Lindsay Clancy’s defense team is asking a Massachusetts judge to investigate juror Michael Desronvil for alleged mobile phone use during deliberations and potential dishonesty on court questionnaires, according to court documents made public on Monday. Lawyer Kevin Reddington filed the motion following a mistrial declared earlier this month when the jury deadlocked in the murder case involving the deaths of Clancy’s three young children.
Motion to Investigate Juror Conduct and Phone Records
According to court filings submitted by defense attorney Kevin Reddington, the legal team wants the court to examine juror Michael Desronvil regarding potential rule violations during the trial’s final stages. Reddington asked the court to obtain phone records for Desronvil covering calls or text messages sent between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM on each day of jury deliberations. State rules strictly prohibit mobile phone use by jurors while they deliberate.
The defense motion also calls for an investigation into Desronvil’s truthfulness when answering a prospective juror questionnaire and during questioning by the judge just one day before the trial concluded. Reddington requested that the court hear the motion at the next scheduled hearing, set for September 29.
Mistrial Declared Following Deadlock
The trial ended in a mistrial earlier this month after the jury informed the judge they could not reach a unanimous verdict despite days of discussions. According to court reporting, 11 of the 12 jurors were prepared to clear Clancy of criminal responsibility. Most of those jurors concluded that she suffered from a rare condition called postpartum psychosis when her children died.
In contrast, Desronvil maintained that Clancy was guilty of murder. Prosecutors argued throughout the trial that Clancy understood her actions when she killed her children. Following the mistrial, Desronvil released a statement through his lawyer, Edward Paltzik, on X. Desronvil stated that he had no doubts about the evidence presented by the prosecution.
Differing Accounts of Jury Room Deliberations
Desronvil pushed back against claims made by the jury’s foreperson, who stated in an earlier media interview that Desronvil admitted to having reasonable doubt regarding Clancy’s guilt but wanted to convict her anyway. Desronvil disputed that account in his statement.
“As I tried to explain different possible theories during deliberation, I kept getting cut off as if I had doubts based on the evidence presented,” Desronvil wrote in his statement. He added that physical evidence, key witnesses, and the prosecution’s presentation provided enough proof that Clancy knew what she was doing.
While other jurors complained that Desronvil remained inflexible during deliberations, he has not been officially accused of any wrongdoing connected to his jury service. Since the trial concluded, Desronvil has faced public scrutiny regarding his personal life, past financial issues, and legal history. News reports revealed he faced eviction from his apartment due to over $US12,000 in unpaid rent and had a restraining order issued against him at the time of jury selection, alongside a 2021 domestic violence charge that was later dismissed.
Next Legal Steps and Hospitalization
Supporters of the prosecution have rallied behind Desronvil, establishing a fundraiser to cover his security, legal, and lost work costs that has raised nearly $US375,000, according to reports. Meanwhile, prosecutors have not yet announced whether they will retry Clancy on murder charges.
Clancy remains charged with murder and is currently held in a psychiatric hospital while her legal team addresses pending motions. In a separate motion filed on Monday, defense attorney Martin Weinberg asked the judge to take further action.