Judge William Sullivan on Tuesday conducted a hearing regarding the Lindsay Clancy case to determine if the defense may include a last-minute addition to their witness list.
Investigation and Response
The individual in question is Emily Thorndike , a licensed clinical social worker and TikTok user who previously worked at McLean Hospital, the Bedford psychiatric facility where Clancy admitted herself on December 31, 2022, just weeks prior to her attempt to harm her three children. The prosecution opposed the motion due to the late notification and their belief that the individual does not qualify as an expert.
Sullivan said that if he permits Thorndike to provide testimony, it would solely pertain to staffing concerns during holidays, rather than her general opinions regarding the trial. Thorndike has been actively monitoring and sharing videos regarding the Clancy trial on TikTok, offering a markedly different depiction of McLean Hospital than that presented by the prosecutors. Reddington informed the judge that he had thoroughly vetted Thorndike and does not believe she harbors any grievances against McLean. In fact, he mentioned that she still maintains friendships with individuals who are currently employed there. They also expressed concerns that Thorndike has been monitoring the trial and sharing her views on TikTok, which may influence her perspective on the proceedings. Furthermore, they pointed out that she was not at McLean during Clancy’s tenure and lacks direct knowledge of the case itself. The judge stated that he would consider the issue, but expressed a tendency to conduct a voir dire of Thorndike or another witness who has not observed the trial but may possess relevant information about holiday staffing levels at McLean.
