Lindsay Clancy seated in Plymouth Superior Court during a pretrial conference in June 2026.
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co

Lindsay Clancy’s Lawyer Says a Hot Mic Caught Someone Say “Shut Her Up” During Her Baby’s Autopsy Testimony. Prosecutors Say the Words Were “Shut It Off.”

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Lindsay Clancy, 35, is on trial in Plymouth, Massachusetts, for the January 24, 2023, strangulation deaths of her children—Cora (5), Dawson (3), and Callan (8 months)—at their Duxbury home. A former labor-and-delivery nurse, she has pleaded not guilty. Her defense argues she was in the grip of severe postpartum psychosis and lacked criminal responsibility. She uses a wheelchair after jumping from a second-story window that night.

Lindsay Clancy seated in Plymouth Superior Court during a pretrial conference on June 18, 2026.
Lindsay Clancy sits in Plymouth Superior Court on June 18, 2026, ahead of her murder trial over the deaths of her three children in Duxbury. Photo by USA TODAY Network via Reuters.
Lindsay Clancy seated in a courtroom during jury selection at Plymouth Superior Court
During jury selection for her triple murder trial at Plymouth Superior Court on July 22, 2026, Lindsay Clancy sits in the courtroom awaiting the next prospective juror. Photo by Greg Derr / Pool via REUTERS.
A photo of a pregnant Lindsay Clancy with husband Patrick, shown as evidence in her murder trial at Plymouth Superior Court
At Plymouth Superior Court on August 3, 2026, jurors viewed a Duxbury pregnancy photo of Lindsay Clancy alongside her husband Patrick, entered into evidence during her murder trial. Photo by Greg Derr / Pool via REUTERS.

Her ex-husband, Patrick Clancy (they have since divorced; he has remarried), has publicly forgiven her, testified about her mental-health struggles and treatment efforts, and sued some of her healthcare providers—bolstering the defense’s focus on illness over intentional murder.

Patrick Clancy looks toward the defense table where Lindsay Clancy is seated before testifying at her murder trial in Plymouth Superior Court
Before taking the stand at Plymouth Superior Court, Patrick Clancy turns toward the defense table where his ex-wife Lindsay Clancy sits, during her murder trial on July 28, 2026. Photo by USA TODAY Network via Reuters.
Lindsay Clancy seated at the defense table in Plymouth Superior Court
At Plymouth Superior Court on July 30, 2026, Lindsay Clancy is seen at the defense table as her murder trial prepares to get underway. Photo by CJ Gunther / Pool via REUTERS.

On Thursday, August 6, medical examiner Dr. Kimberly Springer testified about Callan’s autopsy and showed photos to the jury (barred from public release). Clancy sobbed and was wheeled out. The next day, defense attorney Kevin Reddington told Judge William Sullivan that a hot mic picked up someone saying “shut her up” during that moment.

Lindsay Clancy seated in a courtroom at Plymouth Superior Court in Massachusetts
Lindsay Clancy sits in the courtroom at Plymouth Superior Court in Massachusetts on August 3, 2026. Photo by Greg Derr/Pool via REUTERS.
Lindsay Clancy walking into the courtroom alongside defense attorney Kevin Reddington at Plymouth Superior Court
Flanked by defense attorney Kevin Reddington, Lindsay Clancy walks into Plymouth Superior Court on August 5, 2026, for her ongoing murder trial. Photo by David L Ryan / Pool via REUTERS.

The Plymouth County DA’s office reviewed the video and says the words were “shut it off” (referring to the monitors displaying the photos) and that neither prosecutor said them. The audio is muffled; listeners remain split. The judge later warned the courtroom that microphones were everywhere and disruptive comments would get people barred from the rest of the trial.

Lindsay Clancy seated in court listening to testimony during her murder trial at Plymouth Superior Court
During her murder trial at Plymouth Superior Court, Lindsay Clancy hears psychiatric testimony about her mental state on Aug. 3, 2026. Photo by USA TODAY Network via Reuters.

This flashpoint lands in a case already drawing national attention as a major test of postpartum mental illness and criminal responsibility.

Lindsay Clancy seated in Plymouth Superior Court during her murder trial
Lindsay Clancy in Plymouth Superior Court on Feb. 20, 2026, where she faces murder charges in the 2023 deaths of her three children in Duxbury, MA. Photo by USA TODAY Network via Reuters.

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Lindsay Clancy seated in Plymouth Superior Court during a pretrial conference on June 18, 2026.
Lindsay Clancy sits in Plymouth Superior Court on June 18, 2026, ahead of her murder trial over the deaths of her three children in Duxbury. Photo by USA TODAY Network via Reuters.
Lindsay Clancy seated in a courtroom during jury selection at Plymouth Superior Court
During jury selection for her triple murder trial at Plymouth Superior Court on July 22, 2026, Lindsay Clancy sits in the courtroom awaiting the next prospective juror. Photo by Greg Derr Pool via REUTERS.
A photo of a pregnant Lindsay Clancy with husband Patrick, shown as evidence in her murder trial at Plymouth Superior Court
At Plymouth Superior Court on August 3, 2026, jurors viewed a Duxbury pregnancy photo of Lindsay Clancy alongside her husband Patrick, entered into evidence during her murder trial. Photo by Greg Derr Pool via REUTERS.
Patrick Clancy looks toward the defense table where Lindsay Clancy is seated before testifying at her murder trial in Plymouth Superior Court
Before taking the stand at Plymouth Superior Court, Patrick Clancy turns toward the defense table where his ex-wife Lindsay Clancy sits, during her murder trial on July 28, 2026. Photo by USA TODAY Network via Reuters.
Lindsay Clancy seated at the defense table in Plymouth Superior Court
At Plymouth Superior Court on July 30, 2026, Lindsay Clancy is seen at the defense table as her murder trial prepares to get underway. Photo by CJ Gunther Pool via REUTERS.
Lindsay Clancy seated in a courtroom at Plymouth Superior Court in Massachusetts
Lindsay Clancy sits in the courtroom at Plymouth Superior Court in Massachusetts on August 3, 2026. Photo by Greg Derr/Pool via REUTERS.
Lindsay Clancy walking into the courtroom alongside defense attorney Kevin Reddington at Plymouth Superior Court
Flanked by defense attorney Kevin Reddington, Lindsay Clancy walks into Plymouth Superior Court on August 5, 2026, for her ongoing murder trial. Photo by David L Ryan Pool via REUTERS.
Lindsay Clancy seated in court listening to testimony during her murder trial at Plymouth Superior Court
During her murder trial at Plymouth Superior Court, Lindsay Clancy hears psychiatric testimony about her mental state on Aug. 3, 2026. Photo by USA TODAY Network via Reuters.
Lindsay Clancy seated in Plymouth Superior Court during her murder trial
Lindsay Clancy in Plymouth Superior Court on Feb. 20, 2026, where she faces murder charges in the 2023 deaths of her three children in Duxbury, MA. Photo by USA TODAY Network via Reuters.
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Nicole Stawiarski

Lead Content Manager for The Thought & Expression Company, Inc.