A mother's mind before killings. Audio recording of missing mom. Plus, rap lyrics as evidence.

August 13, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

A mother's mind before killings. Audio recording of missing mom. Plus, rap lyrics as evidence.

In a Boston suburb, week three of the trial against Lindsey Clancy — a former labor and delivery nurse accused of murdering her three children — brought jurors the testimony of the psychiatrist who saw her the day before the killings. Dr. Jennifer Tufts told the court that during their final session on January 23, 2023, she asked Lindsey if she had suicidal or homicidal ideation. Lindsey said no. Dr. Tufts also testified she observed no signs of psychosis that day. The next morning, Lindsey's children were dead.

The psychiatrist's testimony and the defense's attack

Dr. Tufts first met Lindsey in September 2022, about four months before the children's deaths. Over 14 sessions — all conducted via telehealth — Lindsey described feeling anxious, overwhelmed, and not mentally well enough to return to nursing. Dr. Tufts initially diagnosed her with generalized anxiety disorder and an adjustment disorder with depressed mood. At no point did Lindsey report suicidal or homicidal thoughts, and Dr. Tufts said she asked repeatedly.

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What you'll learn

1 (02:29) **Lindsey Clancy Trial: Psychiatrist Jennifer Tufts Testifies** - Dr. Tufts, who treated Lindsey Clancy for months before the killings, takes the stand, revealing what Lindsey told her and what medications were prescribed.
2 (08:15) **Defense Cross-Examines Dr. Tufts, Challenging Her Credibility** - Defense attorney Kevin Reddington aggressively questions the psychiatrist’s experience and the accuracy of her notes.
3 (12:59) **Nikki Cheng Saelee McCain: A Missing Mom’s Story** - The case of a California mother of four who vanished in May 2024; her husband Tyler McCain is charged with her murder, though her body has never been found.
4 (15:54) **Trial Delays in the McCain Case** - The judge grants yet another delay, pushing Tyler McCain’s trial to February 2026, marking the fourth trial date set.
5 (25:05) **Courtney Clenney Plea: Former OnlyFans Model Takes a Deal** - Courtney Clenney pleads guilty to manslaughter in the 2022 stabbing death of her boyfriend Christian Obumcelli, receiving a significantly reduced sentence.
6 (28:54) **Luigi Mangione Hearing: Media Access and Jury Secrecy** - The last hearing before Mangione’s state trial for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson focuses on courtroom access.
7 (31:42) **Rap Lyrics as Evidence: The Keefe D and Young Thug Precedents** - NBC News legal analyst Danny Cevallos discusses the controversial use of a defendant’s creative works—memoirs and song lyrics—in criminal trials.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Lindsey Clancy Kevin Reddington Blaine Alexander Courtney Clenney

Show Notes

In Massachusetts, young mom Lindsay Clancy is on trial for allegedly murdering her three children. Her psychiatrist testifies about her mental state before killings. In California, Tyler McCain is accused of killing his wife, Nikki, who went missing in 2024 after filing a domestic violence report against him. In Dateline Round Up, former OnlyFans model Courtney Clenney pleads guilty to stabbing boyfriend. Update in the case of Luigi Mangione, alleged killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Plus, prosecutors using rap lyrics and memoirs as evidence in court.

This episode discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or visit 988lifeline.org for more resources.

And if you need resources on domestic violence call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233. Or visit thehotline.org

Listen to season 5 of the Dateline: Missing in America podcast: https://swap.fm/l/miafdlw

Find out more about the cases covered each week here: www.datelinetruecrimeweekly.com.

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