A prosecution psychiatrist has revealed the chilling words Lindsay Clancy allegedly repeated while killing her three young children inside the family’s Massachusetts home. Dr. Avram Mack testified that Clancy said, “Go to God,” as she strangled each child with an exercise band on January 24, 2023. The disturbing testimony came as prosecutors began presenting rebuttal witnesses in response to the defense’s claim that Clancy was suffering from postpartum psychosis and was not criminally responsible for her actions.
5Mack, who evaluated Clancy at Tewksbury Hospital in April, testified at Plymouth County Superior Court about what she reportedly told him concerning the day of the killings. According to the psychiatrist, Clancy said she heard a loud male voice late that afternoon. “You should kill the kids. This is your last chance, so you can kill yourself,” the voice allegedly said.
Mack testified that Clancy then took her 3-year-old son Dawson into the basement and strangled him with an exercise band. She allegedly repeated, “Go to God,” while killing him.
Clancy is charged with killing Dawson, 5-year-old Cora and 8-month-old Callan at the family’s home in Duxbury, Massachusetts. She has acknowledged causing the children’s deaths but pleaded not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility. Her defense argues that postpartum psychosis and bipolar disorder prevented her from understanding or controlling her actions.
Clancy allegedly attempted to take her own life after killing the children. She survived but was left paralyzed and now uses a wheelchair.
Prosecution Psychiatrist Says Clancy Acted ‘Methodically’
5Mack told jurors that he believes Clancy retained the capacity required to be held criminally responsible. The psychiatrist testified that Clancy was experiencing a major depressive episode but disputed the defense’s contention that she was psychotic or experiencing mania when she killed her children.
“The deaths were done one by one in a way that was organized and tended to achieve a particular goal. Her attempt at suicide was also organized in that it included as many methods as possible,” Mack said.
He also offered his interpretation of Clancy’s alleged final words to the children. Mack testified that the phrase “Go to God” was “not only hope for the children but a description of the situation.”
According to ABC News, Mack said Clancy’s horror and shame after learning what she had done indicated that she understood the killings were wrong. Under Massachusetts law, the prosecution must prove that Clancy retained the substantial capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of her conduct or conform her behavior to the requirements of the law.
The insanity defense does not dispute that the acts occurred. It asks whether her mental condition made her legally responsible for them.
Defense Attorney Clashes With Dr. Avram Mack
5The psychiatrist’s testimony led to a heated exchange with defense attorney Kevin Reddington, forcing the judge to intervene as the two men repeatedly spoke over each other. Reddington challenged Mack’s professional experience with women and postpartum mental health conditions.
“Your area of interest is in adolescents who like to smoke weed and drink, isn’t it?” Reddington asked.
“No,” Mack responded.
Reddington later asked whether Mack had “ever come within breathing distance of a pregnant woman.”
As the tense cross-examination continued, the defense attorney appeared to question whether Mack was constructing portions of his testimony to support the prosecution. “What are you making this up?” Reddington asked.
Reddington also held up a copy of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders while noting that postpartum psychosis is not listed as a standalone diagnosis in the manual. “I didn’t write the DSM, so I’m not here to represent it,” Mack replied.
The defense attorney then directed Mack to language in the manual stating that women with bipolar disorder face an “increased risk of mood episodes” during pregnancy.
Experts Offer Conflicting Views Of Lindsay Clancy’s Mental State
5Mack’s conclusions directly contradict testimony offered by defense psychiatrist Dr. Phillip Resnick. Resnick testified that Clancy was experiencing postpartum psychosis and a command hallucination when she killed the children. He said she believed an outside force had taken control of her body and that she had to obey the voice instructing her to kill.
The psychiatrist also concluded that Clancy had bipolar disorder with major depression and could not conform her actions to the law.
Mack, however, said he found no evidence that Clancy met the criteria for bipolar disorder. He pointed to her ability to drive Cora to a medical appointment, build a snowman with the children and research medication on the day of the killings as evidence that she could think ahead and control her behavior.
Trial Moves Toward Closing Arguments
5The defense has rested its case, while prosecutors are completing their rebuttal testimony. According to The Associated Press, a first-degree murder conviction would carry a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.
If Clancy is found not criminally responsible, she would instead face commitment to a state psychiatric facility.
