Patrick Clancy Says He First Noticed Lindsay Was ‘Really Struggling’ in Fall 2022 — Details From 60 Minutes Interview

Patrick Clancy told 60 Minutes that he first recognized serious signs of distress in his then‑wife, Lindsay Clancy, in the fall of 2022, when their youngest son, Callan, was about five months old and Lindsay began suffering from severe insomnia.

In the interview with Ross Douthat, Patrick said one moment stood out: Lindsay would come downstairs after whole nights without sleep. “She came downstairs one morning, and she said — ‘I didn't sleep at all last night.’ And so I said — you know, ‘That's awful. I'll take the kids to school. You just focus on getting caught up on sleep,’” he recalled.

Lindsay ClancyCredit: Lindsay Marie Clancy/Facebook

Patrick described December 2022 as Lindsay’s lowest point. He said she experienced extreme sleep deprivation, deep depression and intrusive thoughts, and that she was hospitalized at the end of that month. On New Year’s Day 2023, Lindsay checked into an inpatient program at McLean Hospital for postpartum mental‑health treatment.

Later that month, Lindsay killed the couple’s three children — Cora, 5; Dawson, 3; and Callan — at their home in Duxbury, Massachusetts, and then attempted suicide by jumping from a second‑story window. Patrick came home to the scene and has since described the events in interviews and while testifying at trial.

Patrick Clancy in the '60 Minutes' interview.Credit: CBS

Defense, Prosecution And Trial

Lindsay’s defense does not dispute that she killed the children but argues she was experiencing postpartum psychosis and therefore lacked criminal responsibility. Her attorney, Kevin Reddington, has said she sought psychiatric help for months following Callan’s birth.

Prosecutors have disputed the psychosis claim, contending the children were deliberately strangled. The trial lasted more than a month and ended on Sept. 4 when Judge William Sullivan declared a mistrial after jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict. Jurors later reported the panel was split 11–1 in favor of finding Lindsay not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility. Prosecutors have not yet announced whether they will seek a retrial; Lindsay remains in custody at Tewksbury Hospital pending further decisions.

Patrick’s Perspective

“No. I could piece together what it was like to be really, really anxious or depressed, but I didn't know how to manage a postpartum illness,” Patrick said in the interview. “I think mental illness has this ability to be tragically deceptive. So I'm sure there are things that I didn't see.”

This case has focused public attention on postpartum mental health, its warning signs and the challenge families face when a new parent’s symptoms escalate rapidly.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or needs someone to talk to, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.