PLYMOUTH, Mass. (AP) — Jurors in the Lindsay Clancy trial were set Friday to resume determining whether she was responsible for her actions when she killed her three children in 2023.
Clancy admits that she strangled her children, but her lawyer said she did it because she'd lost her grip on reality due to postpartum psychosis, a rare mental illness that can follow childbirth. The killings followed a monthslong period during which Clancy had sought treatment for her worsening mental health, including a stay in a psychiatric hospital.
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Defense attorney Kevin Reddington holds up a picture of th Clancy family before the murders during closing arguments in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial at Plymouth Superior Court in Plymouth, Mass., Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool)
Assistant DA Jennifer Sprague makes her closing arguments for the jury asking them to find Clancy guilty during the Lindsay Clancy murder trial at Plymouth Superior Court in Plymouth, Mass., Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool)
A packed courtroom gallery listens during closing arguments in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial at Plymouth Superior Court in Plymouth, Mass., Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool)
Defense attorney Kevin Reddington makes his closing arguments to the jury in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial at Plymouth Superior Court in Plymouth, Mass., Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool)
Prosecutors said Clancy knew what she was doing. They say she killed the children because she was depressed and tired of living, and made a conscious choice to take her children with her before killing herself.
The jury met for a few hours Thursday without reaching a verdict. Members of the panel could find her guilty of murder or the lesser crime of manslaughter, or acquit her if they decide she wasn't in control of herself due to her psychiatric problems.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988.
Clancy, 36, has pleaded not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility. She did not testify during the trial, but jurors heard at length from medical professionals who had treated her, as well as from friends and relatives she'd told about her mental health problems.
Jurors also heard from medical experts called by prosecutors and the defense, who disagreed about her likely state of mind when she killed her children Cora, Dawson and Callan Clancy, ages 5, 3 and 8 months, at their Massachusetts home.
The killings happened less than three weeks after Clancy was discharged from a psychiatric hospital. She cut herself and then jumped from a second-floor window after strangling the children, but survived. She remains paralyzed from the waist down.
Defense attorney Kevin Reddington holds up a picture of th Clancy family before the murders during closing arguments in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial at Plymouth Superior Court in Plymouth, Mass., Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool)
Assistant DA Jennifer Sprague makes her closing arguments for the jury asking them to find Clancy guilty during the Lindsay Clancy murder trial at Plymouth Superior Court in Plymouth, Mass., Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool)
A packed courtroom gallery listens during closing arguments in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial at Plymouth Superior Court in Plymouth, Mass., Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool)
Defense attorney Kevin Reddington makes his closing arguments to the jury in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial at Plymouth Superior Court in Plymouth, Mass., Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool)
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Las Vegas rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza saw what it was like to face a strong NFL pass rush, even against a San Francisco defense comprised of reserves, and he was sacked twice and threw an interception in the 49ers' 18-12 preseason victory over the Raiders on Thursday night.
“It's the NFL, there are monsters on the other side of the ball and you need to get the ball out quick,” Mendoza said. “It teaches you, you need to play on time, and there's less margin for error. So I think it's a great experience having that heat and duress because diamonds are built under pressure.”
Eddy Piñeiro made all six field goal attempts, including 51- and 54-yarders in the final 1:51 for the 49ers (2-1). Las Vegas' Matt Gay, who played briefly for San Francisco last season, made 4 of 5 field goals, his miss coming from 54 yards in the third quarter.
Mendoza completed 7 of 14 passes for 57 yards, making him 25 of 40 for 240 yards with a touchdown, two interceptions and four sacks for the three preseason games. He led five drives against the 49ers, one ending in a field goal and another in the missed attempt.
It wasn't quite the exclamation point the top overall draft pick wanted to put on the preseason, and now he will have to search for practice repetitions with Kirk Cousins expected to be the starter when the season begins. Cousins took the vast majority of snaps in training camp for the Raiders (1-2), who now go full time into game planning.
“(Mendoza) needs another three preseason games, and all those rookies do," Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said. “Now that the season is starting, the practice reps get smaller and that's just life. But us as coaches, we've got to get them ready to play and keep developing.”
Both coaches took notably different approaches to this preseason finale, with Kubiak playing almost his entire starting offense and defense for two series and the Niners' Kyle Shanahan going with backups the entire game.
Now both coaches have serious decisions to make before the rosters are cut to 53 on Sunday.
“I’m looking forward to figuring out exactly our final team here over these next three days," Shanahan said. "We got a lot of tough decisions; they’re not easy ones. I want to see how the practice squad pans out and really what our opening day roster is going to be. I just like when the season starts. Preseason gets a little bit old, and I like when it gets real and it’s going to get real, real fast.”
Cousins directed two drives, both ending in field goals. He completed 8 of 11 passes for 51 yards.
Mike Washington Jr., who could open the season as the starting running back with Ashton Jeanty out with an undisclosed injury. rushed for 49 yards on eight carries. Washington rushed for 168 yards in the preseason, averaging 7.3 per carry.
49ers backup quarterback Mac Jones and what was mostly the second-team offense was held to one first down and 20 yards on two drives against the Raiders' starting defense, minus pass rusher Maxx Crosby who didn't play in any preseason games. Jones finished 1 of 5 for 7 yards.
The Raiders went with Mendoza for the third period and gave him the starting offense, except for rookie Trey Zuhn III taking over for Tyler Linderbaum at center. Mendoza threw high to Jalen Nailor on his second play, and the ball popped into the air into the hands of San Francisco linebacker Tatum Bethune for an interception.
49ers: CB Ephesians Prysock (shoulder) and TE Brayden Willis (concussion) were injured. LB Jalen Graham was evaluated for a concussion and cleared.
Raiders: DE Keyron Crawford (ankle) was hurt late in the third quarter.
49ers: Open Sept. 10 against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia.
Raiders: Open Sept. 13 against Miami at home.
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jordan Watkins celebrates after a first down during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) throws during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026}, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
San Francisco 49ers safety Ashtyn Davis (29) tackles Las Vegas Raiders running back Mike Washington Jr. (30) as San Francisco 49ers linebacker Jaden Dugger (53) loses his helmet during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026}, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones looks for a receiver during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026}, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Keion White (56) sacks Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026}, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
