Michael P. Desronvil, the lone holdout juror in the Lindsay Clancy mistrial, made a brief public statement asking that attention be returned to the three children central to the case. Desronvil and his attorney deny allegations from fellow jurors about his conduct during deliberations. Clancy's defense has asked Judge William Sullivan to review Desronvil's cellphone activity, jury questionnaire and possible exposure to outside information; a Sept. 29 hearing will consider motions that could block a retrial.
Holdout Juror in Lindsay Clancy Mistrial Breaks Silence, Urges Focus Back to Children as Defense Seeks Probe
Lindsay Clancy Holdout Juror Attempts To Shift ‘The Focus’ From His Hideout
Michael P. Desronvil, the lone holdout juror in the high-profile Lindsay Clancy murder trial, has spoken publicly for the first time since a mistrial was declared, asking that attention be returned to the three children at the heart of the case.
Desronvil's Statement
In a short video recorded at an undisclosed location, Desronvil acknowledged the scrutiny around his role but urged the public and media to "reel everything back and put the focus on the three angels." He named the children—Cora, Dawson and Callan—and added that they "can't speak for themselves, can't defend themselves, and can't fight the battles."
Facebook | Lindsay Clancy
"I want to thank God for my Catholic faith. And foremost, I would like to thank everyone, every individual, who has supported me throughout this difficult situation."
Allegations, Defense Requests, And Responses
The mistrial was declared on September 4 after roughly 38 hours of deliberations, when the jury remained deadlocked 11-1: 11 jurors favored a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity while Desronvil maintained Clancy was criminally responsible. In the weeks since, several jurors have publicly described disagreements and raised questions about Desronvil's conduct during seven days of deliberations.
On September 18, Clancy's defense attorney Kevin Reddington filed a motion asking Judge William Sullivan to examine aspects of Desronvil's conduct during deliberations, including his cellphone activity, the jury questionnaire he completed, and whether he was exposed to any outside information. The filing also requested records about background checks from jury selection. The motion did not allege definitive misconduct but sought judicial review of potential issues raised by jurors' accounts.
Facebook | Lindsay Clancy
One juror, Nick Dargie, told national media that Desronvil was seen "scrolling on his phone" at times and recounted other incidents he described as distractions during deliberations. Desronvil's attorney, identified in reports as Paltzik, strongly denied the allegations. Paltzik called the claims "categorically false" and described the defense's motion as an overreach that could chill jurors' willingness to serve.
What Comes Next
Prosecutors have indicated they may seek a retrial, while Clancy's legal team is pushing a double-jeopardy argument and asking the court to block another prosecution. A hearing scheduled for September 29 is expected to address those motions as well as the request to investigate the holdout juror's conduct. The outcome of those proceedings will determine whether the case proceeds to a new trial or whether other remedies are ordered.
Desronvil used his brief public comments to emphasize that he did not want to be the story and to reiterate his support for the children affected by the case. The courtroom filings and the judge's forthcoming decisions will shape the next chapter in the unresolved aftermath of the mistrial.
Help us improve.
