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What did Susan Clancy, Lindsay's former mother-in-law, testify about Lindsay's efforts to get help?
Susan Clancy — a former labor and delivery nurse herself with 38 years of experience and Lindsay Clancy's former mother-in-law — testified that Lindsay came to her seeking help. She referred Lindsay to a clinic at South Shore Hospital specifically for women struggling with postpartum issues. When asked by defense attorney Kevin Reddington whether Lindsay had sought treatment, Susan answered plainly: "She was begging for help."
A nurse who knew the signs — and saw them in her own daughter-in-law
Susan Clancy's testimony carries unusual weight. With nearly four decades as a labor and delivery nurse, she was not an outside observer unfamiliar with postpartum distress. She knew what it looked like — and she recognized it in Lindsay Clancy.
When Lindsay turned to her for help, Susan did not dismiss the concern. She actively directed her toward South Shore Hospital, which has a dedicated program for women facing postpartum mental health issues. This was not a casual suggestion. It was a deliberate referral from someone who understood the clinical stakes, as detailed in this episode of Dateline NBC.
"Begging" — the single word that reframes everything for the defense
Defense attorney Kevin Reddington asked a straightforward question: did Lindsay seek treatment? The answer Susan Clancy gave was not a measured clinical assessment. It was visceral and unambiguous.
That single word — "begging" — is central to what the defense is building. It directly contradicts any suggestion that Lindsay Clancy was indifferent to her own condition or that she failed to seek help before the night of January 24, 2023. The prosecution had called approximately 70 witnesses to argue she was of sound mind, as covered more fully in Dateline NBC's ongoing trial coverage.
"She was begging for help."
Susan Clancy — former labor and delivery nurse (38 years) and Lindsay Clancy's former mother-in-law. Susan testified for the defense in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial. Her professional background in maternity care gives her testimony particular credibility when assessing whether Lindsay's behavior reflected someone in acute postpartum crisis.
The defense's strategy has consistently pointed to Lindsay Clancy's deteriorating mental state in the months leading up to the alleged murders. Susan Clancy's account is one piece of a larger portrait — one that Dateline NBC has been tracking closely throughout the trial.
Prosecutors rested their case after three weeks of testimony. The defense is now presenting its own witnesses, of whom Susan Clancy is among the most significant — both for her professional credibility and her personal proximity to Lindsay. Listeners can follow every development directly in the Dateline NBC podcast.
See also
What did defense witnesses say about Lindsay Clancy's mental state before the killings?
Lindsay's sister, Alison Osga, testified that by Christmas 2022, Lindsay's mood was worsening — she had depression, insomnia, and suicidal ideations that grew increasingly severe in the weeks leading up to January 24, 2023.
What is the current status of the Lindsay Clancy murder trial and what is her defense arguing?
After three weeks of testimony, prosecutors rested their case against Lindsay Clancy, a 36-year-old former labor and delivery nurse accused of murdering her three young children. Her defense is arguing she was not of sound mind the night of the alleged murders.
What is the latest ruling in the Cori Richens murder case in Utah?
A judge denied a motion filed by Cori Richens's defense team seeking to disqualify trial judge Richard Mirzaic and grant her a new trial. The defense had argued the court was not impartial.
Key takeaways
- Susan Clancy testified as a defense witness — a former labor and delivery nurse with 38 years of experience and Lindsay's former mother-in-law.
- She personally referred Lindsay to a postpartum clinic at South Shore Hospital after Lindsay came to her seeking help.
- When asked by defense attorney Kevin Reddington whether Lindsay sought treatment, Susan stated: "She was begging for help."
- Her testimony directly supports the defense's argument that Lindsay Clancy was in acute postpartum distress and actively tried to get treatment before January 24, 2023.
This testimony was covered in full in the Dateline NBC podcast. All episodes are available on Listenly.
Listen to the episode on Listenly