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The “Pink Ladies” supporting accused killer mom Lindsay Clancy have been omitting three crucial elements: Clancy’s three dead children.
But that uncomfortable fact hasn’t stopped hundreds from rallying outside a Massachusetts courthouse in support of Clancy, 36.
The horrific triple murder trial has triggered discussions over maternal mental health care. Online, some have suggested that the charges were a conspiracy and that the accused’s ex-husband, Patrick Clancy, was the true culprit and that he framed her.
‘God is working through us’
“It’s important that we just be still, have a moment of silence and know that God is working through us for Lindsay and for the rest of the world that are going through similar things she is going through,” organizer Renee Kimball told reporters.
Lindsay Clancy’s legal eagle, Kevin Reddington, has argued that she was experiencing severe postpartum psychosis and hearing voices at the time of the slayings on Jan. 24, 2023, at the family’s Duxbury, Mass., home.
Clancy allegedly used elastic exercise bands to strangle Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and 8-month-old Callan before she tried to kill herself. Her death leap left her paralyzed.
Outside the courthouse, Clancy’s supporters donned buttons and T-shirts that read “Peace for Lindsay” and “Justice for Lindsay.”
The crowd cheered when Reddington arrived at court, with some yelling “We love you Kevin.”
Many of Clancy’s supporters said they sympathize because of her severe post-partum mental health struggles. But sympathy for Clancy has eclipsed that for her dead kids.
The demonstrators are not as rabid as the women supporting health care killer, Luigi Mangione. He too had a gaggle of groupies. Mangione pleaded guilty in New York and faces life in prison when he is sentenced in December.
‘Nobody takes us seriously’
“Women are being dismissed, neglected and ignored when we speak up,” paralegal April Vincent, 52, told the New York Post . “We’re scared because nobody takes us seriously. Nobody wants to hear us and really we just need to be heard. I’ve been dismissed plenty of times.”
Some of those at the demo brought their own children.
“It’s very sad,” Jeanne Zaborski said. “I am a mother. I am a grandmother. I have a sister who had problems after birth and it’s just very sad. I hope Lindsay gets the care she needs and deserves and other women will come together like we did today.”
Prior to the murders, Clancy had desperately sought help from mental health professionals and twice called a suicide hotline. She also registered herself at a mental institution for five days. She took a slew of different medications to deal with insomnia, anxiety, depression and intrusive thoughts, the court heard.
In fact, she was prescribed 30 prescriptions for 13 medications and had six of those in her blood after the murders.
Prosecutors have painted a very different picture, claiming that the murders were carefully planned and that, at the time, Clancy was not suffering from psychosis. So far, the court has heard from 80 witnesses.
Clancy has sobbed continually
Over the four-week trial, Lindsay Clancy has sobbed constantly.
Her lawyer Reddington said: “She is so beat up and just so sad. [The supporters] will really help her out, I think.”
The lawyer hopes the heart-wrenching trial shines a bright light on the health care industry in general and specifically mental health.
“A woman is going through what so many people do, and they go to a doctor and they give them this pill and give them that pill, treat them for 15, 20 minutes and send them on their way. It’s just not right,” Reddington said.
On the stand Thursday was chaplain Sheila Cavanagh, who ministered to Clancy more than 200 times.
Days after the murders, the chaplain testified that Clancy told her she was “glad my children are safe.”
bhunter@postmedia.com
@HunterTOSun