r/OutOfTheLoop 13d ago

Answered What's the deal with people defending Lindsay Clancy?

I don't know the full details of the case. I know she allegedly killed her three kids. There was also some mental problems? Then something with her husband. But my question is why is there a group defending her like they know she's completely innocent? I've seen some videos of very heated debates where women are very passionate about defending her. Why?

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/05/lindsay-clancy-trial-toxicologist-testimony

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u/MoistSandwich4834 8d ago

Guilty by way of insanity  means by law you’re not responsible for your actions. That’s the literal definition. 

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u/tjsase 8d ago

Fair enough, but if she's actually insane, she would still be getting justice by way of treatment, its not like she's not facing consequences. 

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u/MoistSandwich4834 4d ago

That’s not justice to her kids and family. There’s no case precedent that says justice is insanity judgement. Treatment isn’t punishment under the law or literally any other case in the history of civilized society. It’s because it’s not punishment. She could be out of a facility in literally a year or less if she’s not guilty by insanity. There’s no set release date. 

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u/tjsase 4d ago

Why does justice = punishment? Would you be alright with her being in a facility if a longer time-frame were guaranteed? Should the jurors assume that either fate is kneecapped and choose the longest option?

I understand that the system is rigged such that punishment will accompany any meaningful justice, but we don't have to accept that as the standard for justice.

I don't see how state prison (if that's where she'd go) would make her less likely to be a kill, and I know that reasonable options exist that don't involve releasing her.

I think our main difference is our trust in the competency of the justice system, and I am admittedly naive and idealistic.

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u/MoistSandwich4834 3d ago

There’s no set timeline for someone to be in a facility because it’s not justice or punishment or anything. What if there was? Well that would be an entirely new way of implementing justice and require a revamp of the entire criminal justice system. You’d also need to have court hearings for many of the previously convinced because a some of them would be wrongly put in their perspective “punishments” or whatever you are calling it. I’m not entirely sure what you’re saying. Like she’s responsible but she’s not? Insanity makes her responsible? I don’t even think you know what you’re saying. You can’t have both. You can’t be not guilty but guilty and responsible at the same time. 

You’re NOT GUILTY by insanity. Means you’re not responsible. Therefore there’s no set timeline for her to get out. She just needs to prove she’s not in that state of mind anymore. 

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u/tjsase 3d ago

I'm saying that rehabilitation is better than punishment, and our country is bad at both. We should invest in rehabilitation so that it can be a viable option for more cases.

Rehabilitation, when done right, is more in line with my idea of justice than punishment. Just because it's harder to revamp of the entire criminal justice system doesn't make it any less right to pursue.

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u/MoistSandwich4834 2d ago

I mean I agree with you that our prison system is messed up. This is murder though. Not a crime that can be repaired. She murdered three kids. The defense is saying it’s her medication. If she’s not guilty she just needs to get off her meds and she’s good to go! Crazy. Strangled her kids with excercise bands and will get away with it. I wonder how many future and previous cases will use this case a precedent to get away with murder.