'Can you treat a sociopath?': Chilling phone search revealed before Lindsay Clancy tragedy

PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS: Four days before Lindsay Clancy killed her three young children, investigators say her cellphone recorded a question that now sits at the center of her murder trial: “Can you treat a sociopath?”

The search was made on January 20, 2023, Massachusetts State Police investigator Timothy Chiappini testified Thursday, August 13.

Clancy is accused of killing her children Cora, Dawson and Callan four days later.

Chilling search revealed by investigators

A disturbing search was among several pieces of digital evidence investigators recovered from Clancy’s phone in the days before the killings.

State police investigator Timothy Chiappini testified that the search “Can you treat a sociopath?” was made on January 20.

Investigators also found searches involving mental health conditions and symptoms, including hallucinations, psychosis, schizophrenia, postpartum depression and bipolar disorder.

The searches are significant because Clancy’s defense does not dispute that she killed her three children.

Instead, her lawyers argue that she was suffering from severe postpartum psychosis and should not be held criminally responsible for their deaths.

The timing of the sociopathy search is particularly striking. It was made four days before Clancy’s children died, while she was still at home with her family.

Her phone also contained personal notes that described the struggles she was experiencing as a mother.

In a November 3, 2022 entry, Clancy wrote that she wanted another child but believed she needed professional help before having one.

“I really want a fourth child but I need a good therapist before then,” she wrote.

Other passages described the pressure she felt trying to care for her three children.

Clancy wrote that she believed she resented her older children because she felt they kept her from giving Callan the same attention she had given her first child.

“I think I sort of resent my other children because they prevent me from treating Cal like my first baby,” she wrote.

Lindsay Clancy trial gets intense

During Thursday’s testimony, defense attorney Kevin Reddington questioned investigator Timothy Chiappini about other disturbing searches investigators allegedly found, including “where is the carotid artery?” and “how to turn airbags off on Kia Sorento.”

Chiappini said he did not remember some of the searches when questioned.

Investigators also testified about searches concerning mental-health symptoms and conditions shortly before the killings.

One such search, for “hallucinations,” was made on January 19.

The phone also contained messages exchanged between Clancy and former husband Patrick on the morning of January 24, hours before their children died.

The couple were discussing their daughter Cora’s doctor’s appointment. Clancy told Patrick that Cora’s test looked good and that there appeared to be no issue with her kidneys.

Patrick replied writing “Oh wow. You’re a good momma.”