Michael P. Desronvil, the lone holdout juror whose vote resulted in a mistrial in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial, has hired attorney Edward Andrew Paltzik following intense public backlash and reported threats.
Paltzik announced that he is representing Desronvil and said his client is staying at a secure, undisclosed location in rural Northern New England. The attorney also warned that fundraising pages claiming to collect money for the juror are unauthorised and may be scams.
Desronvil has defended his conduct during the jury deliberations. In a statement shared publicly, he said he had no doubts about his position and believed the evidence presented during the trial supported the conclusion that Clancy acted knowingly and planned her actions.
The jury was unable to reach the unanimous verdict required under Massachusetts law. According to reports, 11 jurors supported finding Clancy not criminally responsible by reason of insanity, while Desronvil disagreed, resulting in a hung jury and mistrial.
After the mistrial, several jurors reportedly criticised Desronvil's approach to deliberations. They alleged that he did not meaningfully engage with the discussion and did not properly apply the legal standard of reasonable doubt. Desronvil, however, disputed that characterization and said he had attempted to discuss different theories based on the evidence but was repeatedly interrupted.
The holdout juror subsequently faced significant attention online, including reports of doxxing and threats. Earlier reports also referenced domestic violence allegations involving Desronvil from 2021. The criminal charge was later dismissed, although a restraining order involving a family member was reportedly still active when he was selected for jury service.
Paltzik strongly defended his client in his public statement, describing him in positive terms and saying those responsible for threats against him could face legal consequences. The attorney did not publicly address the previous allegations involving Desronvil.
Paltzik is also involved in another high-profile case concerning Nolan Wells. He represents Wells' friends Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo and Morgan Seymour, and has previously said they were not involved in Wells' death.
The Lindsay Clancy case is expected to continue through further legal proceedings following the mistrial, with the dispute over the jury deliberations remaining a major focus of public attention.
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