Lindsay Clancy Trial Day 17 | Chaplain Reveals What Lindsay Said About the Voice

Day 17 of the Lindsay Clancy trial was unusually short but produced important new testimony. Hospital chaplain Sheila Cavanaugh, who has visited Lindsay at least 14 times since the deaths, testified that Lindsay repeatedly described hearing a persistent male voice telling her to kill Cora, Dawson and Callan and then kill herself. Cavanaugh also recalled Lindsay expressing relief that her children were now “safe,” testimony the defense can use to support its claim that Lindsay's thinking remained delusional after the killings. Prosecutors challenged the account by pointing out that some of these details were not included in Cavanaugh's contemporaneous notes.

Before testimony began, there was another unusual courtroom development: jurors were questioned individually by Judge William Sullivan, following Wednesday's unexplained early adjournment. The substance of those conversations has not been publicly disclosed. Then, after only about 30 minutes of testimony, Sullivan sent the jury home early for the second consecutive day. Closing arguments are now expected early next week as the defense approaches the end of its case.

Outside court, hundreds of supporters—many dressed in pink—gathered in a silent demonstration supporting Lindsay and calling attention to postpartum mental illness and gaps in maternal mental-health care. Signs and shirts included messages such as “Believe,” “She Needed Help,” and “Peace for Lindsay.” It was the largest public show of support for Lindsay during the trial.

Join True Crime Squad as we break down the surprising events of Day 17, Cavanaugh's testimony about the alleged command hallucination, the mysterious juror questioning and early adjournment, and where the case stands as testimony draws to a close.