The trial of Lindsay Clancy, accused of killing her three children and then attempting suicide, has been on the radar. She was heavily medicated by psychiatrists and it is believed she suffered from postpartum psychosis.
The prosecution called a prolifically published forensic psychologist named Dr Kirk Heilbrun to testify. He said he doubts Clancy’s claim that she had hallucinations while on the prescribed medications.
Kirk Heilbrun, who reportedly performed psychiatric tests on Clancy in April, told the court that he questioned her claims that a hallucinated voice commanded her to commit the act, and that he believed she took their lives so they wouldn’t “suffer” after she killed herself. The Guardian
Heilbrun knows damn well some people hear voices. This is important to understand.
Another case Heilbrun testified in was the 2019 lawsuit against the Iowa Boys School for delinquent boys. The lawsuit claimed the school used isolation and restraint when not necessary with boys that had a history of mental illness.
Heilbrun supported the school’s use of isolation.
According to school records Farrell read in court, these were among the instances Heilbrun deemed the use of seclusion not inappropriate:
- A boy talked back to staff and refused to sit down.
- A boy talked when his group was supposed to be silent. The boy smiled and talked back sarcastically when a staff member told him to be quiet. A staff member asked the boy what was funny, and he responded, “this program.”
- A boy took ketchup out of a refrigerator at lunch after staff said the ketchup was being reserved for dinner.
Related
- Lindsay Clancy trial: psychologist says he doubts claim she was hallucinating The Guardian
- Psychologist defends State Boys School seclusion practices as testimony ends in federal trial Des Moines Register
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