Patrick Clancy and his wife, Dr Rachel Danis, have revealed they are starting a family, around three-and-a-half years after the deaths of his three children.
The couple shared the news in their first interview since a mistrial was declared in the murder case against Clancy’s former wife, Lindsay. They did not say whether Rachel is currently pregnant, but confirmed they were “starting a family” when asked by interviewer Ross Douthat.
Patrick and Rachel married in New York City in April. They said they intend to tell their child about Cora, Dawson and Callan, who died in their family home in Duxbury, Massachusetts, in January 2023.
“I think every parent can agree, you have different relationships with your kids, but they’re all your kids,” Patrick said. “And I can’t wait to tell them about their brothers and sister.”
Patrick, a 38-year-old technology executive, met Rachel at a running club in Central Park in January 2024, a year after his children’s deaths. Rachel, a fertility doctor, said she learned about the tragedy when she noticed a photograph of children on Patrick’s phone.
After asking who the children were, she recalled that Patrick replied: “They died.”
Rachel said she had many questions but was unsure what to ask. Patrick said meeting her had changed his life “in such a positive way”, while Rachel said she wanted to help him grieve and continue to honour the children.
“I know I can’t fix, I can’t bring his kids back,” she said. “But if I can honour them and allow Pat to grieve but also just continue to honour them in the present, I guess that’s all I can do.”
The Lindsay Clancy murder case
Lindsay Clancy, a former labour and delivery nurse, is accused of killing Cora, five, Dawson, three, and Callan, who was eight months old, inside the family home on January 24, 2023.
Prosecutors allege she strangled the children with exercise bands after Patrick left to collect medicine and a takeaway order. Clancy then attempted to take her own life by cutting her wrists and neck and jumping from a second-floor window. She survived but was left paralysed from the waist down.
Clancy has not denied killing the children, but pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Her defence argued that she was suffering from severe post-partum depression and psychosis.
After a six-week trial in Plymouth, Massachusetts, jurors deliberated for seven days without reaching a unanimous verdict. A mistrial was declared after one juror refused to join the other 11 in finding Clancy not guilty by reason of insanity.
The juror, identified as Michael P Desronvil, has rejected claims made by several fellow jurors that he expressed reasonable doubt but would not apply it to the law. He said he believed Clancy “knew exactly what she was doing” and has hired a lawyer.
Patrick was a key prosecution witness and described his former wife’s deteriorating mental health before the killings. He also gave evidence about returning home to find Clancy injured and the children dead, with jurors hearing his distress during a 911 call.
He has continued to defend Clancy, describing her in court as a devoted mother who loved the children, while saying her mental health had deteriorated significantly. He also said he had forgiven her.
Patrick moved to New York, sold the family home and divorced Clancy after the killings. During the recent trial, he and Clancy saw each other in person for the first time in three-and-a-half years.
The couple also addressed accusations and rumours that emerged online during the high-profile case. Rachel said the story had become “so twisted” and described Patrick as “the most selfless father and supportive partner”.
Clancy’s criminal case remains unresolved. Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz has not said whether prosecutors will seek a retrial or pursue the same or lesser charges.
Her defence lawyer, Kevin Reddington, has applied for an acquittal, arguing that the prosecution did not present sufficient evidence for the case to be retried. The application is due to be argued at Plymouth County Superior Court on September 29.
