the deaths of her three young children, faced trial in Plymouth Superior Court. The trial ended in a mistrial on September 4 after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict following days of deliberations.

During the trial, Clancy’s defense argued that she was experiencing postpartum psychosis when the children died in January 2023 and was not criminally responsible for her actions. Prosecutors argued that she should be held accountable for the killings.

The jury reportedly reached an 11-1 split, with the majority favoring a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. One juror maintained a different position, preventing the panel from reaching the unanimous decision required for a verdict.

Following the mistrial, defense attorney Kevin Reddington sought permission to investigate the holdout juror. The defense raised questions about whether the juror had accurately answered questions during jury selection, whether he had improperly used his cellphone during deliberations, and whether he followed the judge’s instructions on reasonable doubt.

Judge Sullivan denied the request, explaining that information and allegations that emerged after the mistrial could not be used to challenge whether declaring the mistrial was justified based on what was known at the time.

The defense has also filed a separate motion seeking dismissal of the charges on double-jeopardy grounds. That legal argument centers on whether Clancy can be tried again following the mistrial.

The judge’s latest decision does not resolve that separate question. Clancy is scheduled to return to court on November 2 for further proceedings, when the court is expected to address pending issues in the case.

The case has drawn widespread attention across Massachusetts and nationally because of the circumstances surrounding the children’s deaths and the legal questions involving mental illness, criminal responsibility and the possibility of a retrial.

The case remains ongoing, and no final decision on whether prosecutors will retry Clancy has been announced.

Source: ABC News, October 21, 2026. Additional reporting: The Boston Globe and Court TV.