The only juror to resist a unanimous verdict in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial — a split that resulted in a mistrial — has hired an attorney previously known for representing President Donald Trump. A legal expert closely tracking the high-profile case said the decision suggests the juror is prepared to defend his position publicly.
Clancy, 36, was charged with three counts of first-degree murder after her children, Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and 8-month-old Callan, were found strangled inside the family’s home in January 2023. On Sept. 4, Judge William Sullivan declared a mistrial when the jury remained deadlocked, with 11 jurors on one side and a single holdout on the other.
Attorney Edward Paltzik told News Media on Friday that he now represents Michael P. Desronvil, the juror who held out during deliberations.
Michael P. Desronvil, the juror whose refusal to join the other 11 led to a mistrial in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial. (Fugitive TV)
Desronvil, who was the sole dissenter on the panel, has since spoken out about his decision. In a statement first reported by NewsNation and confirmed to News Media by Paltzik, he said he believed prosecutors had established that Clancy was criminally responsible for the deaths of her three children.
“I didn’t have any doubts,” Desronvil said. “When I tried to lay out different possible theories during deliberations, I was repeatedly cut off, as though I had uncertainty about the evidence. Looking at the physical evidence, the key witnesses and the prosecution’s case, I believed there was sufficient proof that she understood exactly what she was doing and that it was planned.”
Paltzik has represented Trump in several prominent legal disputes. Among them was Trump’s case against The New York Times, accusing the newspaper of portraying his business achievements as fraudulent in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election. That lawsuit was dismissed in 2025, though it has since been filed again.
Lindsay Clancy at the Plymouth County Superior Court. (Pool)
The lawyer also worked on Trump’s lawsuit against CBS over a “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, which alleged the program selectively edited her remarks. Paramount Global reached a $16 million settlement in July 2025, saying the money would be directed toward Trump’s future presidential library.
At the time, Paltzik argued that the CBS interview had caused viewer confusion and “mental anguish,” while misleading voters and drawing attention away from Trump and his social media platform, Truth Social.
He also represented Trump during his lawsuit against ABC News, which settled for $15 million, with the funds going towards his future presidential library.
Michael P. Desronvil, the lone holdout juror in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial, which ended in a mistrial. (Fugitive TV)
In another high-profile case, Paltzik is representing three friends of Nolan Wells. Wells, 18, went missing July 4 after a boat trip with friends to Horn Island, a barrier island off Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. Crews searched the area for two days before a National Parks Service ranger found his remains on the island’s northwestern tip on July 6.
Paltzik began representing the friends of Wells in August after several social media influencers made false allegations about them.
“We are proud to stand with and fight for three completely innocent young men: Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo, and Morgan Seymour. Starting today, those who wish to continue trafficking in lies about these Good Ocean Springs People will be held accountable to the maximum extent of the law. We, on the other hand, will be focused solely on the truth, which is that these innocent young men had nothing whatsoever to do with the tragic death of Nolan Wells,” Paltzik said alongside Tyler Cox, a Mississippi-based attorney, in a statement to News Media.
Paltzik said Desronvil won’t be doing any other media interviews at this time, calling him an “American hero” and “Champion of justice.”
Callan, left, Dawson and Cora Clancy. The three children were killed at their Duxbury, Massachusetts, home in January 2023. (Lindsay Marie Clancy/Facebook)
“Again, we are focused entirely on his health, safety, and well-being. There will be a time for accountability and a time for the real story of the Lindsay Clancy Trial to be told. But not right now,” Paltzik said on X. “This American Hero and Champion of Justice thanks all of you who have stood by him for your kindness, prayers, and support,” he added.
The statement was made as Plymouth County prosecutors weigh whether to retry Clancy, while her attorneys have also raised the prospect of resolving the case without a second jury trial.
Mark Astor, a former prosecutor and behavioral health law expert, told News Media it’s clear that Desronvil has retained counsel to “stand up for himself.”
“I think there’s certainly some indication that his name and reputation is now being dragged through the mud,” Astor said. “The other issue obviously is he’s basically been attacked not just by potentially the other jurors, but by Mr. Reddington on the foot of the courthouse, since we had that mistrial declared by the judge. So I mean, I think he feels like he needs to, you know, at least stand up for himself.”
Astor said the exposure from the Clancy jury threatens a system that depends on people being willing to serve.
Lindsay Clancy in court last month. (Boston Globe via Getty Images)
“I think it’s a terrible thing that we’re having to see this,” Astor said. “The whole idea of the jury is sort of this sacred arena where jurors get to decide a verdict in a case. And now we’re taking what is really a sacred arena and we’re exposing it to the public.”
Clancy is due back in court on Sept. 29 for a status hearing, at which more information about the future of her case may be revealed.