Psychiatrist Says Lindsay Clancy Heard Voices, ‘Like She Was a Puppet’ and ‘Frankly Psychotic,’ as Defense Rests

Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Phillip Resnick, who previously testified at Andrea Yates’ trial, appeared virtually at Clancy’s murder trial

NEED TO KNOW

• Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Phillip Resnick testified that he believed Lindsay Clancy was “frankly psychotic” when she killed her children
• “It was almost like she was a puppet and someone else was pulling the strings,” Resnick said
• Resnick previously testified at the trial of Andrea Yates, a Texas mother who killed her children and was found not guilty by reason of insanity

A forensic psychiatrist who previously testified at the trial of Andrea Yates was called as a defense witness at Lindsay Clancy’s trial.

Dr. Phillip Resnick testified virtually on Friday, Aug. 21, and was the last witness called before the defense rested its case. His testimony was streamed live by the Associated Press.

Clancy is charged with the murders of her three children — Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and 8-month-old Callan — whom she strangled to death with exercise bands in their Duxbury, Mass., home in January 2023.

After killing the children, Clancy jumped out of a second-story window in an apparent suicide attempt, leaving her paralyzed.

Though Clancy does not deny the killings, her defense is arguing she was not criminally responsible because she was suffering from postpartum psychosis.

Resnick testified Friday that he met with Clancy months after the killings and found that she appeared to have a flat affect and that her emotions seemed “blunted.”

Testifying about his examination of Clancy, Resnick said he did not find signs that she was faking any symptoms.

Previous witnesses testified that Clancy reported that she heard a voice in her head telling her to kill her children and herself.

Resnick testified that he believed Clancy was “frankly psychotic” on the day of the killings and that a “command hallucination,” as well as a “delusion of influence,” sparked the killings.

“It was almost like she was a puppet and someone else was pulling the strings,” Resnick testified.

In 2006, Resnick testified at the retrial of Yates, the Texas mother who drowned her five children in a bathtub.

Yates was initially convicted of murder, but the conviction was overturned and she was subsequently found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Following Resnick’s testimony, the defense rested its case. The prosecution followed by calling its first rebuttal witness, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Avram Mack.

Mack testified that while Clancy may have experienced a major depressive episode, he was not certain there were any signs of psychosis or mania.

Prosecutors are arguing that Clancy deliberately killed her children.

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Following the prosecution’s rebuttal witnesses, the trial will shift to closing arguments, which Judge William Sullivan estimates will begin either Monday or Tuesday.

Clancy’s trial has been closely followed, sparking nationwide discussion of postpartum mental health issues.

The trial has featured testimony from medical experts, caregivers, law enforcement and Clancy’s friends and family, including her former husband, Patrick Clancy.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.

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