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Judge denies Lindsay Clancy's bid to dismiss murder case, clearing path for retrial

A Massachusetts judge has denied Lindsay Clancys attempt to have the murder charges against her thrown out , clearing the way for prosecutors to pursue a retrial in the high-profile case involving the deaths of her three children. In a ruling issued Thursday, Plymouth Superior Court Judge William F. Sullivan rejected the defenses Rule 25 motion for a required finding of not guilty following Septembers mistrial. Under Massachusetts law, a Rule 25 motion asks a judge to determine whether prosecutors presented sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to convict. Clancys attorney, Kevin Reddington, argued the Commonwealth failed to prove two key elements of its case: that Clancy killed her three children and that she was criminally responsible for her actions at the time. Sullivan disagreed, finding that prosecutors presented enough evidence for a reasonable jury to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Clancy committed the killings and could be held criminally responsible. There was evidence introduced, both physical and circumstantial, that would permit a rational trier of fact to find beyond a reasonable doubt the elements of the charge of murder, Sullivan wrote. Lindsay Clancy and attorney Kevin Reddington in court on September 4, 2026, in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The decision does not determine guilt or innocence. Rather, it means the judge found the evidence presented during the first trial was legally sufficient for the case to proceed to a new jury. The ruling represents a significant victory for prosecutors, who have maintained that Clancy carefully planned the killings of her children, Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months, on January 24, 2023, while her husband was briefly out of the familys Duxbury home. Newsweek has contacted Reddington by email and left a message with Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruzs office seeking comment. Why Judge Sullivan Said the Case Can Proceed According to the decision, prosecutors introduced both physical and circumstantial evidence showing that Clancy was alone with the children during the relevant time period. Her husband, Patrick Clancy, testified that he left the house to pick up takeout food and medication and later returned to find evidence of violence inside the home before discovering his children in the basement. Medical examiners testified that the children died from asphyxia or complications resulting from mechanical asphyxia. Prosecutors alleged the children were strangled with exercise bands. The judge also rejected the defenses challenge to the states evidence regarding criminal responsibility. During the trial, both sides agreed that Clancy suffered from a serious mental illness at the time. The central dispute was whether that illness rendered her legally incapable of appreciating the wrongfulness of her conduct or conforming her behavior to the law. Sullivan noted that three prosecution experts testified that Clancy retained those capacities, even if defense experts reached different conclusions. Resolving those competing opinions, he wrote, is a matter for a jury rather than a judge. Thursdays decision marks the second time Sullivan has rejected the defenses bid to dismiss the case, finding on both occasions that prosecutors presented sufficient evidence for a jury to consider the charges. New: Judge Sullivan denied Kevin Reddington's Rule 25 renewed motion for a required finding of not guilty for Lindsay Clancy. Judge issues his ruling in a bifurcated way, addressing the 2 arguments made by defense (and how Reddington originally wanted the trial split). #WBZ pic.twitter.com/2VkUVDLmM8 Kristina Rex (@KristinaRex) October 1, 2026 What Happens Next A hearing is scheduled for November 2, when the parties are expected to address several unresolved issues, including Clancys motion to block a retrial on double jeopardy grounds and the defenses request for a court inquiry into Michael Desronvil,the holdout juror who wanated to convict Clancy. Prosecutors have not yet said whether they intend to retry Clancy. Their options include pursuing another first-degree murder case, seeking lesser charges such as second-degree murder or manslaughter, or declining to move forward altogether. If a retrial is ordered, a new jury would once again be asked to decide whether Clancy is guilty of murdering her three children or whether her mental state at the time rendered her not criminally responsible. This is a breaking news article. Updates to follow. Newsweeks reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here . Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Jason Lemon and Sam Wilson . Related Articles Anti-Billionaire Abdul El-Sayed Backed by SorosList of Wealthy Supporters James Carville Defends Mary Peltola. Will Alaska Voters Do the Same? Firefighter Accused of Faking Own Death Added to FBIs Most Wanted List Start your unlimited Newsweek trial This article originally appeared on NEWSWEEK at https://www.newsweek.com/lindsay-clancy-retrial-next-steps-judge-denies-dismissal-12512170