The jury in the Lindsay Clancy case has been sent home for the day after failing to reach a unanimous verdict. The jury will return Wednesday to continue deliberations on the charges against Clancy.
Clancy is accused of killing her three children in January 2023 inside their Massachusetts home, according to the BBC. She is charged with three counts of first-degree murder.
The jury has been deliberating for several days after hearing testimony from dozens of witnesses. During the trial, Clancy did not deny killing her children but pleaded not guilty by lack of criminal responsibility, according to a report from People.
The jury is considering multiple charges including second-degree murder and manslaughter. The defense has argued that Clancy suffered from postpartum psychosis and was overmedicated at the time of the killings.
Prosecutors have countered that Clancy acted with intent and did not suffer from a mental state that would excuse her actions. Clancy’s former husband, Patrick, testified during the trial and has since forgiven her for the killings.
The trial was closely followed by media outlets, with live streaming coverage provided by the Associated Press. On Tuesday, the jury told the judge they were unable to agree on a verdict.
The judge instructed them to continue deliberating despite the deadlock. If Clancy is found not guilty by reason of insanity, she would be sent to a psychiatric hospital for review.
There, her condition would be reviewed periodically and she could remain in care indefinitely. The jury has not yet reached a decision after four days of deliberation.
There is no set time for how long a jury must deliberate in any case, Yahoo News reported. The longest jury deliberation on record lasted four and a half months in California in 1992.
When a jury reaches an impasse, the judge can review legal points with them before they continue. The case has drawn national attention due to its emotional weight and the unusual circumstances surrounding it.