Lindsay Clancy Holdout Juror Had ‘Zero Doubt’ in Case, Lawyer Says - Newsweek

The attorney for Michael P. Desronvil, the lone holdout juror in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial, has told Fox News that his client had no doubt about his decision.

In an interview airing on Monday, attorney Edward Paltzik told Fox News host Kayleigh McEnany that claims his client harbored reasonable doubt during deliberations are false. "Michael had zero doubt. No doubt," Paltzik said.

When asked if he had any evidence to back up this position, the attorney added that there was "a lot of evidence. A mountain of evidence."

Lindsay Clancy admitted killing her three children, 5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson and 8-month-old Callan, in January 2023.

Charged with three counts of first-degree murder, her defense claimed she was suffering from postpartum psychosis, excusing her from criminal responsibility.

But after more than five weeks of testimony and seven days of deliberations, the 12-member jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision and Judge William Sullivan declared a mistrial.

The case has prompted national debate over postpartum psychosis, women's mental health care and how the criminal justice system treats defendants suffering mental illness.

Desronvil, 48, from Massachusetts, was the lone holdout juror in Clancy's trial. Identified earlier this month, he gained attention after the mistrial was called as several of his fellow jurors publicly criticized his approach to deliberations.

In interviews after the trial, some of the jurors said they believed Desronvil was unwilling to adequately consider their arguments.

Jury foreperson Roni Carlson told NBC10 Boston that Desronvil at one stage acknowledged having reasonable doubt, but that he still refused to agree that Clancy should be found not criminally responsible.

Fellow juror Paula Devlin described Desronvil as "very arrogant" during deliberations and said other jurors repeatedly went through medical and toxicology evidence in an effort to address his concerns.

In a statement provided to Newsweek via his lawyer, Desronvil previously said: "I didn’t have any doubts. As I tried to explain different possible theories during deliberation, I kept getting cut off as if I had doubts based on the evidence present."

Desronvil has received a barrage of attention from the public for his role in the high-profile case. His lawyer previously said that he is "presently safe and sound at an undisclosed secure location in a rural area of Northern New England."

In the weeks following the trial an online fundraiser to support Desronvil collected more than $350,000.

Court records show that in September of 2021, Desronvil faced a criminal charge for allegedly assaulting his then-wife. He pleaded not guilty to the charges, which were dismissed in December 2021, meaning Desronvil was not convicted over the allegations.

As a result of the mistrial, Clancy’s case remains unresolved and charges against her are still pending.

The next step is a status hearing, set to take place on September 29 in Plymouth Superior Court before Sullivan.

Clancy’s attorney, Kevin Reddington, has filed a renewed motion asking Sullivan to enter a required finding of not guilty.

Reddington has also said he intends to argue that another prosecution should be barred on double-jeopardy grounds.

Clancy remains in custody and is receiving psychiatric treatment at Tewksbury State Hospital, Massachusetts.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988, or visit 988lifeline.org. You can also text HOME to 741741 to reach Crisis Text Line.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Tobias Meyjes and Tony Phillips.