CLANCY COPYCAT?: 2-year-old Chicago-area boy dies in 'domestic-related homicide,' mom found by police attempting self-harm

Police in a Chicago suburb are investigating the death of a 2-year-old boy who was found unresponsive inside a Frankfort, Illinois home. His mother was found by authorities attempting to harm herself. The home is now blocked off with crime scene tape. Neighbors have expressed fears that the situation may be a copycat of the Lindsay Clancy case, which is currently at trial in Massachusetts.

The Frankfort Police Department said that it responded just after 4 pm on September 1 to a report of an unresponsive juvenile in the 22700 block of Brook Stone Court for a report of an unresponsive child. Officers located a 2-year-old, and CPR was administered. The boy was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Police said they located the child’s mother in the home “attempting self-harm.” They said she was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police have classified the incident as a “domestic-related homicide.” An autopsy conducted on Wednesday found that the boy died of an “apparent homicide,” per the Chicago Sun-Times. 

Neighbor Carolyn Pappas told local news of the incident, “This is just absolutely devastating that this could be another Lindsay Clancy situation, in our neighborhood, in our community. You never think it’s gonna hit so close to home.” 

Clancy has been charged in Massachusetts with killing her three young children before attempting to kill herself. The jury is currently deliberating her fate, but has come back twice telling the judge they are deadlocked. Her defense argued that Clancy was suffering from postpartum mental illness, while the prosecution argued that the killings were premeditated. Clancy's case has garnered nationwide attention, with supporters gathering for rallies across the country and outside the Plymouth courthouse, many sporting pink. Some within the courtroom itself were seen wearing pink.