Patrick Clancy Gives 1st TV Interview on ’60 Minutes’ Aafter Lindsay Clancy Mistrial/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Patrick Clancy said in his first televised interview that he forgave his former wife, Lindsay Clancy, for killing their three children. He described his grief, past suicidal thoughts and the panic attack he experienced while testifying at her murder trial. The trial ended in a mistrial after jurors divided over whether Lindsay Clancy was criminally responsible because of postpartum psychosis.
Quick Look
- Patrick Clancy appeared on CBS News’ “60 Minutes.”
- He discussed the deaths of Cora, Dawson and Callan Clancy.
- Clancy said he believes mental illness caused his former wife’s actions.
- He revealed that 8-month-old Callan died in his arms four days after the attack.
- Clancy said he experienced suicidal thoughts following the deaths.
- He rejected online conspiracy theories implicating him in the case.
- Eleven jurors favored clearing Lindsay Clancy of criminal responsibility; one disagreed.
- The Sept. 4 deadlock resulted in a mistrial.
- Prosecutors have not announced whether they will retry the case.
Deep Look
Patrick Clancy explains why he forgave his former wife
Patrick Clancy spoke publicly about his grief and decision to forgive Lindsay Clancy during his first televised interview since her murder trial ended without a verdict.
Neither side at trial disputed that Lindsay Clancy strangled their three children in the family’s Massachusetts home in January 2023. The central question was whether she was criminally responsible at the time.
Patrick Clancy said he believes severe mental illness, rather than malice, caused her actions.
“I saw headlines that say ‘killer mom’ and ‘baby murderer monster’ and none of them were accurate,” he said. “I believed that it was her mental illness that caused that.”
He told “60 Minutes” that Lindsay had never asked him to forgive her, but he chose to do so. The complete interview focused on his children’s memories, Lindsay’s deteriorating mental health and his efforts to rebuild his life after the tragedy. CBS News’ “60 Minutes” transcript
Callan survived for four days
Patrick Clancy revealed that his youngest child, 8-month-old Callan, initially survived the attack and remained alive for four days.
Clancy said he held out hope that Callan would recover and imagined raising him while telling him about his siblings, Cora and Dawson. Callan ultimately died in his father’s arms.
While holding his son, Clancy typed tributes to all three children with one hand. He feared that their lives and personalities might otherwise be forgotten.
The family later established a memorial playground in Duxbury incorporating symbols connected to each child.
Grief led to suicidal thoughts and a panic attack
Clancy said the deaths and the resulting trial took a profound psychological toll on him.
“There was a time I didn’t think I would live to see my 35th birthday, and I was completely fine with it,” he said.
During his trial testimony, Clancy suffered what he described as a traumatic panic attack shortly before attorneys played the 911 call he made after finding the children.
The recording captured him crying and howling while a dispatcher repeatedly tried to determine what had happened.
Clancy said connecting with survivors, mental-health specialists and Postpartum Support International helped him begin processing the tragedy. The Associated Press
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a mental-health crisis in the United States, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Mistrial followed an 11-1 jury split
Lindsay Clancy’s defense argued that she was experiencing postpartum psychosis and severe delusions when she killed Cora, Dawson and Callan and then attempted to end her own life.
Prosecutors maintained that she understood her actions and planned the killings.
Eleven of the 12 jurors were prepared to find her not criminally responsible because of mental illness. One juror sided with prosecutors, preventing the panel from reaching a unanimous verdict.
The disagreement led the judge to declare a mistrial on Sept. 4. The holdout juror subsequently said he had no doubts about Lindsay Clancy’s responsibility and believed the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence.
The Plymouth County district attorney had not announced whether another trial would be pursued as of the interview’s broadcast.
Clancy condemns online conspiracy theories
Patrick Clancy also addressed baseless social-media claims suggesting that he was involved in his children’s deaths.
“It’s deeply harmful to the legacy of my children,” Patrick Clancy said. “It is a huge distraction from what really matters here, which is perinatal mental health.”
He said repeated false claims made it more difficult for him to appear in public and diverted attention from postpartum illnesses and the need for better recognition and treatment.
New wife joins the interview
Clancy’s new wife, Dr. Rachel Danis, appeared with him during the interview. The couple met while running in Central Park and married in New York in April.
Danis described Clancy as the “most selfless and supportive partner.”
“I don’t understand how the story has been so twisted,” she said. “I was just a girl that met a guy running in Central Park on a really cold Saturday. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.”
Clancy said his relationship with Danis had positively transformed his life while he continued carrying grief over his children.
Clancy reflects on whether he could have done more
Asked whether he felt responsible for failing to recognize or prevent what happened, Clancy said he acted with the knowledge and resources available to him at the time.
“I think I did the best I could with what I had at the time,” Clancy said. “And I live with the outcome. I live with it every day.”
Patrick and Lindsay Clancy have separately sued health care providers who treated her, alleging medical malpractice. Lindsay Clancy remains at Tewksbury Hospital while awaiting a decision about a potential retrial. CBS News
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