A GoFundMe to support Lindsay Clancy’s parents, Michael Musgrove and Paula Musgrove, has increased its overall goal to $3 million — and continues to raise funds — after a Massachusetts judge declared a mistrial in the mother’s high-profile murder case.
“I’ve decided to raise the goal of this fundraiser since this process has been extended, so is the time Paula and Mike will remain away from their home, continuing to carry the costs that come with being there for their daughter every day,” fundraising organizer Brandee Mulligan wrote in a Friday, September 4, update. “The original purpose of this fundraiser hasn’t changed — it’s simply to take one thing off their plate while they continue to show up for their family.”
The update continued, “If they have to keep showing up longer, I want to make sure the support does too. Thank each and every one of you for showing up for this family. Let’s do this.”
The fundraiser has raised over $1,170,000 at the time of publication.
Earlier on Friday, Judge William Sullivan declared a mistrial in the controversial triple-murder trial, in which Clancy stands accused of killing her three children — Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months — before attempting to die by suicide. Clancy has not denied killing her kids, but instead argues she should not be held criminally responsible for the children’s deaths due to her documented postpartum mental health struggles. The prosecution argues that despite her mental health issues she knew right from wrong when she strangled the children to death.
The jury deliberated for nearly seven days and more than 30 hours, but ultimately remained deadlocked 11-1 and unable to reach a unanimous decision.
“I’m kind of a history buff and during World War II, Winston Churchill was the Prime Minister of England when England pretty much stood against Nazi Germany alone,” Judge Sullivan said on Friday while addressing the jury for the final time. “So Churchill [often] had to talk to the citizens and let us brace for our duties. I always like that phrase, and I thought of that phrase when all of you were agreeing to be on this jury. You agreed to brace for that duty and each one of you knew how long the case was going to go, you knew how difficult the case was going to be to listen to, facts-wise. But still, you braced for that duty.”
He continued, “I watched every day, day after day, week after week, [and] all of you [were] performing that duty that you braced for. And I kind of wanted to let you know: I understand how hard everyone worked in this case. I understood you all gave everything you could and probably more than you thought you could … I just want to thank you so much. You should be proud of what you did. You braced for that duty. You performed that duty.”
When speaking to the press after the mistrial, Clancy’s defense attorney Kevin Reddington gave an update on his client and her parents’ wellbeing amid the possibility of another trial.
“It’s not right what she had to go through, because she grieves the loss of those three children, Cora, Dawson and Callan,” Reddington said at the time, adding that both Clancy and her parents are not doing well. “Every time somebody had something to say about those young kids, Lindsay would smile and say, ‘I’m glad.’ She wants them to be remembered.”
He continued, “I’m representing a woman who is a fantastic, wonderful individual. This woman is so brave; so awesome. Every day she came into this courthouse, stood tall — no pun intended, the poor thing is in a wheelchair as we all know for the rest of her life — sat there through seven weeks of a trial where nobody had anything bad to say about her except for the two prosecutors and apparently [Plymouth County District Attorney] Tim Cruz.”
Another hearing has been scheduled for September 29 as the future of the case remains unclear.
If you or someone you know is pregnant or just had a baby and is in crisis, help is available. Call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline for free, confidential support 24/7 in English and Spanish at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262).
