Juror Claims Lindsay Clancy Trial Jury Used Phones During Deliberations

Jurors in the trial of Lindsay Clancy allegedly violated court rules by using their phones to research the case during deliberations, according to a holdout juror. Michael P. Desronvil, the sole dissenting juror, has accused several other jurors of breaking court orders by using their cellphones, as reported by NewsNation reporter Brian Entin. Jurors are instructed to reach a verdict based solely on courtroom evidence, and outside research is prohibited as it may influence their judgment. Desronvil's spokesperson, Ray Marcel, stated, 'everybody had their phones on them... there were jurors who were posting on social media, allegedly, while deliberations were going on.' Marcel added, 'I don't know if they were allowed their phones, but they weren't taken away.' Clancy's attorney, Kevin Reddington, has filed a motion requesting the judge to investigate Desronvil's phone metadata, as he was the only juror to vote against acquitting Clancy earlier this month. Eleven of the twelve jurors were prepared to clear Clancy of criminal responsibility last Friday, but their deadlock led the judge to declare a mistrial. Clancy has admitted to killing her three children—five-year-old Cora, three-year-old Dawson, and eight-month-old Callan—on January 24, 2023, but claims she should be found not guilty by reason of insanity due to postpartum psychosis. While eleven jurors supported this view, Desronvil sided with prosecutors, expressing certainty about Clancy's guilt. Reddington's motion also seeks to question Desronvil regarding the accuracy of his statements during jury selection and his use of external information during deliberations. The motion specifies that the inquiry will not address the substance of deliberations. It remains uncertain whether the jury's decision could be overturned. Following the mistrial, several jurors have publicly criticized Desronvil for not engaging with their discussions, with some describing him as 'arrogant.' Fellow juror Paula Devlin stated that Desronvil made 'no sense' when asked about his reasons for his vote and was mostly quiet during deliberations. She noted that he focused more on maintaining decorum in discussions than justifying his position. Devlin also mentioned that Desronvil tended to isolate himself from the group, preferring to communicate with his wife or watch videos on his phone. The eleven jurors who believed Clancy was not guilty expressed feelings of 'defeat' and 'anger' upon the declaration of a mistrial. Meanwhile, Patrick Clancy, the father of the deceased children, revealed that he experienced a panic attack and required medical attention while testifying at the trial.