Mistrial in Lindsay Clancy Case Prompts Investigation into Holdout Juror

A mistrial in the Lindsay Clancy case has led to actions by her legal team, prompted by a holdout juror, Michael P. Desronvil, who defended his decision through a statement. The case, involving murder charges in connection with the deaths of Clancy’s three young children, has captured significant public attention.

Criminal defense attorney Mercedes Colwin explained the reasoning behind the juror’s decision and discussed possible next steps for Massachusetts prosecutors. These steps could include a retrial or a negotiated plea deal.

Clancy’s attorney, Kevin Reddington, is calling for an investigation into the holdout juror who wanted to find Clancy guilty of murder. Reddington requested a Massachusetts judge to preserve records from all 12 jurors and six alternates. This includes their questionnaires, surveillance video from the courthouse hallway outside the deliberation room, and sign-in sheets for jurors’ cellphones.

“The court may also hear from Juror No. 10, limited to what he observed of Juror Doe’s phone use,” Reddington advised.

Reddington is seeking the juror’s questionnaire, any supplemental filings, and records from the statewide domestic violence registry. He also wants to see the holdout’s phone records during the deliberation days. Furthermore, he asks for an independent examination of the juror’s phone use during deliberations.

The motion includes a request to question the holdout about the truthfulness of his questionnaire and voir dire answers, his statements during court proceedings, and the use of outside information.

The trial ended in a mistrial after jurors reached a deadlock of 11-1, with the majority favoring a verdict of not criminally responsible due to Clancy’s alleged mental illness, including postpartum psychosis. However, prosecutors argued that Clancy acted deliberately, knowing her actions were wrong.

Judge William Sullivan initially declared a mistrial but allowed Clancy’s defense attorney time to appeal, as the jury could not reach a verdict. Desronvil, the holdout juror, played a crucial role in the case reaching this outcome.

Prosecutors have not yet announced their decision on seeking a new trial. Clancy faces three counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Cora, Dawson, and Callan, ages five, three, and eight months, respectively. Clancy’s attorney has filed a motion to overrule the holdout’s decision and declare her not guilty, although such motions rarely succeed.