Breaking down postpartum psychosis amid the Lindsay Clancy trial

Lindsay Clancy, 36, has pleaded not guilty to murder charges in the deaths of her three young children, Callan, Dawson, and Cora, who were found dead in the family home in Duxbury, Massachusetts. The defense rested its case on Friday after presenting testimony about Clancy's mental state leading up to and during the killings. Prosecutors are now calling rebuttal witnesses, and closing arguments are expected next week.

Clancy's lawyer argues that she should not be held criminally responsible due to postpartum psychosis, a rare mental illness linked to childbirth. The defense presented testimony from family members, a psychologist, and a hospital chaplain detailing Clancy's worsening mental health before the killings. Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Phillip Resnick testified that Clancy was clearly psychotic on the day of the murders and not in control of her actions.

He said Clancy had severe depression, bipolar disorder symptoms, and heard a voice commanding her to kill her children. Resnick suggested Clancy's actions were driven by a delusional belief that her children would suffer without her or go to heaven. However, prosecutors argue that Clancy's mental state was a continuation of her pre-existing depression and not psychosis.