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Like many people across the country, Emily Thorndike became interested in Lindsay Clancy’s case after she was accused of killing her three children in January 2023.
As Clancy’s trial was live-streamed, Thorndike uploaded a video on TikTok to share her thoughts on the mother of three’s medical treatment. The video caught the attention of many people, including Clancy’s defense attorney, Kevin Reddington, who eventually tried to make Thorndike a witness in the case.
While a judge ultimately ruled that Thorndike would not testify, she did make an appearance in the Massachusetts courtroom on August 19, 2026, to discuss the case.
Us explains who Thorndike is and how she became involved in the case below.
Who Is Emily Thorndike?
Thorndike was previously employed as a social worker at McLean Hospital, where Clancy was committed for several days in December 2022 following battles with her mental health. However, they never crossed paths because Thorndike stopped working at the hospital in 2021.
What Did Emily Thorndike Say About Lindsay Clancy’s Case on TikTok?
After Thorndike watched the prosecution depict McLean Hospital, she took to TikTok to share drastically different observations from the seven years she worked at the hospital.
She first explained that the prosecution asked why Clancy didn’t “engage in treatment more” if she wanted to get better when she was at the hospital.
Thorndike then reflected on Clancy’s ex-husband Patrick Clancy’s claims that she said she didn’t see a doctor during her time at the hospital, explaining that Lindsay likely only saw her assigned doctor once and was briefly visited by the weekend doctor for the rest of her stay.
She also slammed the prosecution’s claims that one-on-one therapy was offered to Lindsay, saying she was likely offered “check-ins” by “unlicensed individuals” rather than actual therapy sessions.
After the video circulated online, Reddington hired a private investigator to get into contact with Thorndike so that she could testify.
Emily Thorndike Appeared in Court for Lindsay Clancy’s Trial
Thorndike appeared at the trial on August 19, 2026, to share her experiences at the hospital.
“I was emotional because I felt like what was discussed in court was not aligned with what my experience was,” Thorndike said in court about her lengthy TikTok video, according to ABC 7.
After the jury was removed from the courtroom, she answered questions from both the defense lawyers and prosecutors. She argued that there was limited access to doctors at McLean and said that patients did not get offered individual therapy. Thorndike also said that one doctor was assigned to 23 patients, which meant the patients got little one-on-one time.
“I felt it was misleading to indicate that there’s sort of an in-depth doctor session when it’s very brief,” she said.
A Judge Determined Emily Thorndike Could Not Testify in the Case
Judge William Sullivan decided that Thorndike could not testify due to the “limited materiality” to the case.
“I find this witness credible. I find that, and I appreciate her being willing to offer the information that she has, but that’s not always the whole finding on this,” he said, per ABC 7.
While Sullivan said that the jury could not hear from Thorndike, he added that Reddington could submit records to show that the staffing levels at McLean were low.
What Is Lindsay Clancy Accused Of?
Lindsay is facing three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of assault and battery in the January 2023 killings of her children, Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months.
She has not denied killing her kids, but Reddington has said she shouldn’t be held criminally responsible for the deaths due to her mental health issues.
The defense argued that Lindsay – who has bipolar disorder – was prescribed antidepressants to treat her postpartum depression, which actually made her condition worse.
If you or someone you know is pregnant or just had a baby and is in crisis, help is available. Call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline for free, confidential support 24/7 in English and Spanish at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262).
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