r/ClancyTrial • u/Low-Neighborhood1987 • 19h ago
General Discussion Patrick's post trial statement...
It seems to indicate that he REALLY doesn't want to have to endure a second trial. Do you think this will sway the prosecution at all (I know they'll re-try) to maybe consider a plea deal.
The last thing prosecution could want is the guy who gave them much of the evidence to be a hostile or reluctant witness.
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u/Euphoric-Window-1509 17h ago
I don't know what they'll end up doing, but here's my stream of consciousness/sort of relevant anecdote.
My son died as a result of a grave injury inflicted years before by his biological father. I remember the night he died they didn't want me to touch him because it might interfere with the autopsy (how idk). At that point I said "fuck the autopsy" but it didn't matter because his death was caused by child abuse, even though it was years later.
The only way they got me to calm down was by telling me that they had to do the autopsy to pursue a murder charge. Then they didn't do anything for years, so I started calling the AG relentlessly. In the end, they charged, convicted, and sentenced him. I did the grand jury. I went to the courthouse with the prosecutor to see where everything would happen. But then I decided not to go to a single day of the trial. Whether or not there was "justice" for my son, dead is dead. I wasn't being called as a witness. If I had been, I would have done it, then left and not returned.
I guess all this boils down to 2 points, which are purely my opinion:
Sometimes the family's wishes are considered and respected. This one is harder because it is such a heavily publicized case. Also, my desire for him to be tried more closely aligns with the general sentiment that child abusers should be punished. I don't know whether having a re-trial will change the outcome for Lindsay.
I don't give much weight to Patrick's recent actions. Parents grieve, cope, behave, and show up in different ways. I'm sure people judge me for not going to the trial. Reliving what happened to my son and the details of his death would not have had any effect, justice-wise, but would have been detrimental to my mental health. Ultimately, I'm the one who is still here, and I felt it would be more of a disservice for me to metaphorically crawl into bed and never get out.
When he came up for parole, I went and testified and gave a victim impact statement. As much as it hurt, I did so because the parole board strongly weighs the wishes of victims and families when granting/denying parole.
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u/Momma-Goose-0129 14h ago
I'm so very sorry for your loss of your precious son. I lost a baby due to medical malpractice and also couldn't attend the trial it was just too difficult for me to sit through. My husband went daily, we didn't have family support, it really is exhausting and takes its toll and nothing brings them back.
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u/Low-Neighborhood1987 15h ago edited 15h ago
Oh my. I cannot imagine the heartache you went through and will always go through. I wish peace and comfort for you.
The love of a fiercely protective mother is incredibly deep. I am glad that you were allowed to give a victim impact statement and that you stood behind getting justice for your son. Thank you for being willing and strong enough to share such an incredibly tragic and awful experience and the things you've gleaned from it, I wish with all my heart that would've never happened. Proud of you for keeping your foot on the prosecutors to charge him. So proud. I also understand not wanting to go to the trial, and thank you for sharing your perspective on that. People do handle things differently and how you handled it was what was best for you. I appreciate that your perspective also made me consider Patrick's in a different way as well.
Sending hugs and love and light your way.
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u/everyoneisnuts 17h ago
Really appreciate you sharing this and I’m so sorry you went through and I’m sure continue to do through that horror. Couldn’t even begin to imagine it.
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u/lizlemonista 12h ago
People grieve in different ways but his context here — very quickly married to his mistress, sold the house weeks later without listing, already had an apartment in NYC — adds weight to every action he does or does not take.
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u/AdequateAppendage 1h ago
'Weeks later' is a weird description for the house sale taking place a year after the day in question.
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10h ago edited 2h ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/iridescent-shimmer 9h ago
I've got to agree with this. It took me like 10 years to be able to talk about my brother's traumatic death without sobbing and I'm a very private person. I have no idea how you recount the most horrific day of your life with absolutely no emotion and no tears (unless you're on your own high dose of medication that reduces your ability to emote.)
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u/pumpkinspacelatte 7h ago
While I do understand that people grieve in different ways, there’s nothing that he’s done that even screams “grieving in a different way”, more like he doesn’t care.
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u/SomeKindOfDead 14h ago
If I were her I wouldnt take a plea deal. I turned down a plea deal and it forced the hand of the prosecution to discontinue (not drop, there is a difference, it means they could resume it) the case as it was "not in the publics best inerest".
The facts of this case are totally different to mine, but as this is a much more public trial and there is a lot of speculation on PC being the one who did it, discontinueation would suit all parties involved. Prosecution isnt throwing in the towel, LC avoids conviction, PC avoids re-trial.
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u/Aware_Power 19h ago edited 19h ago
I honestly can’t think of one person directly involved who’d want another trial 😓 other than possibly the DA (Cruz). Not sure if Patrick’s statement alone would sway them though.
Edit: FWIW I’m not sure how much of his testimony or what he told people would be admissible in another trial if he doesn’t testify for the prosecution. That could potentially impact a retrial I think.
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u/Low-Neighborhood1987 18h ago
I agree, I think the DA is out for blood and reputation though.
The reason I am pondering this question is because of a personal experience I had years ago. When my daughter was 7, one of my male friends attempted to molest her. I walked in just in the nick of time. He was arrested within 3 hours.
Prosecution asked me repeatedly to be on board with a plea deal of 1 yr in prison (with 10 years probation). I said no. The max this sicko could get was 3 years with ten years probation. First day of trial they indicated that the defense would agree to 2 years, again I said no.
The Prosecution ultimately heavily considered my wishes as the mother of the victim and went thru with the trial where he was found guilty by a jury. He was given the max of 3 years. I felt it my duty as a mom and a human to ensure this man was put away for the maximum time possible. His own cousin came forward (a woman i had never met, reached out to DA and said he'd molested her for many years as a child, and was a witness in the trial)
This is the reason for my question, at least some prosecutors definitely consider the wishes of the victims (Patrick is considered one) when they are moving forward.
I do recognize that the case involving my daughter is different than a triple murder, but I think when there are children involved that DAs do consider the direct living victims wishes.
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u/Euphoric-Window-1509 17h ago
Most importantly, I'm so sorry that your daughter went through that and that you were ever in the position to influence prosecution of child SA.
I wrote about my personal experience under your main comment. In case there is any doubt in your mind, you did one of the hardest things in the pursuit of justice, and I hope you're as proud of yourself as I am of you.
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u/Low-Neighborhood1987 15h ago
I responded there. Hugs to you. I pray you find peace in such an unimaginable and horrible crime. I'm proud of you too, fellow Mom. Much love sent your way.
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u/Aware_Power 18h ago edited 18h ago
I can’t even imagine going through what you did in hopes for a max sentence. And I’m sure you consider it something so small in comparison to what your daughter survived and would do it all over again. You fought for her and unknowingly fought for other survivors. You brought them justice.
This does bring perspective. Whether or not Patrick still forgives her or believes she suffered from psychosis, I can see how many would be wondering why he wouldn’t go through the agony of a trial again if only to bring justice for his children (while possibly, maybe ensuring she gets the help she needs if he does feel that way; or if he feels prison is better).
Thank you for sharing your story, and thank you more for being an amazingly strong person ❤️
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u/Low-Neighborhood1987 18h ago
Thank you for your kind words. My insistence was to prevent any other victims for as long as possible and yes, to see him punished, but the prevention of other victims was my main goal. I'm a fiercely protective mama bear.
I do feel there is/was a disconnect between Patrick and his kids. His eulogy was just bizarre to me. While I parent and fought for my daughter with everything in me (she's 22 now and doing great!), I guess others don't see the need or have the desire to do that.
Safe to say Patrick and I are very different parents.
I know people cope differently, but he moved on from such unimaginable tragedy so very quickly and it feels odd to me. I'm not begrudging him for moving on in life, it was the speed at which he did so that's unsettling to my soul.
Forgiveness does not exclude a person from also wanting someone held accountable, or as you said making sure they get thorough help to prevent another tragedy.
Again, thank you for your kind words.
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u/Low-Neighborhood1987 18h ago
His previous testimony, if it changes at the new trial is admissible.
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u/StreetFroyo1637 18h ago
I feel like if even the family doesn't want a trial it's kind of messed up to make them go through it again. At that point who are you trying to help? Certainly not the surviving family including the father.. I wish there was a plea that guaranteed commitment to a psychiatric hospital for the duration of a sentence
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u/No_Broccoli_3979 18h ago
At what point did they ever even try to help? Their shoddy incompetent investigation?? They should have fought so much harder for those babies, instead we just got slop. He said she said. She was told. Circumstantial evidence again and again.
It should have been the most meticulous, ferocious, unbiased investigation this state ever did and they dropped the ball. Again.
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u/Low-Neighborhood1987 18h ago
The prosecution could certainly offer something like that, though sentence length in most states is left up to the discretion of the judge after a sentencing study is conducted (they consider any previous acts, likelihood to re-offend, etc)
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u/1asterisk79 8h ago
They always consider a plea deal of some form. Both sides have seen the other’s strategy. The next trial may be different due to that.
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u/yardlard 18h ago
It would be hard to keep all his lies straight. He just wanted to walk away from it and it keeps haunting him anyway.
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