PLYMOUTH, Mass. (WJAR) — Discretion advised: Some readers my find the content of this story graphic and upsetting.
Jurors in Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial on Tuesday heard from a psychiatric nurse practitioner who treated her at South Shore Health Perinatal Behavior Health Program.
Rebecca Jollotta prescribed Clancy a variety of medications to treat her symptoms of insomnia, depression and anxiety.
That psychiatrist was one of the doctors to considered that Clancy might have an underlying mood disorder, like bipolar, and that’s why the medications were not working for her.
Between Nov. 29 and Dec. 22, 2022, Jollotta said she worked with Clancy to address her lack of sleep and postpartum depression symptoms.
“I also just feel concerningly numb right now, like I have no emotion whatsoever. I feel like I’m going to die and I don’t care,” said the prosecutor, reading Clancy’s words.
She says Clancy asked her if the medications were causing her symptoms.
“I said it sounds more like depression than side effects,” Jollotta said. “I reiterated that sometimes it can take four to six weeks before these treatments start to work.”
Jollotta was the first provider to consider something else.
“Because you are not tired at all and had a significant reaction to Zoloft at 50 milligrams, I’m concerned this is an underlying mood and bipolar disorder,” Jollotta testified, reading from notes.
NBC 10’s Nicole Moeder reports that day 11 of testimony in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial focused on her medications.
They spoke multiple times a week.
“Intrusive suicidal thoughts,” Jollotta said.
“So, thoughts of harming herself or just wanting to die,” the prosecutor said.
“Thoughts of wanting to die,” Jollotta said.
Jollotta testified that she recommended a partial hospitalization program multiple times.
“But I do think you are experiencing significant and severe symptoms of postpartum depression that needs to be treated,” Jollotta said on the stand.
Jollotta was hesitant to reduce Clancy’s medication when the doctors at Women and Infants suggested it after they discharged her.
“I said I’m not opposed to that, however, I’m concerned she discharged you,” Jollotta said. “I feel the intrusive thoughts you’ve been having are nonetheless concerning.”
Judge William Sullivan is shown at the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy in Plymouth Superior Court in Plymouth, Mass., Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. (WJAR/Pool)
Defense attorney Kevin Reddington picked up cross-examination.
“Did you know that in fact they wouldn’t accept her into the postpartum program because of their concern that she had been over-medicated by drugs,” Reddington said.
He continued: “that they called Rebecca Jollotta and never got a call back. Your memory is that they never called you?”
“They never called me,” Jollotta said. “I absolutely would have called them back.”
And Reddington said that then-husband Patrick Clancy was upset about the medications.
“Would you say to the jury that he was concerned or he was p—– off about the medication and what it was doing to his wife?” Reddington asked.
The prosecution objected, but the judge overruled.
“I would say he was concerned,” Jollotta said.
She didn’t treat Clancy after Dec. 22.
Clancy killed her three children on Jan. 24, 2023, in the family’s Duxbury home and then jumped from a second-story window. She pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder.
Clancy’s attorneys do not dispute that she killed the children. But they say she should not be held criminally responsible because she was mentally ill, believing she heard voices ordering her to take their lives and her own.
The prosecution maintains Clancy intentionally killed Callan, Dawson and Cora.
Tuesday was Clancy’s birthday, so there were some extra supporters in the gallery. They were women who suffered from postpartum mental health issues and wanted to be here for her.
The trial resumes at 9 a.m. Wednesday.
Live coverage of the Lindsay Clancy murder trial will be streamed on turnto10.com, the NBC 10 Facebook page and the NBC 10 WJAR YouTube channel when court is in session.
EDITOR’S NOTE: If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988.