From BBC News · · 2m
Ex-husband forgives mother in children's deaths case
Patrick Clancy says forgiving his ex-wife Lindsay prevented him from being consumed by bitterness after she killed their three children.
In brief
Patrick Clancy says forgiving his ex-wife Lindsay prevented him from being consumed by bitterness after she killed their three children. Patrick Clancy chose forgiveness after recognizing that his ex-wife's severe postpartum psychosis, not malice, caused her to kill their children, and he credits this decision with…
Three children killed in January 2023
Lindsay Clancy strangled her three children, Cora, Dawson, and Callan, in their Duxbury, Massachusetts home on January 24, 2023. She then jumped from a second-floor window and was left paralyzed.
Postpartum psychosis defense at trial
Lindsay's legal team argued she suffered from postpartum psychosis, a rare condition causing mania, depression, or both in new mothers. A judge declared a mistrial after the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict.
Patrick struggled with mental illness too
Patrick Clancy testified about his ex-wife's declining mental health after birth and admitted he didn't know how to manage postpartum illness. He later had suicidal thoughts and didn't expect to reach his 35th birthday.
“I didn't think I would live to see my 35th birthday. And I was completely fine with it.”
Forgiveness to avoid bitterness
Patrick decided to forgive Lindsay after seeing headlines calling her a 'Killer Mom' and 'Monster'. He said forgiveness prevented him from being 'eaten up inside forever' and that her mental illness, not malice, caused the deaths.
“I would be eaten up inside forever if I didn't get there.”
Online hate and false accusations
During the trial, Patrick faced intense online vitriol and accusations that he was somehow responsible for the murders. Tabloids photographed him with his new wife Rachel Danis, fueling speculation.
“It makes it difficult to be in public and it's possible that some of those people after seeing lie after lie after lie, they start to believe it.”
Moved to New York for privacy
The intense scrutiny prompted Patrick to move from Duxbury to New York City to seek anonymity. He said the speculation was deeply harmful to his children's legacy and distracted from perinatal mental health issues.
“It is a huge distraction from what really matters here, which is perinatal mental health.”
Building a new family ahead
Patrick is now starting a family with his new wife Rachel Danis and looks forward to telling his future children about their siblings. The case remains unresolved as prosecutors have not said whether they will seek a retrial.
“I can't wait to tell them about their brothers and sister.”
The main idea
Patrick Clancy chose forgiveness after recognizing that his ex-wife's severe postpartum psychosis, not malice, caused her to kill their children, and he credits this decision with saving his own mental health.
