Commonwealth v. Clancy, August 3, 2026
MondayreportedcommonwealthDay 5 of 17
Fourteen witnesses: the treating physicians for all three children, the hospital psychiatric staff who saw the defendant during her admission, crime-scene investigators, and the trooper who read her journals into the record.
Key points
- RESOLVES the 19:28 question: Snyder gave Cora's declaration at about 19:30 and Tenerowicz gave Dawson's at 19:28, both at Beth Israel Deaconess Plymouth. Two children pronounced minutes apart, not a contradiction.
- Dr. McDonough characterised the neck and wrist cuts as SUPERFICIAL, against the defense framing of a serious attempt.
- Dr. Biswas, a forensic psychiatrist who saw her two days after, found no documented signs of psychosis, but conceded on cross that psychosis can fluctuate.
- Dr. Shah's records: thoughts organised and goal-oriented on January 29; hallucinations and suicidal intent denied on February 19.
- The defense drew from the journals a woman asking for help, against the Commonwealth's use of the same journals to show awareness.
- Capt. Santos did not search the nightstand drawer, and its contents were never seized, a defense point on investigative thoroughness.
- Callan was removed from life support on January 27, 2023.
Witnesses (14)
Michael SnyderCommonwealth09:40
Emergency physician, Beth Israel Deaconess Plymouth
- Cora arrived with bruising to the neck and in cardiac arrest.
- CPR continued about thirty minutes before her death was declared at roughly 19:30.
Andrew CapraroCommonwealth10:15
Emergency physician, Boston Children's Hospital
- Callan arrived cold and limp, with fixed and dilated pupils indicating brain damage.
- CT showed significant brain swelling consistent with hypoxic ischaemic injury.
David CasavantCommonwealth
ICU physician, Boston Children's Hospital
- Confirmed enormous swelling and extensive oxygen deprivation.
- Callan was removed from life support on January 27, 2023.
Kelly McDonoughCommonwealth11:00
Emergency physician, South Shore Hospital
Cross: Reddington
- The defendant arrived with a thoracic spine injury.
- Characterised the cuts to her neck and wrists as superficial, not requiring measures to stabilise blood flow.
- Transferred to Brigham and Women's because of the severity of the spinal injury.
Rose StoffersCommonwealth11:30
Sergeant, MSP Crime Scene Services
- Documented the defendant's injuries at South Shore Hospital on January 24.
- Noted the defendant was uncooperative when her arms were examined.
- Later photographed a medication bag on February 6.
Rachelle AmedeeCommonwealth14:00
ICU nurse, Brigham and Women's
Cross: Reddington
- The defendant was on one-to-one suicide watch.
- She coded early on January 25, a blood-pressure drop requiring CPR.
- Communicated by whiteboard on January 28, expressing confusion and reporting that her legs were paralysed.
Meghan CollinsCommonwealth
ICU nurse, Brigham and Women's
- The defendant experienced ICU delirium, which diminished over several days.
Sejal ShahCommonwealth
Psychiatrist, Brigham and Women's
Direct: Sprague Cross: Reddington
- Delirium is common following surgery and anaesthesia.
- The defendant briefly reported visual hallucinations.
- On a January 29 evaluation her mood was recorded as OK and her thoughts as organised and goal-oriented.
- On February 19 she denied hallucinations and suicidal intent.
- On February 21 she felt low about the paralysis, and her thoughts about killing the children were recorded as not constant through the day.
Jhilam BiswasCommonwealth15:00
Forensic psychiatrist, Brigham and Women's
Direct: Sprague Cross: Reddington
- Met the defendant on January 26 for twenty to thirty minutes while she was intubated.
- Asked about her mood, the defendant wrote that she was horrified.
- She asked whether her body was broken, and about her attorney, family and visitors.
- Found no documented signs of psychosis.
- Testified that presentation depends on the patient: some experience moments of clarity, others continuous symptoms.
- On cross, Reddington drew agreement that psychosis can fluctuate.
Cory MeloCommonwealth16:35
Detective, MSP
Direct: Buckingham Cross: Reddington
- Read entries from the defendant's journals into the record.
- Entries described feeling overwhelmed caring for three children and, in her words, drowning every day.
- An entry about sleep-training Callan described how distressing it was to hear him cry without intervening, and recorded that she had told Patrick she wanted to die.
- Further entries described severe insomnia, anxiety, and guilt about missed milestones.
- On cross, Reddington read the continuation of one entry in which she wrote that she did not know what was wrong with her and wanted help and to be well.
- An entry of November 18, 2022 described feeling desperate for a mental break, a mind she could not switch off, and worry about coping if she returned to work.
- The defense drew out entries about feeling disconnected from the baby, being terrified he would fall ill, going through the motions, and guilt over money and over moving from breastfeeding to formula for the sake of her mental health.
John SantosCommonwealth
Captain, MSP
Direct: Sprague Cross: Reddington
- Testified he did not search the nightstand drawer, suggesting someone else had probably already searched that area.
- Reddington produced the drawer's contents: empty prescription bottles, an Apple Watch and sleep aids.
- Santos said he could not speak for other searchers or explain why the contents were not seized.
Robert FlynnCommonwealth
Sergeant, Duxbury Police Department
- Called by the Commonwealth; substance not detailed in reporting.
Mark FarioliCommonwealth
Detective, MSP
- Called by the Commonwealth; substance not detailed in reporting.
Leah O'ConnellCommonwealth
Trooper, MSP
- Called by the Commonwealth; substance not detailed in reporting.
Exhibits and evidence
- The defendant's journals, with handwritten entries
- McLean Hospital discharge paperwork, early January 2023
- A list of the defendant's medications
- A community mental-health resource directory
- A notebook of postpartum depression and anxiety patient information
- Two books on postpartum anxiety and intrusive thoughts
- A notebook labelled for Callan, containing nanny notes
- Blood and urine samples collected January 24, transported January 31
- Nightstand drawer contents: empty prescription bottles, an Apple Watch, sleep aids
- Photographs of medications, documented February 6
- Photographs of the defendant's injuries at South Shore Hospital
Procedural
- 15:45Jury dismissed; court reconvenes Tuesday at 9:00am.