Accused NC killer mom plans insanity defense — as retired judge says more may follow Lindsay Clancy strategy

The insanity defense planned by a North Carolina mother accused of killing her son has drawn parallels to Lindsay Clancys trial and raised questions about whether it could become prevalent in criminal cases.

Andrea Faust, 41, is charged with murder and attempted murder in the Feb. 12 death of her 3-year-old son and the attempted murder of her 2-year-old son at their home in Durham, North Carolina.

Her attorneys have filed notice that they intend to rely on defenses of not guilty by reason of insanity and diminished capacity, WRAL reported.

The case is drawing parallels to Clancys Massachusetts trial. Retired Massachusetts Superior Judge Jack Lu said he expects similar defenses to be raised more often as the Clancy case draws national attention to postpartum mental-health conditions.

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Clancy has pleaded not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility in the 2023 deaths of her three children. Her defense argued she suffered from postpartum psychosis, while prosecutors argue she understood her actions and acted deliberately.

Jurors ended a second day of deliberations Friday without reaching a verdict. They will return on Monday morning to continue working toward a verdict.

In Fausts case, the filing does not establish that she was legally insane or had diminished capacity. Her attorney, Nicole Galinsky, told the local outlet that a defense expert concluded Faust could not distinguish right from wrong during the alleged murders.

"Andrea and Lindsays cases are eerily similar, though not entirely the same," Galinsky told Fox News Digital.  

Galinsky noted that Faust was not suffering from postpartum psychosis. 

"However, both women were known to be loving, doting, responsible mothers who were worried about and caring for their children up until the very second they decided to kill them," Galinsky said, adding that Faust and Clancy were both struggling with similar issues, including hallucinations, hospitalizations and mental health. 

"Neither woman did this out of the blue," Galinsky said in an email. "Both were struggling enormously with their mental health. But, like most women and almost all moms, they were just trying to get through each day, care for their children, be a good mom/wife/employee. Both were seeking help from doctors who werent really taking their concerns seriously.

"Both of these cases highlight the failure in our society to take women and mothers seriously when it comes to their mental health. Both of these women advocated for themselves countless times and—for what? It got them nowhere.  

"I am hopeful that our case will demonstrate how to properly treat and rehabilitate a woman living her own worst nightmare. Lindsay Clancy was not given that luxury."

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Lu said society and the legal system have not fully understood the effects postpartum mental illness can have on behavior and criminal responsibility.

"Most of the time, these criminal responsibility, insanity, mental health defenses are unsuccessful," Lu told Fox News Digital.