US mum kills her 3 children, wrote of 'desperate' need for mental break 2 months before incident

Journal entries written by a 35-year-old mother appeared to reveal cries for help before she murdered her three young children.

The incident

On Jan. 24, 2023, Lindsay Clancy, a former labour and delivery nurse, fatally strangled her three children in the basement of their Massachusetts home, CNN reported.

She then attempted to take her own life by cutting her wrists and neck before jumping from a second-storey window into the backyard.

She survived, but was left partially paralysed from the attempt.

Her then-husband, Patrick Clancy, returned home that evening after picking up medicine for their oldest child and a takeout order for his then-wife, reported CNN.

He later found their three children lying motionless in the basement, each with an exercise resistance band around their necks.

Charged

Lindsay is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and could face lifetime imprisonment without parole if convicted, reported the BBC.

The former nurse pleaded not guilty to murder charges in the deaths of her three children aged five, three and eight months old.

However, she did not deny killing her children.

Lindsay’s defence argued instead that she was suffering from postpartum psychosis (PPP) and was not criminally responsible, CNN reported.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, PPP is a rare but severe mental health condition that can affect people after childbirth.

Those with the condition face a “much higher risk of harming themselves, dying by suicide or harming their children”, and it is therefore considered a mental health emergency.

Lindsay's journal entries were recently presented at trial, apparently in an attempt to support her case.

Journal entries

On Aug. 3, 2026, excerpts from Lindsay’s journal were presented at her murder trial, offering jurors a glimpse into her state of mind at the time, reported the New York Post.

Several journals were reportedly collected from her home by Massachusetts State Trooper Cory Melo.

On Nov. 18, 2022, around two months before the murders, Lindsay reportedly wrote in her diary:

"It’s like I’m so desperate to get a mental break from taking care of everyone that my mind is trying to make something physically wrong with me."

Lindsay also wrote about her “horrible insomnia and anxiety”, and how she was “completely overwhelmed trying to take care of the three kids every day”.

“I want help. I want to be well,” she wrote.

Ex-husband’s testimony

During the first week of the murder trial, Patrick took the stand and spoke about their three young children and his ex-wife, CNN reported.

Patrick also testified that his ex-wife was a “very dedicated” mother, citing the various things she did for their children.

He also said she struggled with mental health issues following the birth of their third child, which were exacerbated as she prepared to return to work after he was born in May 2022.

According to Patrick, she was prescribed several medications by different doctors between September 2022 and January 2023, CNN reported.

He testified that a "big spiral" began after Lindsay started taking a new antipsychotic medication in early December 2022.

Around the same time, Patrick said she told him she was experiencing intrusive thoughts about harming their children and that she was suicidal.

He added that her mental health appeared to deteriorate after the dosage of the antipsychotic medication was increased, leading her to seek treatment at two medical centres in the following weeks.

However, after spending several days in a locked ward at a psychiatric facility in early January 2023, she allegedly told Patrick that she was no longer suicidal.

"She seemed much better," Patrick testified.

Prosecution

The prosecution acknowledged Lindsay’s mental health struggles but argued that she had “deliberately and meticulously” killed her children, CNN reported.

A Plymouth County Assistant District Attorney told jurors during her opening statement: “This is a woman who acted intentionally, rationally, and swiftly to accomplish a very specific goal – to kill.”

Helplines

If you or someone you know are in mental distress, here are some hotlines you can call to seek help, advice, or just a listening ear:

National mindline.sg Hotline: 1771 (24 hours)

National mindline.sg WhatsApp: 66691771 (24 hours)

SOS 24-hour Hotline: 1-767

Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019

Centre for Domestic Employees: 1800 225 5233 (24 hours)

Foreign Domestic Worker Association for Social Support and Training: 1800 339 4357 (24 hours)

HOME (migrant worker): +65 6341 5535  (WhatsApp / Viber / SMS) 

HOME (domestic worker): +65 9787 3122 (WhatsApp / SMS / Call)

SHECARES@SCWO: Call: 8001 01 4616 | WhatsApp: 8985 5528 (For targets of online harms)

National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline (NAVH): 1800-777-0000