In the wake of a mistrial declared at Plymouth Superior Court on Friday afternoon, defense attorney Kevin Reddington publicly appealed to President Donald Trump on Tuesday morning during an appearance on Good Morning America to consider a presidential pardon for Lindsay Clancy. Clancy, 36, faces a retrial after a jury of nine women and three men deadlocked on murder versus manslaughter charges following 37 hours of deliberations over a five-and-a-half-week trial regarding the January 2023 deaths of her three children.
The Bottom Line
- Defense Strategy Pivot: Defense counsel Kevin Reddington has signaled openness to exploring negotiations with District Attorney Tim Cruz to bypass another trial.
Legal Realities of the Executive Pardon Appeal
When Kevin Reddington appeared on television Tuesday morning to ask for executive intervention, the defense attorney stated on Good Morning America, “I’d like to say that perhaps Donald Trump, who felt compelled to speak out about this case. Mr President, I hope that you would consider this young lady, the type of person she is, what she’s been through, and consider a pardon.”
Trial Mechanics and the Path Forward
The mistrial occurred at Plymouth Superior Court after jurors spent more than 37 hours evaluating evidence regarding the January 2023 deaths of five-year-old Cora, three-year-old Dawson, and eight-month-old Callan. According to defense disclosures, 11 members of the jury favored a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, while a single holdout prevented a unanimous decision. Clancy admitted to strangling the children with exercise bands but maintained she was experiencing psychosis brought on by a cocktail of prescribed medications for postpartum depression.
The defense team navigated over five weeks of evidence before the deadlock forced Judge William Sullivan to declare a mistrial. Reddington noted that he remains open to resolving the matter without subjecting the court and the families to a second trial. “I’m willing to listen to Tim [Cruz]. I’ve known Tim for 30 years. I hope, however, after this trial, that he would revisit that issue and we could work something out that will be acceptable for both sides,” Reddington stated, referring to District Attorney Tim Cruz.
Comparative Overview of Case Developments
| Metric / Detail | Trial Phase One | Current Post-Mistrial Status |
|---|---|---|
| Judicial Outcome | Mistrial declared by Judge William Sullivan | Awaiting potential retrial or negotiations |
| Jury Split | Deadlocked (11 favoring insanity acquittal, 1 holdout) | Case resets for a retrial |
| Primary Defense Position | Not guilty by reason of insanity via postpartum psychosis | Maintained; defense open to alternative resolutions with DA Tim Cruz |
| External Interventions | Public comments by President Donald Trump | Televised pardon request directed to the President |
Institutional Stakes and Public Commentary
The case has drawn attention from the executive branch. Speaking at the White House on Friday, President Donald Trump addressed the tragedy directly, noting: “It’s a shame. It’s a horrible tragedy. I see what’s happened and it looks like it’s a hung jury. I think the judge has said it’s going to be a mistrial, so there’s going to be another trial. It’s a terrible situation. Look, she did a horrible, horrible thing.”
