Suicide hotline turned Lindsay Clancy away twice before she killed her own children: Live updates

By RACHEL BOWMAN, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER and RACHEL SHARP, CRIME CORRESPONDENT Updated: 14:25, 13 August 2026 Lindsay Clancy contacted a suicide hotline twice in the month before she killed her children, but was rebuffed both times, jurors learned. The former nurse, 36, is accused of murdering Cora, five, Dawson, three, and eight-month-old Callan, at her Duxbury, Massachusetts, home in January 2023. Clancy strangled her children with exercise bands and then attempted to kill herself, but her efforts failed and left her paralyzed and in a wheelchair for life. On Wednesday, the jury learned that Clancy contacted a suicide crisis hotline twice in the month leading up to the tragedy. She contacted the crisis hotline ASPIRE in December 2022, but was turned away both times, according to her lawyer, Kevin Reddington. The revelation came during a day of poignant testimony that saw the trial brought to a halt twice when Clancy became overwhelmed by emotion as medical examiners described the injuries she had inflicted on her own children. 'I can't do this,' Clancy cried out inside Plymouth County Superior Court. Clancy has admitted to killing her children but pleaded not guilty to murder by reason of insanity, citing postpartum psychosis, and is also suing her former healthcare providers for medical malpractice and negligence.  If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US on 988. There is also an online chat available at 988lifeline.org. Follow the Daily Mail for more updates...  In the month before she killed her children, Lindsay Clancy sought help from a suicide hotline on two occasions, only to be turned away both times, jurors were told on Wednesday. She contacted the crisis hotline ASPIRE in December 2022, but was turned away both times, according to her lawyer, Kevin Reddington. ‘Two times she contacted ASPIRE, not once. Both times they told her there was nothing they could do for her?’ Reddington asked mental health counselor Latiesha Dukes. ‘Correct,’ Dukes said, adding that Clancy was turned away because she did not have any plans to act on her suicidal thoughts. Testimony will resume in Lindsay Clancy's murder trial today. She is sitting at the defense table in a ballerina pink T-shirt. Her parents are here again with a friend and Dr Paul Zeizel. Outside the courtroom, around 35 members of the public waited to get in the room. Only three of them were men. Several of the women told the Daily Mail they are 'Camp Lindsay' and want to be there to support her, as women and as mothers. Lindsay Clancy messaged nurse Rebecca Jollotta about 'intrusive thoughts' and wanting to die the month before she killed her children. Read Lindsay Clancy's messages sent weeks before she killed her kids While Lindsay Clancy is the one on trial, to some supporters at the courthouse in Plymouth, Massachusetts, so too is the healthcare system. Inside Plymouth County Superior Court on Wednesday morning, Massachusetts State Police Sgt Dan Lawlor was forced to admit that investigators discussed a ‘theory’ that a psychologist hired by the defense had planted the seed of that story in Clancy’s mind. A few days after the killings, forensic psychologist Dr Paul Zeizel had visited Clancy at Brigham Women’s Hospital where she was receiving treatment. During that visit, he let Clancy use his cell phone to call Patrick. Clancy told her husband that she had heard voices on the day of the killings. The officer admitted that one of the state's theories was that Zeizel told Clancy to say that as part of her defense. Cop stuns courtt with rumor about Lindsay Clancy psychologist The stunning moment came when a police officer admitted the state's apparent theory that a doctor coached Lindsay Clancy to claim that she killed her children because she was hearing voices. The jury and courtroom had to be cleared twice on Wednesday as Lindsay Clancy grew so overcome with emotion hearing the injuries she had inflicted on her own children. 'I can't do this,' Clancy cried out as she sat through the graphic testimony inside Plymouth County Superior Court. Lindsay Clancy begs for trial to stop during most graphic evidence yet Lindsay Clancy, 36, sobbed uncontrollably as a medical examiner described the horrific details of her slain children's injuries. I really doubt that the Hotline turned her away &m...