Overview of Dateline True Crime Weekly — “Showdown in mom's murder trial. Verdict in Microsoft employee murder. Plus, what is postpartum psychosis?”
This episode covers three major true-crime developments: the final stretch of Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial in Massachusetts, the guilty verdict for Mario Fernandez-Saldana in the killing of Microsoft employee Jared Bridegan, and a Dateline Roundup on the Tupac Shakur murder trial and Donna Adelson’s appeal. The back half of the episode also includes an in-depth explanation of postpartum psychosis, using the Clancy case and the earlier Andrea Yates case to show how the condition is understood medically and legally.
Lindsay Clancy Trial: Competing Expert Theories
The prosecution and defense in the Lindsay Clancy case are in a “battle of the experts” as the trial nears its end. Clancy, a former labor and delivery nurse, is accused of killing her children. The defense argues she was not criminally responsible because she was suffering from postpartum psychosis, allegedly worsened by medication. Prosecutors counter that she was aware of what she was doing and intended the killings.
Prosecution rebuttal witnesses
- Dr. Avram Mack, a forensic psychiatrist, testified that Clancy’s symptoms fit a major depressive episode, not psychosis.
- He said her records and behavior reflected:
- guilt / worthlessness
- insomnia
- fixation on death or suicide
- He also testified that she understood killing her children was wrong.
Defense criticism
- Clancy’s attorney attacked Dr. Mack’s credibility, highlighting an apparent mistake in which he described an episiotomy incorrectly.
- The defense used that to argue he lacked sufficient postpartum-specific expertise.
Another prosecution expert
- Dr. Kirk Heilbrin diagnosed Clancy with bipolar II disorder instead of postpartum psychosis.
- He also testified that her statement after the killings — “I tried to kill myself” — suggested awareness of wrongdoing, not psychosis.
Courtroom controversy
- Dr. Heilbrin’s testimony turned controversial when he referenced religion and claimed Clancy said, “Go to God, baby, go to God.”
- The defense moved for a mistrial, arguing the prosecution had improperly injected religion into the case.
- The judge denied the mistrial request but instructed jurors to disregard the comments.
Jared Bridegan Murder: Mario Fernandez-Saldana Found Guilty
The episode also covers the fast-moving Florida trial of Mario Fernandez-Saldana, one of the defendants charged in the 2022 murder of Jared Bridegan, a Microsoft employee and father of four.
What prosecutors alleged
- Bridegan was ambushed after stopping to move a tire from the road in Jacksonville Beach.
- Prosecutors said Fernandez and his ex-wife, Shanna Gardner — Bridegan’s former spouse — had motive stemming from custody and family disputes over twins.
- They argued Fernandez hired or helped hire Henry Tenen as the hitman.
Evidence prosecutors emphasized
- Surveillance footage showing a blue two-tone Ford F-150 in the area.
- The truck was traced to Tenen’s father.
- A tire similar to the one in the road was found at a property tied to Fernandez.
- Cell phone data and communications between Fernandez and Tenen.
- Three checks totaling $10,000 from Fernandez’s rental company to Tenen, which prosecutors said were disguised murder payments.
- A recorded call in which Fernandez discussed Tenen doing yard/landscaping work, though prosecutors argued the amounts didn’t match ordinary labor.
Defense strategy
- The defense argued there was no physical evidence linking Fernandez to the killing.
- They said the checks were legitimate business payments and that the motive theory was weak because the custody dispute had ended months earlier.
- They also emphasized that the murder weapon was never recovered.
Verdict
- After only four hours of deliberation, the jury found Mario Fernandez-Saldana guilty of first-degree murder.
- The trial of Shanna Gardner is expected to begin in September.
Dateline Roundup: Tupac Trial and Donna Adelson Appeal
Keefe D / Duane Davis trial
- In Las Vegas, the trial of Duane “Keefe D” Davis continues.
- He is accused of helping orchestrate the 1996 murder of Tupac Shakur.
- Prosecutors say the shooting was retaliation after Tupac and others beat up Davis’s nephew, Orlando Anderson.
- A key part of the state’s case is Davis’s own statements:
- In a recorded interview, Davis admitted he was in the white Cadillac involved in the shooting.
- He named others in the car, including Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson.
- The defense argues Davis has given inconsistent accounts over the years; an FBI interview from 1998 showed him denying involvement.
Donna Adelson appeal
- Donna Adelson, convicted in the murder of her former son-in-law Dan Markel, is seeking a new trial.
- Her appeal argues:
- the judge unfairly warned her about showing emotion in court
- she should have been granted a change of venue
- pretrial publicity tainted the jury
- she was pressured into deciding not to testify without enough time to consult lawyers
- Her legal team is asking the appellate court for oral arguments.
What Is Postpartum Psychosis?
The episode closes with a deep dive into postpartum psychosis, prompted by the Clancy trial and comparisons to the Andrea Yates case.
What the expert explained
Psychiatrist Dr. Katherine Berndorf said postpartum psychosis is a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment, often in a hospital.
Common symptoms
- severe insomnia
- rapid or agitated behavior
- manic symptoms
- delusions
- losing touch with reality
- possible command hallucinations
Why it matters
- The condition is rare, but not nonexistent.
- Dr. Berndorf cited estimates of about 1–2 cases per 1,000 new mothers.
- She argued the number may be underreported because of stigma, fear, and reluctance to speak openly.
Practical advice
- If someone suspects postpartum psychosis, the first step is to tell someone immediately and seek help from:
- an OB/GYN
- a psychiatrist
- a psychologist
- or any trusted person who will take the symptoms seriously
Key Takeaways
- The Clancy case is turning on whether jurors believe she was psychotic or knowingly responsible.
- In the Bridegan case, prosecutors convinced jurors through a web of circumstantial evidence, and the result was a first-degree murder conviction.
- The Tupac trial is relying heavily on Davis’s own statements and gang-context testimony.
- Postpartum psychosis is being discussed more publicly, but experts stress it is a serious, urgent psychiatric emergency that needs fast intervention.