By September 1, 2026, a jury in Lindsay Clancy’s trial reported deadlock, indicating they could not reach a unanimous decision. Judge William Sullivan directed them to continue deliberating, though no verdict was reached by day’s end.
Hung Jury in Past High-Profile Massachusetts Cases
Several recent cases in Massachusetts, including those of Karen Read and Emanuel Lopes, have involved hung juries. These cases illustrate how prolonged jury deliberations can extend.
Emanuel Lopes faced charges for the 2018 murder of Weymouth Police Sgt. Michael Chesna. In 2023, his initial trial ended in mistrial due to a hung jury. His second trial in 2024 also saw lengthy deliberations. Despite the jury signaling deadlock thrice, they ultimately reached a unanimous guilty verdict after 32 hours over six days.
Karen Read’s first trial in 2024 also resulted in a hung jury. After 27 hours of discussion over five days, jurors reported deadlock multiple times before a mistrial was declared. Read was later acquitted in a subsequent trial the following year.
Understanding the “Tuey-Rodriguez” Instruction
In deadlocked jury situations, Massachusetts judges may use a “dynamite” charge, known as a “Tuey-Rodriguez” instruction, named after a 1973 case. This instruction encourages reaching a verdict.
Judges can instruct deadlocked juries to recommence deliberation twice. If jurors request legal clarifications, further deliberation periods may be warranted. If a deadlock persists, judges consult with attorneys and may recite the Tuey-Rodriguez charge to the jury, emphasizing the importance of reaching a decision and reminding them of their duty.
You should consider that it is desirable that the case be decided. You should consider that you have been selected in the same manner, and from the same source, as any future jury would be. There is no reason to suppose that the case will ever be submitted to six persons who are more intelligent, more impartial, or more competent to decide it than you are, or that more or clearer evidence will be produced on one side or the other. With all this in mind, it is your duty to decide this case if you can do so conscientiously.
If deadlock continues after the third attempt, a mistrial may be declared at the judge’s discretion. In such events, the defendant returns to pretrial conditions. For Clancy, this means remaining “in custody” at Tewksbury State Hospital for psychiatric care.
Timothy Cruz, Plymouth County district attorney, then decides whether to retry Clancy for first-degree murder, opt for a lesser charge, or dismiss the case.