Lindsay Clancy’s legal team and Massachusetts prosecutors have agreed to delay a motion asking Judge William Sullivan to investigate the lone holdout juror in her mistrial. The move, announced Monday by defense attorney Edward Paltzik on Fox News, pushes back a hearing that was set to address whether Michael Desronvil should face questions about his refusal to convict.
Desronvil was the only juror out of 12 who maintained that Clancy is guilty of murder in the strangling deaths of her three children: Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months. Eleven other jurors agreed that Clancy should be found not guilty by reason of mental defect or disease after Reddington raised an insanity defense, arguing that she suffered from postpartum psychosis.
The delay agreement comes as Desronvil’s counsel has informed the parties that he does not have access to impounded information necessary to prepare a response. That admission puts the motion into limbo until a judge decides whether to allow it anyway.
Paltzik’s Statement
Paltzik told Fox News’ Kayleigh McEnany that the delay is a mutual one. “The DA and Reddington consent to adjourn the motion to investigate Michael,” he said. “If Judge Sullivan signs an order today, much of it could be adjourned. Either way, a status conference is still likely. But the motion about Michael is likely not on tomorrow.”
He added that the arrangement remains subject to the judge’s discretion. “We have our local counsel showing up either way,” Paltzik said. “It’s important to note that all of this is subject to the Judge’s discretion.”
Judge Sullivan has not yet announced a decision one way or the other. The final call rests with him.
What the Motion Asked For
Reddington had asked the court to hold an inquiry into Desronvil. The request came in the wake of the mistrial, which left jurors deadlocked on Sept. 4.
The motion would have allowed the defense to question Desronvil about why he refused to join the verdict that eleven jurors signed. His refusal to find Clancy guilty was a central issue in the case.
The defense also planned to raise a double jeopardy motion at the hearing. That motion seeks to dismiss the charges instead of holding a retrial.
The Status Conference
Clancy is due in court at 9 a.m. Tuesday for a status conference. It is her first court date since the Sept. 4 deadlock.
Prosecutors are expected to give an update on their plans during the hearing. Whether the motion to investigate Desronvil will be addressed remains unclear.
Why Reddington Didn’t Object
Paltzik also questioned why Reddington didn’t object to Desronvil as a potential juror during jury selection. With 12 jurors and four alternates, Reddington would have had 16 strikes to use to remove candidates before the trial began.
That question hangs over the case. If the defense believed Desronvil was likely to hold out, the argument goes, they should have used a strike to keep him off the panel.
The Juror’s Position
Desronvil’s refusal to convict stands as the central fact of the case. He was the only juror who said Clancy was guilty of murder.
The other eleven jurors agreed that Clancy should be found not guilty by reason of mental defect or disease. They reached that conclusion after Reddington raised an insanity defense, arguing that she suffered from postpartum psychosis.
What Happens Next
The adjournment means the motion to investigate Desronvil is unlikely to be heard at tomorrow’s status conference. Instead, the hearing will likely be a general check-in on the case’s status.
Judge Sullivan will need to decide whether to allow the motion to proceed at all. If he does, the investigation could move forward. If he does not, the case moves forward without it.
The defense has signaled it is prepared either way. Paltzik’s statement that local counsel will appear “either way” suggests the motion is not dead, just delayed.
The Judge’s Role
Judge Sullivan holds the ultimate authority. His decision on the motion will determine whether Desronvil faces questioning.
The judge has not yet announced his position. Until he does, the motion remains in legal limbo.
Key Dates and Times
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Sept. 4 | Jurors deadlocked, mistrial declared |
| Tuesday | Status conference at 9 a.m. |
Key Facts Box
- Court date: 9 a.m. Tuesday, status conference
- Deadlock date: Sept. 4
- Children killed: Cora, 5; Dawson, 3; Callan, 8 months
- Jurors: 12 main jurors, 4 alternates
- Strikes available: 16
- Motion status: Adjourned pending Judge Sullivan’s decision
The adjournment is a pause, not a resolution. The motion to investigate Desronvil is alive, just put on hold until Judge Sullivan decides whether to let it proceed.
Whether that decision comes at tomorrow’s status conference or later is unknown. What is known is that the defense believes the motion is worth pursuing, even if it takes extra time to get it heard.
For now, the case waits on the judge’s word.
Source material: “Lindsay Clancy's push to investigate holdout juror could be paused as defense, prosecutors agree to adjourn,” Fox News.
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