Lindsay Clancy murdered her three children.
That isn’t just my opinion; that’s a fact both sides of the trial agree upon. However, if you were to look at the discourse about this case on TikTok, you might think there was an elaborate scheme to frame Lindsay for the murders.
In 2023, Lindsay Clancy strangled her three children and then attempted suicide. Her attorneys aren’t contesting that; they’re arguing she can’t be held criminally liable because she was experiencing an extreme episode of a mental disorder called postpartum psychosis.
Postpartum psychosis is a severe mental health condition that can cause hallucinations, delusions, depression, insomnia and mania in those who have recently given birth. A rare condition, it’s believed to occur in between 320 and 9,400 births per year in the United States, according to the Cleveland Clinic. This condition is severely misunderstood and misdiagnosed due to its similarity to other conditions such as postpartum depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
Lindsay Clancy’s case provided an opportunity for a high-profile discussion about postpartum psychosis and the mental healthcare system. Instead, much of the online discourse has devolved into wild theories claiming Lindsay is actually innocent. These theories typically implicate then-husband and father Patrick Clancy as either the murderer or the masterful orchestrator of Lindsay’s deteriorating mental condition.
This discourse is a perfect example of how the mass popularity and desensitization of crime through the media has warped people’s minds about crime and the law. Movies and television often depict murder trials with a secret killer, a big twist or a massive conspiracy that makes for a good story. But that’s not a realistic portrayal of most murder trials. Most trials are simply two competing stories about an event, with no interesting twists and turns.
This isn’t the first time a case with overwhelming evidence has been sensationalized by TikTok. In 2022, the murder of four Idaho students by Bryan Kohberger similarly grabbed the internet’s attention. Despite overwhelming evidence pointing to Kohberger, conspiracies blamed the surviving roommates, random bystanders and one of their professors.
This University of Idaho history professor, Rebecca Scofield, was so damaged by these false accusations and internet conspiracies that she sued one of the theories’ main proponents, a TikTok tarot card reader named Ashley Guillard, for defamation. Guillard was ordered to pay $10 million in damages due to her false accusations.
The theories surrounding TikTok’s latest sensationalized case threaten to cause similar damage. The only question regarding the Clancy case is whether Lindsay should be held criminally liable for her actions. Discussions about this case should revolve around how far criminal liability should extend, how the mental health system failed to identify a woman clearly in distress and how untreated postpartum psychosis can have deadly consequences.
Trying to invent more interesting stories about the “true murderer” in this case takes away from the truly valuable lessons we can learn from it. And sensationalizing the deaths of three innocent children — the oldest being only 5 years old — dehumanizes the victims and makes them afterthoughts in these discussions.
Postpartum psychosis is real and dangerous. Whether Lindsay was experiencing this condition at the time of the murders is up to the jury to decide. It’s also up to the jury to decide if this psychosis means she wasn’t capable of understanding her actions or their consequences.
There is no good to come from Monday-morning-quarterbacking Lindsay’s mental health diagnoses and the trial itself. This case is full of experts in their fields trying to tell us what is important, and we should listen to these experts to learn real lessons from these tragic murders. While it may be more engaging to listen to TikTok detectives trying to determine the “real killer,” relying on conspiracies prevents you from actually learning from this case.
While TikTok users are partly to blame for the sensationalization of this case, it is also the fault of the app itself. It’s no secret that social media algorithms prioritize frustrating and enraging content — and a mother murdering her three children will naturally result in emotional responses. That’s what we’re seeing in this case.
The algorithm’s push of these conspiracy theories demonstrates the disgusting lack of attention span these sites have created. Somehow, the murder of three innocent children isn’t “interesting” enough itself for the algorithm or online consumers. So, accusations against Patrick have picked up steam and increased confusion and misunderstanding about this case.
These algorithms warp our understanding of reality and create fights that don’t actually exist. We all fall for these tricks, but it’s important to take a moment to take a step back and reevaluate when we see something online that enrages us. Taking a moment to reattach to reality can help prevent real world harm from a simple misunderstanding or blatant deception.
I hope Patrick is able to get through this incredibly difficult time. He has had to relive what is probably the worst day of his life and reopen wounds that could take a lifetime to heal. We should have respect and empathy for the man who lost everything and still found a way to forgive Lindsay.
We should also reevaluate how we deal with postpartum disorders and recognize the very real and potentially dangerous effects they can have if left untreated. Many medical professionals are not trained on the symptoms of postpartum psychosis and how to recognize or treat it. Medical professionals who have contact with women who have recently given birth should all be trained on how to recognize it. This condition is treatable if diagnosed and treated properly. There are medications and treatments available that are effective for a majority of postpartum psychosis patients.
A major reason for the lack of understanding about postpartum psychosis and other disorders is because the United States lacks the proper mental health infrastructure to deal with it. Other countries, such as Sweden and Finland, have developed infrastructure to study and treat mothers and infants simultaneously. But the U.S. lags behind in funding for vital mental health treatments and childcare.
This is the conversation the Clancy trial should be promoting. If we were to listen to the experts and victims rather than sensationalist TikTok detectives, we could learn important lessons and push for real change. Conspiratorial talking heads should be ignored and shunned so mature adults can figure out how to prevent the death of another child whose parent is experiencing a mental health crisis.
Contact Evan Dressel at edressel@alligator.org. Follow him on X @Edressel@alligator.org.
