Mom Accused Of Killing 3 Kids Was Overmedicated On Prescription Drugs: Lawyer

A Massachusetts mother accused of killing her three children was allegedly overmedicated on various prescription drugs, resulting in her experiencing homicidal and suicidal ideation, according to her defense attorney.

Lindsay Clancy, 32, allegedly strangled her 5-year-old daughter Cora, 3-year-old son Dawson and 8-month-old son Callan to death inside their home in Duxbury, Massachusetts, last month before attempting to take her own life by leaping out a window.

Her defense attorney Kevin Reddington told the Boston Globe Friday that Clancy was prescribed 13 different medications within a four-month period before the deaths of her children.

Reddington said Clancy and her husband Patrick went to doctors for help, saying the medications, which are used to treat mood disorders, anxiety and psychosis, were turning the mom-of-three into a “zombie.”

“One of the major issues here is the horrific overmedication of drugs that caused homicidal ideation, suicidal ideation,” the attorney told the Boston Globe.

“No overdose [by Lindsay]. They [Lindsay and her husband, Patrick] went to doctors repeatedly saying, ‘Please help us.’ This was turning her into a zombie,” he added. “The medications that were prescribed were over the top, absolutely over the top.”

Reddington said that between October last year and January, Clancy was prescribed 13 psychiatric medications.

He identified nine as zolpidem (Ambien), clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium), fluoxetine (Prozac), lamotrigine (Lamictil), lorazepam (Ativan), mirtazapine (Remeron), quetiapine fumarate (Seroquel) and trazodone, the New York Post reported.

Reddington said he has hired a toxicologist to review the medications and dosages Clancy was prescribed.

Clancy is still hospitalized in Boston and cannot walk at this time, according to the lawyer.

Clancy is currently in police custody, according to a statement from Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz. She has been charged with two counts of homicide and three counts each of strangulation and assault and battery.

According to Cruz, Clancy jumped out of a window of their family home on Jan. 24. She was found outside their house by her husband, who then called 911 for help at about 6:10 p.m. that day, WCVB reported.

Duxbury first responders found three children unconscious inside their home, all with signs of trauma. Two of the kids, Cora and Dawson, were pronounced dead shortly after being brought to a hospital.

The third child, Callan, died a few days later on Jan. 27.

The woman’s husband had reportedly left the home for less than half an hour to buy lunch for the family when the incident occurred.

Boston 25 reporter Bob Ward asked Reddington if Clancy’s husband had been warned against leaving his wife alone with their children.

“Not that I’m aware of. Not all,” Reddington said. “And why would he? He loved her dearly. She was a great mother. The two of them had their life together with their kids. He just went out to get takeout.”

Clancy is set to be arraigned on murder charges at Plymouth District Court Tuesday. She will appear in court via Zoom from a hospital.