Patrick Clancy gave his first televised interview on CBS' "60 Minutes," weeks after a mistrial was declared in the triple-murder case against his ex-wife, Lindsay Clancy, in the deaths of their three young children.
In the interview with correspondent Ross Douthat that aired on Sept. 20, Patrick Clancy discussed his grief, memories of his children, and the unsupported conspiracy theories that have circulated online about him since the closely watched trial. Patrick Clancy has largely avoided media interviews since his children, Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months, were killed at the family's Duxbury, Massachusetts, home in January 2023.
"There was a time where I didn't think I would live to see my 35th birthday," Patrick Clancy said. "And
I was completely fine with it."
After the deaths of his children, Patrick Clancy moved to New York City, saying the anonymity allowed him to grieve. Recalling what would have been Callan's first birthday, he said he lit a candle at St. Patrick's Cathedral before crying on Fifth Avenue. "I thought, 'This is where I need to be. I can grieve,'" he said.
Patrick Clancy said he keeps mementos of his children and helped create a playground in Duxbury honoring them. Asked whether he dreams about them, he replied: "Yeah. All the time."
The appearance comes after a Massachusetts jury deadlocked in Lindsay Clancy's murder trial, resulting in a mistrial earlier this month. Prosecutors have not said whether they plan to retry the case.
Patrick Clancy testified as a witness for the prosecution on the first day of the trial, describing his ex-wife's attempts to seek mental health treatment in the months before the killings and recounting the day he discovered his children’s bodies in the home's basement.
Lindsay Clancy, a former labor and delivery nurse, did not dispute killing the children. Prosecutors alleged the deaths were deliberate, while defense attorneys argued she was suffering from postpartum psychosis and was not criminally responsible for her actions.
'And he died in my arms'
Patrick Clancy described the devastating days after the killings, including the brief hope that Callan would survive after being airlifted to Boston Children's Hospital.
"I remember just thinking, 'Just give me one. Just give me one kid, and I would raise him as best I could, and I would give him the best life I possibly could. I'd tell him about his brother and sister,'" he said.
Callan survived for four days. "I'm so grateful for those four days that I had with him," Patrick Clancy said.
Asked what he said to Callan in the hospital, Patrick Clancy recalled: "I said, 'I'm so sorry.'"
"I got to hold him. I got to lay down next to him. And he died in my arms," he added.
Patrick Clancy says he forgave ex-wife after killings
Patrick Clancy also discussed his decision to forgive Lindsay Clancy after the killings.
"I saw headlines that said, you know, 'Killer Mom' and 'Baby Murderer,' 'Monster,'" he said. "And none of 'em were accurate. I believe that it was her mental illness that caused that."
"When it comes to forgiveness, I also felt that if I didn't get there, I would be eaten up inside forever," Patrick Clancy added.
Asked whether Lindsay Clancy had ever asked for forgiveness, he replied: "No. But I gave it to her."
Patrick Clancy interview follows mistrial, uncertainty over next steps
A jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict after weeks of testimony and seven days of deliberations, leading Judge William Sullivan to declare a mistrial on Sept. 4. Since then, prosecutors have not publicly indicated whether they intend to retry the case.
After the mistrial, attorney David Meier said in a statement shared with USA TODAY that the prospect of another trial "is extraordinarily painful" for Patrick Clancy and his family.
Lindsay Clancy's attorney, Kevin Reddington, has filed a renewed motion asking the court to find that she is not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility, arguing the evidence presented at trial does not support a conviction. Reddington asked for the motion to be reviewed at Lindsay Clancy's next court hearing on Sept. 29.
While Patrick Clancy did not address whether prosecutors should pursue a retrial during the "60 Minutes" interview, he reflected on his attempts to help his ex-wife as her mental health worsened in the months before the killings.
"I didn't know how to manage a postpartum illness," he said. "I think mental illness has this ability to be tragically deceptive. So I'm sure there are things that I didn't see."
Asked whether he felt he had failed, Patrick Clancy said: "I think I did the best I could with what I had at the time. And I live with the outcome. I live with it every day."
Online conspiracy theories spark backlash
Patrick Clancy's television appearance also comes amid the spread of unsupported conspiracy theories on social media alleging he was involved in his children's deaths, allegations his attorneys have characterized as false and defamatory.
In a statement on Sept. 8, attorney Howard Cooper said law enforcement had been notified about what he described as a "defamation campaign" against Patrick Clancy.
"This spread of blatant and baseless falsehoods must stop," Cooper said. "Those responsible should understand that there will be consequences, and every appropriate measure will be pursued to hold them accountable, including legally."
New wife joins '60 Minutes' interview
Patrick Clancy was joined in the interview by his new wife, Dr. Rachel Danis, who also spoke about the public scrutiny surrounding the case. The couple's appearance represents the first time they have spoken together on national television since the mistrial.
Danis described Clancy as "the most selfless father and supportive partner."
"I don't understand how the story has been so twisted," she said.
Contributing: N'dea Yancey-Bragg and Melina Khan
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'He died in my arms.' Patrick Clancy opens up in '60 Minutes' interview
