Clancy Defense and Juror’s Counsel Clash Over Juror Probe Ahead of Sept. 29 Hearing

Key points

• Judge William Sullivan set a Sept. 29 hearing to determine if Lindsay Clancy will face a retrial after a Sept. 4 mistrial ended in an 11-1 jury deadlock.
• Defense attorney Kevin Reddington filed a motion to investigate holdout juror Michael P. Desronvil’s phone records and domestic violence history, claiming the juror obstructed the verdict.
• Desronvil’s attorney, Edward Paltzik, called the motion a violation of the Sixth Amendment, stating his client had 'zero doubt' about Clancy’s guilt and was not obstructing the law.
• Clancy’s defense team is also seeking a 'not guilty' finding and a double jeopardy dismissal, arguing the mistrial was unnecessary because the judge could have removed the holdout juror.
• Prosecutors have not yet announced whether they will retry Clancy for first-degree murder, seek a lesser charge, or drop the case entirely.

Background

Lindsay Clancy, 38, confessed in January 2023 to strangling her three children, Cora (5), Dawson (3), and Callan (8 months), at their Duxbury, Massachusetts home. Her defense team argued she was suffering from postpartum psychosis and lacked criminal responsibility. The first trial ended in a mistrial on Sept. 4 after 38 hours of deliberations, with 11 jurors favoring an insanity defense acquittal and one juror, Desronvil, insisting on a guilty verdict based on the physical evidence. Prior coverage noted that Desronvil’s family faced harassment and that his brother stated his faith did not influence the verdict.

How outlets are covering it

The New York Post and Yahoo News highlight the sharp conflict between Reddington and Paltzik, with the latter calling the former’s actions a 'nightmarish precedent' that threatens juror safety. USA Today provides a broader legal context, noting that Boston University law professor David Rossman believes the judge is unlikely to allow the phone probe unless there is evidence of outside information access, and that DA Timothy Cruz is expected to stick with original charges. WJAR offers a concise summary of the defense’s goal to dismiss the charges entirely, emphasizing the argument that the mistrial was avoidable. All sources agree that the Sept. 29 hearing is the pivotal moment for the case's future.

Why it matters

The outcome of the Sept. 29 hearing will determine whether Clancy faces a second trial for the murder of her three children. The dispute over investigating the holdout juror raises significant questions about juror privacy, the Sixth Amendment right to a fair trial, and the potential chilling effect on future jury service if jurors face public reprisals for their verdicts.

What to watch

Judge William Sullivan is expected to rule on the defense’s motion to investigate the holdout juror and the motion for a not-guilty finding on Sept. 29. Prosecutors are also expected to announce their decision on whether to retry Clancy, seek a lesser charge, or drop the case. If the judge rejects the double jeopardy argument, the defense team has the right to appeal, which could delay any retrial.