# Lindsay Clancy...child murderer or victim? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 19, 2026, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lindsay-clancy-child-murderer-or-victim/1033205 "2026-09-19T16:26:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lindsay-clancy-child-murderer-or-victim/1033205/41 "2026-09-19T22:44:31Z")
There’s this: > **[Lindsay Clancy admits to killing their children. So why is there an online...](https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/22/us/patrick-clancy-conspiracy-theories)** > > Patrick Clancy took the stand as the prosecution’s first witness. For some, his testimony raised more questions than answers. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lindsay-clancy-child-murderer-or-victim/1033205/42 "2026-09-19T22:45:11Z")
I’ve put in some time and everything says that her defense stipulated to the killings. Guess you’re wrong on this one. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lindsay-clancy-child-murderer-or-victim/1033205/43 "2026-09-19T22:48:53Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > everything says that her defense stipulated to the killings No, they didn’t. They offered a court strategy much the same way people sometimes plead to a lesser charge when they are innocent. Just watch the dang video and stop making me repeat myself. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lindsay-clancy-child-murderer-or-victim/1033205/44 "2026-09-19T22:49:20Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > I’ve put in some time and everything says that her defense stipulated to the killings. Guess you’re wrong on this one. The only reason postpartum depression would even matter would be if she admitted to killing the kids. Otherwise why would it be relevant? ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lindsay-clancy-child-murderer-or-victim/1033205/45 "2026-09-19T22:49:43Z")
Did that court strategy include a stipulation to the murders? ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lindsay-clancy-child-murderer-or-victim/1033205/46 "2026-09-19T22:51:39Z")
TruCelt must be saying this was like an Alford plea, but… it wasn’t, and also that doesn’t make any sense. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lindsay-clancy-child-murderer-or-victim/1033205/47 "2026-09-19T22:51:50Z")
Are you suggesting she plead guilty to strangling her three kids as a plea deal? And if she did not do it then who do they suggest did? And then she slit her wrists and jumped out of a window as a cover-up? ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lindsay-clancy-child-murderer-or-victim/1033205/48 "2026-09-19T22:57:45Z")
I agree the interview quote was bizarre, but that doesn’t make him a killer. Maybe he just said a weird thing because people facing grief and trauma beyond comprehension generally do not act like normal people. This poor man discovered all of his children dead in the basement and lost his wife on top of that. Give him a break. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lindsay-clancy-child-murderer-or-victim/1033205/49 "2026-09-19T23:17:07Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Are you suggesting she plead guilty to strangling her three kids as a plea deal? Note: There was no plea deal. Hung jury…if plea deal she would be in jail now. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lindsay-clancy-child-murderer-or-victim/1033205/50 "2026-09-19T23:24:37Z")
Womens’ health issues are a real problem in this country. I saw it up close and personal with my daughter developing postpartum preeclampsia and basically being hustled out of the ed twice with little treatment. I’ve heard other cases like this one, and I am of the opinion that her issues were not adequately evaluated or taken seriously. I’m with @Spice_Weasel it’s amazing to me that they left her alone with three kids when she was struggling so much. If her husband was cheating on her at this time, not supporting her during this incredibly difficult time, and feels he needed a life outside of the kids (in context with the other things) he is and was a slime, and the whole mess if an incredible tragedy. The kids paid the ultimate price, and the mother will live with tthe awful hing she did forever. Him? For me I don’t know. His behavior before this all happened is pretty sleazy if as reported. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lindsay-clancy-child-murderer-or-victim/1033205/51 "2026-09-19T23:31:07Z")
Some people are just really selfish. And it’s possible he was really selfish. He could be really selfish and also a victim of this tragedy. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lindsay-clancy-child-murderer-or-victim/1033205/52 "2026-09-19T23:34:16Z")
My personal opinion is the husband is a complete ass. A jerk top-to-bottom. Total dick. But he didn’t strangle his kids. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lindsay-clancy-child-murderer-or-victim/1033205/53 "2026-09-19T23:35:31Z")
I agree with the hold out juror. I can’t get past the planning. DA said there was evidence on the computer that Lindsay confirmed the driving time for her husband’s errands. She wanted him out of the house for at least an hour. Then there was the afternoon spent with the kids building a snowman. It appears Lindsay wanted to give them one last happy family experience before carrying out the murders Why didn’t she return to work as a nurse? Use daycare. That would have given her a break from being at home full-time dealing with three children. Another option would be rehiring the Nanny. Three young kids is extremely stressful for any caregiver. A nanny would provide extra hands and eyes to watch the children. Maybe take the 2 oldest to a park leaving Lindsay with the baby. I agree she needs psychiatric treatment. That doesn’t absolve her of three murders. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lindsay-clancy-child-murderer-or-victim/1033205/54 "2026-09-19T23:39:31Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Then there was the afternoon spent with the kids building a snowman. It appears Lindsay wanted to give them one last happy family experience before carrying out the murders You seem to think it’s impossible to plan to kill someone and be delusional at the same time. I can’t say I agree with that. If you’re planning a murder and your motive is that you believe the person you’re killing is Satan and your act of murder is the planet’s only hope, I say you genuinely lack the ability to tell right from wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lindsay-clancy-child-murderer-or-victim/1033205/55 "2026-09-19T23:45:13Z")
Oh I know, but my sympathy for him is tempered by his behavior of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lindsay-clancy-child-murderer-or-victim/1033205/56 "2026-09-19T23:46:48Z")
I truly do not understand the state of mind someone has to be in to strangle three little kids. I just can’t and for that reason I think she should have been convicted and in jail for life. If she was so mental she should have sent her kids away. To anywhere. Anywhere but near her. It seemed she knew she was not in a good place. That makes her culpable. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lindsay-clancy-child-murderer-or-victim/1033205/57 "2026-09-19T23:55:22Z")
What gets me is so many women going yes, we feel the same and raising money for her. Of course the hold out juror was a man. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lindsay-clancy-child-murderer-or-victim/1033205/58 "2026-09-19T23:55:54Z")
People from far away who have no personal knowledge of the conditions in a family always have the best solutions. “Why didn’t she” indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lindsay-clancy-child-murderer-or-victim/1033205/59 "2026-09-19T23:58:47Z")
“Best solutions?” No idea what that is but I’d be willing to bet strangling your three kids to death is up there with the “worst solutions.” ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lindsay-clancy-child-murderer-or-victim/1033205/60 "2026-09-20T00:05:15Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I truly do not understand the state of mind someone has to be in to strangle three little kids. I just can’t and for that reason I think she should have been convicted and in jail for life. Having a tough time reconciling these two sentences. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lindsay-clancy-child-murderer-or-victim/1033205.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lindsay-clancy-child-murderer-or-victim/1033205.md?page=4)