The defense blamed one juror for the deadlock.
The murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, the Massachusetts mom who killed her three young children while in the family's home on Jan. 24, 2023, has ended in a mistrial after seven days of juror deadlock.
Clancy's defense attorney, Kevin Reddington, claims she was suffering from postpartum psychosis when she strangled her children and attempted to take her own life. The prosecutors, Jennifer Sprague and Shanan Buckingham, argue that Clancy -- who pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder -- is criminally responsible for her children's deaths.
Judge William Sullivan, who is overseeing the trial, has set a court date of Sept. 29, 2026, to reconvene and determine next steps.
Watch a special edition of "20/20," "The Trial of Lindsay Clancy," airing Thursday, Sept. 4, at 9/8c on ABC, streaming the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.
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The jury has signaled for a second time it is deadlocked and unable to reach a verdict.
"After much deliberation, we are still unable to come to a unanimous decision," jurors said in a note, according to Judge William Sullivan.
Sullivan delivered what is known in Massachusetts as the Tuey-Rodriguez charge, instructing the jurors to keep deliberating.
Dawn Light, 56, pleaded not guilty to aggravated intimidation of a juror Wednesday morning.
Police alleged Light tried to photograph jurors from her vehicle in the courthouse parking lot on Tuesday afternoon.
When officers spoke with Light, she allegedly told them she was waiting for Lindsay Clancy, police said.
After Light consented to a search of her phone, state troopers found video of jurors exiting court, according to the prosecutor.
Prosecutors asked for $50,000 bail and an order to stay away from the courthouse and from potential jurors and witnesses involved in the Clancy case. Prosecutors also asked that Light be prevented from disseminating any photographs or videos stored on her phone.
"It's very clear this is a situation that is very serious for the commonwealth," the prosecutor told the judge on Wednesday. "The sanctity of the judicial system is at risk because of her actions."
Light, a retired nurse, has no prior criminal record. A defense attorney said Light is on a fixed income with no ability to pay a high bail.
"This is a complete misunderstanding," the defense lawyer said. "She has the utmost respect for the judicial system."
The judge declined to impose a cash bail but ordered her to stay away from jurors and witnesses associated with the Clancy trial. The judge also ordered Light not to disseminate any photographs or videos stored on her phone.
Light was released on her own recognizance and will be back in court Oct. 15 for a preliminary hearing.
Judge William Sullivan reminded the audience Wednesday morning about the standing orders and laws meant to prevent jurors from being harassed.
"Everybody should be well aware of that order and that statute," Sullivan said.Â
His reminder followed the arrest of a woman who allegedly attempted to photograph the jury on Tuesday.
Then, one by one, the judge summoned each juror to the bench, swore him or her in and asked each a question. This was done with attorneys present but out of public earshot.
The woman arrested, Dawn Light, was taken into custody on Tuesday around 3:40 p.m. ET and charged with one count of intimidation of a witness, jurors, or person furnishing information in connection with criminal proceedings, a Massachusetts State Police spokesperson told ABC Boston affiliate WCVB-TV.Â
Light is being arraigned this morning in a different courtroom.
Jurors in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy returned to a third floor courtroom at Plymouth County Superior Court on Wednesday for a fifth day of deliberations.
They previously told the judge they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict, and Judge William Sullivan instructed them to keep trying.
