Patrick Clancy Explains Why He Forgave Wife Who Killed Their Three Children

Patrick Clancy, whose three young children were killed by his former wife, Lindsay Clancy, has opened up about the decision to forgive her despite her never asking him for forgiveness.

Speaking in his first televised interview since Lindsay’s murder trial ended in a mistrial, Patrick told CBS’ 60 Minutes that he believed his former wife’s severe mental illness played a role in the deaths.

“I saw headlines that said, you know, ‘Killer Mom,’ and ‘Baby Murderer,’ ‘Monster,’” Patrick said. “And none of them were accurate.”

He explained that while he believed what Lindsay did was horrific, he also believed her mental illness had contributed to her actions.

Patrick said forgiveness was ultimately necessary for his own survival.

“I think when it comes to forgiveness, I also felt that if I didn’t get there, I would be eaten up inside forever,” he said.

When asked whether Lindsay had ever sought his forgiveness, Patrick replied: “No. But I gave it to her.”

Lindsay was accused of killing the couple’s three children — Cora, five, Dawson, three, and eight-month-old Callan — at their home in Duxbury, Massachusetts, on January 24, 2023.

Patrick recalled finding the children after returning home that day. While Cora and Dawson died at the scene, Callan survived for four days before dying in his father’s arms.

The five-week trial ended in a mistrial on September 4 after jurors could not reach a unanimous decision on whether Lindsay was criminally responsible for the deaths.

Her defence argued that she was experiencing postpartum psychosis at the time, while prosecutors maintained that she should be held criminally responsible.

Patrick, who has since remarried, also spoke about his own struggles following the deaths, including suicidal thoughts and the difficulty of facing the case in court.

He said he has chosen to focus on remembering his children and raising awareness about perinatal mental health rather than allowing anger to define his life.