Patrick Clancy on the stand. The Lindsay Clancy murder trial is held at Plymouth Superior Court in Plymouth on July 29, 2026. (Photo by David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
In his first television interview since the case against Lindsay Clancy ended in a mistrial, Patrick Clancy revealed he had forgiven his former wife for the deaths of their three children, saying he did so while still holding his dying infant son.
Big picture view:
In the interview, which aired Sunday during CBS News’ "60 Minutes," Clancy discussed coping with grief, the toll of testifying, and the conspiracy theories surrounding the case.
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He also gave a glimpse of the days that followed the January 24, 2023, attacks, saying that his youngest son, eight-month-old Callen, lived for four more days. Clancy recalled how he was holding on to his infant and typing tributes to his other two children, Cora, 5, and Dawson, 2, with one hand. It was at that time that Clancy says he forgave his wife.
What they're saying:
"I saw headlines that say ‘killer mom’ and ‘baby murderer monster’ and none of them were accurate," he said. "I believed that it was her mental illness that caused that."
Dig deeper:
Clancy told "60 Minutes" about how coping with the stress from his children’s deaths and the subsequent trial had weighed on him and said that he experienced suicidal thoughts during that time.
"There was a time I didn't think I would live to see my 35th birthday, and I was completely fine with it," he said.
Panic attacks on the stand
Clancy went on to describe a panic attack that he experienced while testifying during Lindsay Clancy’s trial. It happened when the 911 call he made on that fatal day was played for the jury, he said. In the call, Patrick Clancy can be heard howling and crying after discovering his children’s bodies as the dispatcher asks repeatedly about what had happened.
RELATED: What happens next after mistrial in Lindsay Clancy murder case?
Handling the conspiracy theories
In the interview, Clancy worried that the conspiracy theories that surfaced online, including ones that have unfounded claims that he was involved in the children’s deaths, would affect the legacy of his children. He also described it as "a huge distraction" from what he considered important in this case: perinatal mental health.
When asked if he was angry with himself over what happened or if he felt like he failed, Clancy responded by saying, "I think I did the best I could with what I had at the time. And I live with the outcome. I live with it every day."
RELATED: Lindsay Clancy holdout juror speaks out for the first time
What's next:
Lindsay Clancy’s first trial ended after the jury deadlocked, with 11 people reportedly siding with the defense and one juror siding with prosecutors. The Plymouth County district attorney has not said if he plans to seek a new trial against Lindsay Clancy.
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The Source: Information for this article was taken from The Associated Press. This story was reported from Orlando.