How a dad dealt with the tragic aftermath of his wife ‘killing their three children’

The husband of a woman accused of killing their three children before attempting to take her own life has opened up about his life in the almost two years after the tragedy.

Lindsay Clancy, 32, is believed to have been suffering from severe postpartum depression when she allegedly strangled Cora, five, Dawson, three, and seven-month-old baby Callan on January 24, 2023.

She then jumped from a second-floor window at the home in Massachusetts, but survived the suicide attempt, investigators say.

Almost two years after the incident, Patrick Clancy, 36, spoke to The New Yorker about his grief and how he’s coping.

Pat made headlines after issuing a statement shortly after the deaths of his children, reading: ‘The real Lindsay was generously loving and caring. All I wish for her now is that she can somehow find peace.’

It’s believed Lindsay had been suffering from postpartum psychosis at the time of the murders. Ahead of a trial, her lawyers are preparing to defend her on grounds of insanity.

Since the deaths of Cora, Dawson and Callan, Pat said he’s joined a sailing club, ran the Boston Marathon on behalf of a children’s charity and volunteered as a guide for blind runners.

The home in Duxbury, Massachusetts, where he and Lindsay lived with their children, has been sold.

‘There’s no house anymore. There are no kids. All that’s left is me and Lindsay,’ he said. ‘I wasn’t married to a monster—I was married to someone who got sick.’

Though he publicly forgave Lindsay for the alleged murders of their three children, Pat’s parents said they haven’t been in contact often since the incident.

‘She misses her kids, which I know sounds crazy to some people. But that’s the reality,’ he said.

Pat moved to New York, and his apartment is decorated with photos of his children, The New Yorker observed.

But didn’t know his new apartment was next to a preschool until moving in.

Speaking of the rushed parents dropping off their children, Pat said: ‘I envy their misery.’

Lindsay’s trial is set to go forward sometime later this year or early next year, but will bring forth uncommon topics in the court of law – including postpartum psychosis and the insanity plea.

Lindsay has previously shared struggles with anxiety in motherhood on social media and is reported to have possibly suffered from postpartum psychosis.

Prosecutors allege that Clancy, 32, planned the murder of her children and asked her husband to run errands while she committed the crime. They asked the judge to deny her bail and keep her detained until trial.

Patrick had worked from his home office that day, and stepped out for a short trip to pick up a takeout order for the whole family and medicine for one of the children.

‘When he arrived home, the first thing he noticed was the silence,’ Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Sprague said. ‘He did not see or hear the defendant or the children.’

She continued: ‘when he looked inside, he saw blood on the floor in front of a full-length mirror and the window open. He immediately runs down stairs and into the back yard, where he finds the defendant on the ground.’

Clancy had cuts on her wrists and neck, but her husband told 911 that she was no longer bleeding.

According to prosecutors, Patrick can be heard speaking to his wife on the 911 call he then placed. ‘What did you do,’ he asks.

She responded: ‘I tried to kill myself and jumped out the window.’

He then asked her ‘where are the kids?’ She told him they were in the basement.

When the EMTs arrived at the scene, Patrick asked them to stay with his wife while he checked on the children.

‘He can then be heard screaming in agony and shock as he found his children, Sprague said. ‘His screams seem to get louder and more agonized as time passes.’

Patrick found Cora, 5 and Callan, 8 months, lying face-down in the finished basement’s den area. Dawson, 3, was lying alone in the home office.

Each child appeared to be strangled with an exercise band.

‘He removed the bands and begged them to breathe,’ Sprage said. ‘He continued to scream uncontrollably and screamed for officers to come to the basement.’

When police officers finally found Patrick in the basement, they said he yelled out: ‘she killed the kids!’

Lindsay’s trial has not been scheduled yet.

Samaritans are here to listen, day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or visit samaritans.org for more information.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.