Psychiatric nurse testifies Clancy reported hopelessness before killings

Clancy sought medication changes over side effects, nurse testifies

Lindsay Clancy messaged one of her psychiatric caregivers less than two months before she killed her three young children in 2023, writing that she was having “intrusive thoughts I never had before,” feeling “completely hopeless” and worried about becoming addicted to some medications, according to testimony Tuesday.

Rebecca Jollotta, a psychiatric nurse practitioner at South Shore Health Perinatal Behavior Health Program, testified that she exchanged messages with Clancy regularly on a patient portal throughout late November and December 2022. Jollotta said much of their conversations revolved around Clancy reporting trouble sleeping, depressive symptoms and her search for the right mix of medications to treat her symptoms.

Several times, according to Jollotta’s testimony, Clancy indicated either that she had not taken the full dose of a prescribed medication or that she wanted to reduce a dosage or change her prescription based on what she felt were intolerable side effects. Clancy also worried about being addicted to some medications like Ativan, but Jollotta said she was not.

Clancy is on trial in Plymouth, Massachusetts, for murder in the deaths of her three children — Callan, 8 months old; Dawson, 3 years old; and Cora, 5 years old. According to earlier trial testimony, she strangled the children in their suburban home on Jan. 24, 2023, and then jumped out a second-story window.

Her lawyers say she was a loving mother overcome by postpartum psychosis, had undiagnosed bipolar disorder and was on a shifting lineup of psychiatric medications after seeking mental health help for months. Prosecutors contend she acted intentionally and should be held criminally responsible for the children’s deaths.

If convicted of murder, Clancy faces life in prison without parole. A not-guilty verdict by reason of lack of criminal responsibility could lead to commitment to a state mental health facility.

This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988.

The testimony about the medications Clancy was prescribed and how she described reacting to them continues a line of evidence from earlier in the trial. MSI previously reported that a forensic toxicologist testified only quetiapine among four psychiatric medications in Clancy’s blood was slightly elevated above prescribed levels, in its coverage of that testimony.