Kimberley Springer testified about Callan's autopsy and cause of death. Other witnesses described Lindsay Clancy's parenting, behavior and reported sleep and medication difficulties. Police testimony addressed surveillance and a Facebook post. Outside the jury's presence, the court reserved decision on proposed defense medical experts.
Full day summary
Medical examiner Kimberley Springer described Callan Patrick Clancy's neck abrasions and facial petechiae as consistent with ligature strangulation. She identified the cause of death as complications of mechanical asphyxia, explaining that the wording reflected resuscitation and three days of hospital support, not a separate hospital event causing death. The court admitted autopsy photographs over a renewed defense objection after instructing jurors not to decide facts through emotional reactions. The defense declined cross-examination.
Pediatrician Lindsay Rosshirt recalled a normal January 24 visit with Cora and appropriate behavior by Lindsay Clancy. She had observed no outward postpartum warning signs, but explained that pediatricians do not diagnose or manage a mother's condition. On cross-examination, she said she had not known about the psychiatric care, medications and hotline calls described by defense counsel. Preschool teachers described Cora's symptoms on January 23 and routine interactions with Lindsay. Susan Fraoni recalled Dawson's harder drop-offs beginning around mid-October, while acknowledging that she saw Patrick more often than Lindsay.
Coworker Andrea Hennigan recounted Lindsay's reports of insomnia, difficulty contemplating a return to patient care and medication side effects. She described continued hopefulness in the January 23 messages, rather than an improvement in tone, and acknowledged having no formal training in postpartum depression. Bethany DeCollibus, testifying about their friendship, recalled persistent sleep difficulties, anxiety and Lindsay's report at Cora's January birthday party that she felt like a zombie. She observed tiredness but no other behavioral change. Both witnesses described Lindsay favorably as a mother.
Amy Bevins recalled texts in which Lindsay attributed unspecified dark thoughts to medication. She distinguished those texts from an earlier medication discussion. Asked about Lindsay's not discussing the children during a March rehabilitation visit, Bevins explained that Lindsay's sister had told her not to raise the subject; she only assumed the instruction might reflect treatment advice. Christopher Clancy described sleep difficulties and some unusual behavior at Thanksgiving, but did not regard Lindsay's interaction with Dawson as abusive. Kyle Carney initially recalled Lindsay as quieter than normal at a January 22 gathering, while describing their conversation and her demeanor as normal.
Sergeant Andrew Chiacchio reported surveillance times for Patrick's CVS and restaurant visits and no clock discrepancies after cellphone comparisons. He qualified his travel estimates as approximate and described later exterior evidence collection and DNA sampling. The court admitted a May 2021 Facebook post expressing affection and parenting frustration and seeking advice. On cross-examination, Chiacchio agreed that investigators had examined whether Lindsay had been abusive to Dawson and found nothing.
Outside the jury's presence, the defense sought permission to call three medical experts. The Commonwealth objected to late disclosure and aspects of their proposed opinions, while clarifying that it regarded Lindsay's actions as a serious suicide attempt. Sullivan reserved decision until the next morning. He indicated an inclination to allow Dr. Laposata's injury-mechanism opinion and said he would permit a prosecution rebuttal witness if requested. An unfinished defense animation also remained undecided.
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