In his first televised interview, Patrick Clancy reflected on the events leading up to the 2023 deaths of his three children and how he has been coping since.
He addressed online criticism and conspiracy theories from supporters of Lindsay Clancy, who accused him of failing to protect his wife.
“It’s deeply harmful to the legacy of my children,” Patrick Clancy said. “It is a huge distraction from what really matters here, which is perinatal mental health. And it’s done real harm to real people, myself included but also others.”
He called the online response “painful to see”.
“And it makes it difficult to be in public and it’s possible that some of those people, after seeing lie after lie after lie, they start to believe it and that’s what we’re left with,” he added.
The interview, broadcast Sunday, arrives as Massachusetts prosecutors consider whether to retry Lindsay Clancy for strangling her three children—ages five, three, and eight months—in their home before attempting suicide.
A mistrial was declared on September 4 after a jury failed to reach a verdict. Eleven jurors voted to acquit Lindsay Clancy, concluding she was affected by postpartum psychosis, while one juror sided with prosecutors who argued she was aware of her actions.
He recalled noticing his ex‑wife’s sleep deprivation and anxiety in the fall of 2022, months after the birth of their youngest son, Callan. He admitted lacking knowledge about managing postpartum illness prior to that time.
“I think mental illness has this ability to be tragically deceptive. So I’m sure there are things that I didn’t see,” he added.
Her condition deteriorated in December, prompting a stay at McLean Psychiatric Hospital on New Year’s Eve.
The children were allegedly strangled 17 days after her release from the hospital. Patrick Clancy said he hoped Callan would survive after his heart resumed beating.
He recalled thinking, “Just give me one child, and I would raise him as best I could, giving him the best life possible and telling him about his siblings.” Callan subsequently died in the hospital.
He attributed the deaths to his ex‑wife’s mental illness, expressing forgiveness and rejecting media portrayals of her as a “killer mom” or “baby murderer”.
“I think I did the best I could with what I had at the time,” he said. “And I live with the outcome. I live with it every day.”
Both Lindsay and Patrick Clancy have filed medical malpractice suits against the physicians and facilities involved in her care. Lindsay claims negligence, while Patrick seeks wrongful‑death damages.
He described his life as having come to a “screeching halt,” admitting to suicidal thoughts. Seeking anonymity, he relocated to New York City, where he was able to grieve openly, retain his children’s belongings, and meet his second wife at a running club. He also said counseling from Postpartum Support International helped him cope.
His wife, Rachel Danis, who appeared with him, said, “I know I can’t fix – I can’t bring his kids back. But if I can honor them and let Pat grieve while continuing to honor them in the present, that’s all I can do.”
The Plymouth County district attorney has not yet indicated whether he will pursue another trial for Lindsay Clancy, who remains incarcerated at Tewksbury Hospital in Massachusetts.
