Key facts
- Patrick Clancy spoke publicly for the first time about the 2023 killings of his three children by his ex-wife, Lindsay Clancy.
- He addressed online criticism and conspiracy theories, stating they harm his children's legacy and distract from perinatal mental health.
- Prosecutors will decide this month whether to retry Lindsay Clancy for the deaths of Cora, five; Dawson, three; and Callan, eight months old.
- A mistrial was declared on September 4 after a jury deadlocked, with 11 jurors favoring acquittal due to postpartum psychosis.
- Patrick Clancy admitted he did not know how to manage postpartum illness when his ex-wife began struggling in late 2022.
- Lindsay Clancy was released from a psychiatric hospital 17 days before the children were allegedly strangled.
Patrick Clancy, the ex-husband of Lindsay Clancy, has given his first televised interview detailing the events surrounding the 2023 killings of their three young children and his subsequent coping process. He addressed online criticism and conspiracy theories that have emerged, particularly those supporting Lindsay Clancy and questioning his care for his wife during her struggles with postpartum illness.
Clancy stated that the online discourse is "deeply harmful to the legacy of my children" and a "huge distraction from what really matters here, which is perinatal mental health." He described the response as "painful to see" and acknowledged that persistent falsehoods can lead people to believe them.
The interview comes as Massachusetts prosecutors are expected to decide later this month whether to retry Lindsay Clancy for the strangulation deaths of Cora, five; Dawson, three; and Callan, eight months old. A mistrial was declared on September 4 after a jury could not reach a unanimous verdict. Eleven jurors reportedly favored clearing Lindsay Clancy, citing postpartum psychosis, while one juror sided with prosecutors who argued she was aware of her actions.
Patrick Clancy recounted noticing his ex-wife's struggles with sleep deprivation and anxiety in the fall of 2022, months after their youngest son's birth. He admitted to not understanding postpartum illness at the time and acknowledged that mental illness can be deceptive. Lindsay Clancy's condition worsened in December, leading to a psychiatric hospitalization. The children were allegedly killed 17 days after her release.
He expressed hope for Callan's survival after he regained a heartbeat, recalling a plea to "just gimme one kid." Callan later died. Patrick Clancy attributes the killings to his ex-wife's mental illness and has forgiven her, rejecting media labels like "killer mom."
Both Patrick and Lindsay Clancy have filed medical malpractice lawsuits against healthcare providers involved in her care. Patrick Clancy is suing for wrongful death, while Lindsay Clancy alleges negligence.
Patrick Clancy described his life as coming to a "screeching halt" and admitted to suicidal thoughts. He moved to New York City for anonymity, where he grieved, kept his children's belongings, and met his current wife, Rachel Danis, at a running club. He also found support through experts at Postpartum Support International. Danis expressed a desire to honor their children and support Patrick's grieving process.