UPDATE (Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, 4:46 p.m.): The third child sent to the hospital from the Duxbury home has died, prosecutors said Friday.
UPDATE (Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023): Patrick Clancy has issued his first public statement following the death of his three children.
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A mother was facing two homicide charges while a South Shore community reeled in disbelief Thursday, after two children were allegedly killed by their own mom on Tuesday night in Duxbury, Massachusetts.
Details around the deaths of the children were limited in the hours that followed the incident on Tuesday night, but on Wednesday, Plymouth County authorities announced that Lindsay Clancy allegedly strangled her children — identified as Cora, 5, and Dawson, 3 — while a third child remained hospitalized with what prosecutors described as "evidence of harm."
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Family members and people in the community expressed shock and grief Wednesday as details about the killings came to light.
"They were just beautiful, beautiful children. Well cared for — they were just beautiful, that's it. They had a beautiful life," aunt Donna Jesse said.
People came together Thursday night for a candlelight vigil at Holy Family Church.
"I think being here with other people is going to make me feel better, but more importantly, the family of these children," said Diane Monaghan of Duxbury. "Maybe it will help that they know the community is behind them."
Debbie Heath says her 25-year-old son was one of the first firefighters to respond to the tragic scene.
"It really hit him hard," she said. "I hope he never sees anything like this again."
Duxbury Mom Facing Charges
The Plymouth County District Attorney's Office announced late Wednesday that an arrest warrant had been issued for Clancy, who faces charges that include two counts of homicide, three counts of strangulation and three counts of assault and battery with a deadly weapon.
At last check, she was in police custody in a Boston hospital.
Clancy was hospitalized following an attempted suicide, which police responded to on Tuesday night. Plymouth DA Tim Cruz said that his office would seek to bring her to court to face the charges as soon as she can. The woman is believed to have cut herself and jumped out of a window in a suicide attempt.
7-Month-Old Baby Hospitalized
Although Cruz did not reveal specifics about the nature of the baby's injuries, the infant remained in the hospital on Wednesday after being rushed there with "evidence of harm," authorities said.
"We should all be praying for him," the DA said.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.
Police were initially called to the Summer Street home on Tuesday night shortly after 6 p.m., after Clancy's husband called to report her attempted suicide, Cruz said.
When first responders arrived, they found Clancy, along with the three children with obvious signs of trauma, Cruz said.
Cruz did not want to speculate about any mental health issues Clancy may have been facing.
Massachusetts General Hospital confirmed Wednesday that the woman involved is one of their employees.
Community and Family React to Killings
Rita Musgrove, the great-grandmother of the children, said she talked with their mother at the home about a week ago and nothing seemed amiss.
"It's a pretty shocking thing, and it is heartbreaking," she said as she left flowers at the family's home.
Neither she nor an aunt of the children were yet able to process what happened.
"They were just beautiful, beautiful children. Well cared for — they were just beautiful, that's it. They had a beautiful life," aunt Donna Jesse said.
Duxbury Public Schools released a statement that began, "The recent tragedy in our community is heartbreaking." It offered resources for students, staff and families who are affected by what happened, including a mental health care and substance abuse coordination service provided by the district.
Support for First Responders
The Duxbury Fire Department issued a statement Thursday morning, saying their "thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this tragic event, their family members, and all the members of our public safety community who responded."
Fire Chief Robert Reardon wrote that all public safety personnel have been offered, and will continue to be offered, support. His release said there was professional help for Duxbury first responders and neighboring communities' first responders as well. Several other towns' fire departments helped on Tuesday night, including Kingston, Marshfield, Pembroke, Hanover, Hanson and Halifax.
