Dad of 3 kids strangled by mom while she was allegedly suffering psychotic break to run Boston Marathon in their memory

Alyssa Guzman
·3 min read
Patrick Clancy and his three children, main. Boston Children's Hospital sign, inset.
Patrick Clancy and his three children, main. Boston Children's Hospital sign, inset.

The Massachusetts father of three kids who were strangled, allegedly by their mother, will be running the Boston Marathon Sunday in memory of his slain children.

Patrick Clancy, of Dexbury, is also taking part in the 26.2 mile trek to raise money for Boston Children’s Hospital, where his infant died.

“My kids brought me so much joy and couldn’t have made their dad prouder,” he wrote in a post on Boston Children’s Hospital’s website.

“It goes without saying that losing them has been devastating and it’s a heartbreak that I’ll live with forever, but I’ve committed myself to honoring their memory by trying to bring positive change.

“In many ways, I’m just trying to be more like them. Their passion in life was infectious.”

Clancy’s kids — Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and seven-month-old Callan — were killed in January 2023. Their mother Lindsay Clancy, who was reportedly suffering from postpartum depression or postpartum psychosis, allegedly strangled them at their home before jumping out a second-story window.

Patrick Clancy, of Dexbury, is running the Boston Marathon Sunday to raise money for the children’s hospital his youngest died at in honor of his late children who were allegedly killed by their mom a little over a year ago. GoFundMe
Patrick Clancy, of Dexbury, is running the Boston Marathon Sunday to raise money for the children’s hospital his youngest died at in honor of his late children who were allegedly killed by their mom a little over a year ago. GoFundMe

As of Friday evening, Clancy had raised $48,310 of his $50,000 goal for the hospital. He will be running the marathon wearing his “Happy Callan” bracelet and with a resin of his children’s handprints, he said in a statement.

Clancy remembers his children as “brave” and said his daughter loved “playing with little ones” and “loved babies.”

The father has raised $48,310 of his $50,000 goal as of Friday evening. Boston Childrens Hospital
The father has raised $48,310 of his $50,000 goal as of Friday evening. Boston Childrens Hospital

“She would always say that one day she wanted to be a ‘doctor and a mama,'” he wrote.

He recalled Dawson being “one of the friendliest toddlers you’d ever meet,” who loved “fire trucks, Paw Patrol, and his family,” and could always “bring smiles to people’s faces.”

Clancy remembered his youngest as a “happy baby” and missed his laugh.

Callan had spent his last moments in his dad’s arms inside Boston Children’s Hospital and the Dexbury native said he was “grateful” that the hospital had given him “a little more time with my boy.”

Cora, 5. Boston Childrens Hospital
Cora, 5. Boston Childrens Hospital
Callan had spent his last moments in his dad’s arms inside Boston Children’s Hospital. Boston Childrens Hospital
Callan had spent his last moments in his dad’s arms inside Boston Children’s Hospital. Boston Childrens Hospital

The infant died three days after the tragedy, while his sister and brother were pronounced dead upon arrival at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth.

“I know he would have done great things in this world,” the father said of Callan.

Clancy had raised concerns about his wife’s mental health to friends prior to the murders. He had told a college friend that he thought Lindsay was being “prescribed too many medications,” court documents showed.

He also pleaded with the public to “forgive” his wife, saying that she was not that person and was “generously loving and caring toward everyone.”

The Post has reached out to Clancy for comment.