# The juror who wouldn't budge in Clancy trial

> One juror's refusal to convict Lindsay Clancy of murdering her three children forced a mistrial, but he says the evidence was clear.
- Title: The juror who wouldn't budge in Clancy trial · BBC News
- Summary: One juror's refusal to convict Lindsay Clancy of murdering her three children forced a mistrial, but he says the evidence was clear. A single juror's…
- Keywords: lindsay clancy, massachusetts, murder trial, mistrial, hung jury, michael desronvil, postpartum psychosis, first-degree murder, children's deaths, news, world, juror
- Source: BBC News — https://bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c54g7jdmw032o
- Published: 2026-09-18T11:49:46.799+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: lindsay clancy, massachusetts, murder trial, mistrial, hung jury, michael desronvil, postpartum psychosis, first-degree murder, children's deaths, news, world
## One juror blocked a guilty verdict
Michael Desronvil was the sole juror who refused to convict Lindsay Clancy of murdering her three children, causing a mistrial after nearly 40 hours of deliberation.
## The jury was 11-1 for conviction
Eleven jurors wanted to find Clancy guilty of first-degree murder, but Desronvil's dissent prevented a unanimous verdict, which is required under Massachusetts law.
## Desronvil insisted evidence was clear
In a statement to CBS News, Desronvil said he "didn't have any doubts" that Clancy knew what she was doing and planned the killings based on physical evidence and witness testimony.

> I didn't have any doubts
## The case centered on mental illness
Clancy admitted to strangling her three children but her lawyers argued she suffered from postpartum psychosis, a rare condition that prevented her from understanding right and wrong.
## Other jurors tried to sway him
Juror Paula Devlin said the panel spent several days trying to convince Desronvil to change his mind, even reaching a 10-2 split at one point before he remained firm.
## The foreperson called it awful
The jury foreperson, a retired fifth-grade teacher, described the inability to reach a verdict as an "emotional rollercoaster" and said Desronvil admitted having reasonable doubt but still wouldn't acquit.

> emotional rollercoaster
## Defense lawyer blames the holdout
Clancy's attorney Kevin Reddington said Desronvil "would not apply the law of reasonable doubt" as instructed by the judge, arguing this denied Clancy a fair trial.
## Prosecutors haven't decided on retrial
The mistrial leaves the case unresolved. Prosecutors have not announced whether they will seek a second trial, with the next court hearing scheduled for September 29 at Plymouth Superior Court.
## Key takeaway

A single juror's unwillingness to accept the prosecution's case led to a hung jury in a high-profile murder trial, leaving the case unresolved and prosecutors deciding whether to retry it.