Massachusetts mother charged with killing two children and injuring baby

A Massachusetts mother allegedly strangled her two young children and attempted to kill her child before she attempted to jump to her death in a tragic failed murder-suicide attempt.

Lindsey Clancy, 32, of Plymouth, was charged with two counts of murder and three counts of strangulation for killing her 5-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son, District Attorney Tim Cruise said.

Clancy recovers in a Boston hospital but is in police custody.

Police responded to the family’s home in Duxbury — a city about 35 miles southeast of Boston — after Clancy’s husband called 911 around 6:00 p.m. to report that she had jumped from a window in the house, Cruz said.

“Subsequently, first responders found three children under the age of five unconscious at the home with clear signs of severe injuries,” Cruz said.

Five-year-old Cora and three-year-old Dawson were rushed to the hospital, where they were declared dead.

The 7-month-old boy is still fighting for his life, officials said. He was taken to Boston Children’s Hospital and is continuing treatment.

According to Cruz, it looks like Clancy strangled her children, although the medical examiner will announce the official cause of death in the coming days.

Clancy was treated on the spot and taken to the nearest hospital.

“This is an unimaginable, senseless tragedy and this is an ongoing investigation,” Cruz said.

Investigators are looking into the possibility that Clancy was suffering from postpartum psychosis when she allegedly attempted a murder-suicide, sources told CBS Boston.

She was on leave from her nursing position at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Lindsey Marie Clancy/Facebook

Lindsey Marie Clancy/Facebook

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Lindsey Marie Clancy/Facebook

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The children’s great-grandmother, Rita Musgrove, told NBC Boston that nothing seemed out of the ordinary when she spoke to their mother last week.

“It’s quite a shocking thing and it’s heartbreaking,” she said as she left flowers on a memorial outside the family’s home.

The children’s aunt Donna Jessie added that “they were just beautiful, lovely kids. They were looked after – they were simply beautiful, that’s all. They had a wonderful life.”

The tragedy shocked the entire community, especially the first responders who faced the horrific scene.

Police officers shed tears during a press conference on Wednesday, and the Massachusetts State Police Association reminded its members that they have the resources to handle this case.

“I want to once again commend the professionalism and work of the Duxbury Emergency Response Team and the Massachusetts State Police,” Cruz said. “I’m sure many of them will not forget what they saw last night.”