Dawn Light Sprints From Courthouse After Allegedly Filming Lindsay Clancy Jurors — Then Gives a Baffling Response as Her Mugshot Is Released
A dramatic new twist has emerged in the closely watched Lindsay Clancy murder trial after Dawn Light, a 56-year-old self-described true-crime enthusiast and supporter of Clancy, was accused of recording jurors outside the Plymouth Superior Court in Massachusetts.
Light was arrested Tuesday as jurors were leaving the courthouse following another day of deliberations in the case. Prosecutors allege she had parked in a restricted employee area and used her cellphone to record members of the jury as they exited.
The incident quickly became a major concern for the court because jurors in Clancy’s trial had been specifically instructed not to be photographed or recorded. According to police, an officer confronted Light and later examined her cellphone. Although investigators reportedly found no relevant footage in her regular camera roll, they said videos involving jurors were discovered in the phone’s recently deleted section.
Light has pleaded not guilty to aggravated intimidation involving a juror, witness, police officer or court official. Her attorney has characterized the incident as a misunderstanding, arguing that Light was attempting to capture images of Lindsay Clancy rather than deliberately targeting jurors.
The circumstances surrounding Light’s actions nevertheless prompted serious concern inside the courtroom. Judge William Sullivan questioned the jurors individually about the incident before deliberations continued. Authorities and the court ultimately found no indication that the jury had been improperly influenced, allowing deliberations in Clancy’s trial to proceed.
The case has attracted extraordinary public attention. Clancy, a former labor-and-delivery nurse, is accused of killing her three young children at the family’s Duxbury home in January 2023. Her defense does not dispute that she killed the children but argues that severe postpartum psychosis and other mental-health problems left her legally not criminally responsible. Prosecutors have argued that she understood what she was doing and acted deliberately.
At the same time, the jury has struggled to reach a decision. After several days of deliberations, the 12 jurors twice told the judge they were deadlocked, raising the possibility of a mistrial if they cannot ultimately reach a unanimous verdict.
Light’s behavior added another layer of controversy to an already emotionally charged proceeding. After her arraignment Wednesday, reporters surrounded her as she left the courthouse. Rather than stopping to answer questions, Light suddenly ran toward her vehicle.
When asked why she had come to court, she indicated that she wanted to see Clancy and had seen her being taken away in a vehicle. When pressed about the filming allegation, she offered little explanation before her attorney intervened.
A judge declined to impose cash bail but ordered Light to stay away from the courthouse and prohibited her from contacting potential jurors or witnesses connected to the Clancy case. She is expected back in court in October.
The incident has now placed an unusual spotlight on the intense following surrounding the Clancy trial — and raised fresh questions about how far spectators and true-crime followers should go when closely following a high-profile criminal case.
