Since the beginning of humanity, one of the few things that has remained consistent is the belief that murder is wrong. Yet the Lindsay Clancy situation is calling that dynamic into question. If this situation isn’t handled properly, it’s hard to say where this rabbit hole will lead.
There was a time when the Lindsay Clancy case would have been a slam dunk: a mother brutally murders her own children, and the aforementioned mother confesses to the crime. Clancy did not argue insanity to explain her actions; she knew what she was doing. In normal times, this kind of crime would bring back a conviction by the jury. Yet we do not live in normal times.
After more than a week of deliberations, the judge in Clancy’s trial declared a mistrial. Reportedly, one man on the 12-person jury was the lone holdout insisting on Clancy’s guilt. Much to the chagrin of Clancy’s lawyer, this one juror refused to let Clancy off the hook. If true, this is a stunning admission. How could only one person of the 12 be convinced of Clancy’s guilt?
Despite Clancy’s admission, there is a segment of the internet buying Clancy’s innocence. Some women on social media not only think she is innocent, but they also say that Clancy, not her three children, is the victim here. Not only is there a flurry of social media content defending Clancy, but Clancy’s supporters have given thousands of dollars to a GoFundMe for her legal defense. This case, and the public’s response, demonstrates the dangers of empathy reaching toxic levels.
For much of human history, the focus has been on punishing the guilty. The French Revolution is a good example of how this goes too far, sending people to the guillotine for crimes as simple as holding unpopular political beliefs. Only recently has the aim shifted to “reforming” the guilty so they can rejoin society once they have served their punishment. Even newer is the idea that perpetrators deserve empathy, even when they are guilty of heinous crimes like the murder of their children.
It’s bad enough that thousands are casting their lots with a murderer, but what are the consequences of not convicting Clancy for her crimes? We may be seeing the early signs. In the aftermath of the trial, we have seen potential examples of copycat murders. If the hammer of justice does not fall on Clancy, who knows how many more similar cases we’ll see.
Critics may dismiss criticism of Clancy as grounded in sexism or an inability to sympathize with mental illness. However, women aren’t the only ones who commit acts of violence due to mental illness. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is the classic example in men. Former NFL player Jovan Belcher and former WWE wrestler Chris Benoit suffered from CTE, which resulted in murder suicides. Their suffering from CTE is indisputable but so is their guilt over the murders they committed. As WWE personality Paul Heyman said about Benoit, three people died that night, but only one of them had a choice. The law couldn’t hold Belcher and Benoit accountable for their crimes, but society still had a chance to do so with Clancy.
None of this is to deny that Clancy was not suffering from postpartum depression or that it doesn’t exist. It very much does. However, that does not mean we need to lead someone off with literal murder because of it. Mental health is a serious issue, and not treating it properly can sometimes be a matter of life and death. As a society, we need to empower mothers to seek the help they need. That means being open about your feelings and not using them as an excuse to indulge your darkest thoughts.
‘SAME, LINDSAY’ ISN’T EMPATHY: THE CLANCY MISTRIAL EXPOSED OUR CULTURE’S MORAL ROT
Postpartum depression is indeed common, with almost 1 in 5 new mothers suffering from it. Even more common are intrusive thoughts of harm to themselves or others, including children. Clancy supporters, and even some of the jury members, would have you believe that because these thoughts are common, violent actions taken as a result are excusable. They are not. The right response is to identify these thoughts and act before anything happens. This responsibility lies with mothers, but fathers, friends, and other family members need to be aware as well. Prevention is far better than punishment in cases of violence toward children.
The Lindsay Clancy murder case is a horrible situation; that much we agree on. We disagree on how we should respond. The truth is that while Clancy should be punished for the murder of her children, we need to make sure this does not become a trend. That means caring for mothers while holding them accountable for their actions.
Matt Cookson is a supply chain professional in the defense industry. His writing has appeared in the Daily Wire, Washington Times, Daily Signal, and RealClearPolitics. Follow him on X @MattCookson95.