A fundraiser created to support Lindsay Clancy’s parents has dramatically increased its goal after her murder trial ended without a verdict. The Musgrove Family Fund, organized for Michael and Paula Musgrove, is now seeking $3 million as the possibility of another trial threatens to extend the family’s emotional and financial ordeal. The GoFundMe campaign had raised more than $1.18 million from approximately 34,700 donations as of Saturday. Because donations are still coming in, the total may have changed since publication.
5Fundraiser organizer Brandee Mulligan announced the new goal shortly after Judge William Sullivan declared a mistrial in Clancy’s high-profile case. “I’ve decided to raise the goal of this fundraiser since this process has been extended, so is the time Paula and Mike will remain away from their home, continuing to carry the costs that come with being there for their daughter every day,” Mulligan wrote in a Friday, September 4, update.
She explained that the campaign’s purpose remains supporting the couple as they continue standing beside their daughter. “If they have to keep showing up longer, I want to make sure the support does too. Thank each and every one of you for showing up for this family. Let’s do this,” she added.
According to the campaign, Michael and Paula spent years traveling between Connecticut and Massachusetts, staying in hotels and attending court proceedings before relocating to remain close to Clancy.
The page identifies Michael and Paula as the beneficiaries and says they receive the funds directly.
Lindsay Clancy’s Murder Trial Ends Without A Verdict
5Sullivan declared a mistrial Friday after jurors failed to reach a unanimous decision following seven days of deliberations. Clancy is charged with killing her children, Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months, inside the family’s Duxbury, Massachusetts, home in January 2023. She then attempted suicide and was left paralyzed.
Clancy has not disputed killing the children. Her defense argued that she should not be held criminally responsible because she was experiencing postpartum psychosis at the time.
Prosecutors acknowledged that Clancy had struggled with her mental health but maintained that she understood right from wrong and deliberately killed the children.
According to The Associated Press, the mistrial leaves the case unresolved. Clancy remains charged and is being held in a psychiatric hospital while prosecutors decide how to proceed.
Her Journals Became Central To The Defense
5During closing arguments, defense attorney Kevin Reddington displayed the notebook in which Clancy documented her medications, symptoms, and changing mental state. Reddington argued that her entries became less detailed as her condition allegedly worsened. He said the handwriting eventually became nearly illegible in the weeks leading up to the killings.
The defense used the journal to support its argument that Clancy had experienced a severe mental decline despite repeatedly seeking psychiatric treatment. Prosecutors challenged that interpretation and argued that other evidence demonstrated planning and awareness.
Defense Tried To Remove One Deadlocked Juror
5The final days of deliberations grew increasingly tense after the jury foreperson reportedly told the court that one panelist refused to follow Sullivan’s instructions on reasonable doubt. Reddington asked the judge to remove the juror, but Sullivan denied the request.
The defense then filed an emergency appeal to stop the mistrial, but the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court declined to intervene. The jury returned to the courtroom Friday afternoon, and Sullivan formally declared the panel deadlocked.
What Happens To Lindsay Clancy After The Mistrial?
5A mistrial does not dismiss the charges or prevent prosecutors from trying Clancy again. The case effectively returns to its pretrial posture, giving prosecutors the option to pursue a second trial, negotiate a plea agreement, or decline to move forward.
Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz said Friday that no immediate decision would be made regarding a retrial. Clancy is expected to remain at Tewksbury State Hospital under the existing bail conditions while the criminal case remains pending.
A hearing scheduled for September 29 could provide the first indication of whether prosecutors intend to put Clancy before another jury.
