Patrick Clancy Says Lindsay Clancy’s Mental Health “Kept Getting Worse and Worse” Before Children’s Deaths

During emotional testimony in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, her former husband Patrick Clancy described what he called a gradual but alarming decline in her mental health following the birth of their third child. He told jurors that despite repeated attempts to get medical support and multiple medication changes, Lindsay’s condition continued to deteriorate in the months leading up to the deaths of their three children.

Patrick Clancy appeared as the first witness for prosecutors in the trial of his former wife, who is accused of killing their children in January 2023 before attempting to take her own life.

Lindsay Clancy, 35, faces three charges of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of five-year-old Cora, three-year-old Dawson, and eight-month-old Callan. Prosecutors allege that she strangled the children using exercise bands inside their Duxbury, Massachusetts home. Following the deaths, Lindsay attempted suicide by jumping from a second-story window, an act that left her permanently paralyzed from the waist down, according to her attorneys.

Throughout his testimony, Patrick focused heavily on Lindsay’s personality before the tragedy, describing her as a loving and committed mother whose mental health struggles became increasingly severe after the arrival of their youngest child.

Lindsay’s Declining Mental Health After Her Third Child

Patrick told the court that Lindsay had experienced anxiety after returning to work following the births of their first two children. However, he said those difficulties became much more serious after Callan was born.

According to his testimony, Lindsay began taking Zoloft in September 2022 in an effort to manage her anxiety as she prepared to return to her job.

Patrick recalled that Lindsay believed the medication would help her cope, telling him that she thought it would improve her anxiety and make the transition back to work easier.

However, instead of improving, Patrick said Lindsay’s condition continued to decline.

“She just kept getting worse and worse,” he told jurors.

He described a period marked by severe insomnia, including occasions where Lindsay reportedly went nearly two days without sleeping. During this time, she sought help from several mental health professionals and tried different medications in an effort to find treatment that worked.

Despite those efforts, Patrick said her symptoms became increasingly concerning.

The Beginning of a Serious Mental Health Crisis

Patrick testified that Lindsay’s condition took a significant turn after she began taking Seroquel, an antipsychotic medication, in early December 2022.

Seroquel is commonly prescribed for conditions including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder.

According to Patrick, Lindsay’s “big spiral” began after starting the medication.

He said she experienced dramatic changes, including losing a significant amount of weight, becoming deeply depressed, and revealing suicidal thoughts for the first time during their relationship.

Patrick also testified that Lindsay began experiencing disturbing intrusive thoughts, including thoughts about harming their children.

He told the court that he asked Lindsay whether she believed she needed to be separated from the children for their safety.

According to Patrick, she told him no.

He described the situation as confusing because Lindsay would express frightening thoughts but then continue behaving like a caring mother moments later — preparing meals, playing with the children, and helping them get ready for bed.

Patrick emphasized that Lindsay never told him she had a specific plan to harm the children. He said she never described a method, never claimed that voices were instructing her to hurt them, and never gave him the impression that she intended to act on those thoughts.

Seeking Emergency Mental Health Support

Patrick testified that Lindsay’s mental health concerns escalated further in December 2022.

After Lindsay told her father on December 15 that she wanted to die, Patrick drove her to Massachusetts General Hospital seeking help.

She later briefly entered a postpartum mental health program at Women & Infants Hospital in Rhode Island, but doctors determined that the program was not the right fit for her needs.

When Lindsay continued experiencing suicidal thoughts, Patrick brought her back to Massachusetts General Hospital on December 31.

He said the family was desperate for answers because they did not have a clear diagnosis and did not understand what was happening.

Lindsay was eventually admitted to McLean Hospital on January 1.

Patrick told jurors that Lindsay later expressed frustration with her treatment there, saying she felt she was not receiving enough care and had gone several days without seeing a doctor.

He testified that he would have paid any amount of money necessary if insurance coverage had become an issue because he wanted Lindsay to receive proper treatment.

However, Lindsay was discharged from McLean Hospital on January 5.

Patrick picked her up and said she had another medical appointment scheduled for the following day.

Family Moments Before the Tragedy

Despite Lindsay’s mental health struggles, Patrick testified that there were moments shortly before the killings when she appeared to be improving.

He described several family outings that took place in the weeks before the tragedy.

The family visited a museum on January 8 and later traveled to Cape Cod on January 15, where they spent time together at a water park.

Jurors were shown videos from the trip, including footage of Lindsay interacting with her children.

Patrick said Lindsay appeared happier, more engaged, and more capable of participating in family activities.

While describing his children, Patrick became emotional on the witness stand.

He spoke lovingly about each child.

He described Cora as a caring child who enjoyed friendships and liked helping others.

Dawson, he said, loved firefighters, trucks, and the children’s show “Paw Patrol.”

Callan, the youngest child, was described simply as “a happy baby.”

Patrick also recalled celebrating Cora’s birthday shortly before the tragedy, saying Lindsay had organized the event and purchased supplies for the celebration.

The Day the Children Died

Patrick testified that January 24, 2023, began like an ordinary day.

Lindsay took Cora to a scheduled pediatric appointment while Patrick stayed home with the younger children.

He told jurors that Lindsay seemed to be having one of her best days.

After returning home, Lindsay went about normal activities while Patrick worked from his home office.

The couple exchanged messages throughout the day.

Later that afternoon, Lindsay sent Patrick a message asking whether he wanted to order takeout because she had not prepared dinner and had experienced a long day.

She suggested ordering from ThreeV, a restaurant farther away than places they normally used.

After placing the order, Patrick went upstairs, held baby Callan briefly, kissed Cora on the head, and told the children he would be back soon.

He testified that Lindsay was standing near the basement stairs holding Callan when he left.

When asked about her appearance and behavior at that moment, Patrick said she seemed normal.

Patrick’s Public Forgiveness and Legal Action

In the days after the deaths, Patrick publicly expressed forgiveness toward Lindsay.

In a statement shared through a fundraising page created for the family, he asked others to forgive her as he had.

Patrick later filed lawsuits against several medical providers involved in Lindsay’s care, including her psychiatrist.

The lawsuits allege that healthcare professionals failed to properly identify and treat what he described as a severe postpartum psychiatric condition.

The case has become closely watched because it involves both a devastating crime and complex questions about mental illness, responsibility, and whether Lindsay’s condition affected her ability to understand her actions.

As the trial continues, jurors will weigh the evidence presented by both sides — prosecutors arguing that the killings were intentional, and the defense maintaining that Lindsay was experiencing a severe psychiatric crisis at the time.