Updated on: August 20, 2026 / 12:07 PM EDT
/ CBS Boston
Lindsay Clancy's murder trial will likely have closing arguments early next week, according to Plymouth Superior Court Judge William Sullivan. The judge and attorneys worked through procedural matters Thursday after only about 20 minutes of witness testimony.
Clancy, 36, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the deaths of her three children, 5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson and 8-month-old Callan, in their Duxbury home on Jan. 24, 2023.
Judge Sullivan told jurors at the start of the day that Thursday was expected to be a shorter day of testimony. One defense witness was on the stand before Sullivan sent jurors home just after 10:30 a.m.
The judge thanked jurors for their patience, saying Friday "will be a longer day than today."
With jurors gone for the day, Sullivan and attorneys went through logistics before court ended for the day just before noon.
Defense attorney Kevin Reddington is nearing the end of his case. He anticipates calling Dr. Phillip Resnick as his final witness on Friday. Then the prosecution is expected to call three rebuttal witnesses. Resnick was a key witness in the trial of Andrea Yates, who was found not guilty by reason of insanity after killing her five children in her Texas home. Resnick testified that Yates suffered from severe postpartum psychosis.
Sullivan said that closing arguments will likely be Monday or Tuesday, depending on how long the final four witnesses spend on the stand.
Reddington has attempted to show that Clancy should not be held criminally responsible for the murders because she was overmedicated and suffering from postpartum psychosis.
Prosecutors Jennifer Sprague and Shanan Buckingham have the option to call rebuttal witnesses before the trial shifts to closing arguments and deliberations. The prosecutors allege that Clancy planned the murders before faking a suicide attempt.
Clancy admits to killing her children, but a psychologist testified for the defense that she heard a male voice in her head ordering her to do it.
Sheila Cavanaugh was called as the first witness of the day and was only on the stand for about 20 minutes.
Cavanaugh has worked as a chaplain at Brigham and Women's Hospital for seven years.
She met with Clancy starting the day after she admitted to killing her children. Cavanaugh said Clancy was intubated as she was hospitalized after jumping out a window at her Duxbury home. She later met with Clancy again on Jan. 31, 2023 when she was able to speak.
Cavanaugh said Clancy's emotional state was neutral. She said the first thing Clancy said was "I am so glad my children are safe."
