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Jury Deliberations Resume in Clancy Murder Trial; Body Language Expert Susan Constantine is Interviewed about the Clancy Trial; Markey and Moulton Face Off in Massachusetts; CARE Nepal County Director Mona Sherpa is Interviewed about the Disaster. Aired 9-9:30a ET

Aired September 01, 2026 - 09:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[09:00:00]

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: Pounded that area, causing flooding.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my gosh. Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no.

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SIDNER: That is terrifying. Flood -- a flash flood sent water crashing over the cliff, you see it there, leaving mud, rocks and debris on the roadway. The rain forced at least one company to cancel hiking tours in the park. Experts say conditions can change so quickly, especially during heavy rainfall.

And in Wisconsin, naked people, what are they doing? Oh, they're flying in the sky, to which Rob Brennan (ph) is cheering. He wants to be one of them. Members of the nonprofit group called "We Bare All" went skydiving naked, but for a good cause. They say the goal is to promote body positivity, self-acceptance and social nudity.

Rob, no. Absolutely not.

All right, a new hour of CNN NEWS CENTRAL starts right now.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Just moments from now, the jury returns for deliberations in the trial of Lindsay Clancy, the woman who killed her three young children. We are standing by for a verdict that could come at any time.

A major test today inside the Democratic Party. Do voters care more about progressive politics or the generational divide? That is the question kind of on the ballot today. And we could soon know the answer.

And the end of an era at Apple. After 15 years, CEO Tim Cook is stepping down. So, what comes next?

I'm John Berman, with Sara Sidner and Kate Bolduan. This is CNN NEWS CENTRAL. KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news this hour. We are standing by

for the jury to start back up for a fourth day of deliberations in the triple murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, the Massachusetts woman charged with strangling and killing her three young children. Any minute now, things will be getting back underway in that courtroom in Massachusetts.

CNN's Jean Casarez is outside the court, joining us now, as you have been watching this minute by minute as this court, very emotional, very charged case has played out.

What -- take us inside the courtroom. What are you learning?

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I went inside. I wanted to see when the jury came in last night to just watch them. And before they came in, the judge convening court said that the jury was asking to leave.

And so, they filed in. And the back row files in first. And there is a woman in the back row. And when she got to her seat, and everybody is still standing, she took her right hand and she put it like this with her head down. And then she put it like this, head down. Very pensive. Very serious. Very focused. And then when she sat down, she just stared at her lap.

The rest of the jurors came in. There were no smiles. There were no pleasant expressions on their faces. They were serious. Very serious.

And then the judge began to spoke with them. And our Nikki Brown (ph), who is in the courtroom, has always told us that when the judge speaks to them, because they love the judge, and the judge is very kind to them, they always have some emotion on their face. But yesterday I saw no emotion. When the judge said, you've asked to leave, I'm going to excuse you for the evening. And then, you know, don't look at anything, don't read anything, don't watch television. But the focus was just, they were staring at him. They never looked at the gallery. They never looked at the defendant. They never looked at the attorneys. Focused on the judge the entire time as he was talking to them. And then they filed out with the same demeanor as they had walked in with.

BOLDUAN: And what that means for today, they now start back up and fourth day of deliberations. So much at stake here. So much at stake.

Jean, what are you going to -- what does it mean -- it's impossible to know and, of course I'm asking you the impossible. What does it mean as they now enter a fourth day, the longer they deliberate, what starts going through your mind?

CASAREZ: Well, you're right, you never know what is going on in the courtroom, in the deliberation room. They can be focused on the charges. They can be focused on the evidence. I mean, there are so many pieces of evidence in this case, and they took copious notes. I mean when I was in there, when the witnesses were still taking the stand, the jurors were just note taking immensely. And this was near the end of the trial. And, you know, this morning, Kevin Reddington was walking in, defense

attorney, and they asked him, you know, the jury left early yesterday. What does that mean? And he said, look, they're tired. He said, they have to be tired. This is taxing on them. This is emotional on them. And to clarify, did they leave early? A little bit. A few minutes. But they did -- they've never stayed as long as they can to deliberate, which would be around 4:30.

[09:05:05]

They always leave about the same time in the -- in the three days they've deliberated. So, around 4:00 or so.

BOLDUAN: All right. And so -- and so it begins today. Jean Casarez, on the ground for us.

Jean, thank you so much for all of your reporting on this.

You can watch CNN All Access as we await a verdict in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial, bringing you live analysis as this jury now goes back behind closed doors. Cnn.com/watch.

Sara.

SIDNER: All right, joining me now is Susan Constantine. She is a body language expert. She was also a jury consultant in the Andrea Yates case, that you'll remember was the Texas mom who was ultimately acquitted by reason of insanity after drowning her five children in a bathtub.

Let me start with this. The jurors, as you heard, they've asked to see a couple of pieces of evidence this week. They were described by our Jean Casarez as stoic when they came to court. They didn't ask any more questions. It has now been 17 hours that they have been deliberating. And they're expected to start very soon now.

They're not asking any questions yet, which is pretty typical of a jury. When you consider what she described their body language as being and the length of time this is taking. What do you read into all of this?

SUSAN CONSTANTINE, BODY LANGUAGE EXPERT: Sure. And so, I just want to clarify, it was the company that I was working for that did the --

SIDNER: Yes.

CONSTANTINE: Did the -- was a trial consultant for the Andrea Yates case.

So, anyway, what we're looking at is --

SIDNER: Yates case.

CONSTANTINE: Yes, the Andrea Yates case.

So, I just want to kind of give you a little heads up on what's happening inside that jury. You know, what's really happening is, first of all, we know the questions and how they're thinking, right? They're deconstructing and then reconstructing and rebuilding their own theory. So, that's what they're doing because they asked for the knife and they asked for the pills. They didn't even ask any further questions. They didn't ask about the verdict form. They didn't ask about the instructions. So, that's telling me they're really working hard rebuilding this case.

Now, when you think about 17 hours going by where we -- and Jean was talking about their stoic expression, it's game on, right? So, they are hyper focused. They've removed the noise around them. They're focused on what the judge -- what the judge's instructions. They trust him. And they're fatigued.

So, what we're looking at is jury fatigue. There's a huge weight that's on their shoulder and they have to make very important decisions. And I think that's what we're seeing.

SIDNER: Yes. I mean, they had 85 witnesses. There was so much evidence for them that they have to go through. And as Jean was saying, you know, they're clearly taking this seriously. They're going through it methodically.

But these jurors, in speaking about all of that evidence, they've had to stomach some horrible scenes, three children's dead bodies, strangled to death. The crime scene. The images of Yates (ph) after she tried to take her own life, first with a knife and then by jumping out of a window. I mean, what toll do these things take on a jury as they're trying to be logical and deliberate through all of this?

CONSTANTINE: You know, every juror is hard-wired differently. Some can handle it because there tend to be more analytical and just look at the evidence of the case. Others are more emotional. It's going to affect them. And that's where the cognitive bias could really jump in there, right?

So, when we -- when we're -- thinking about this jury, the most horrific, most unbelievable thing they have to endure, it is so stressful. And don't think that they're not experiencing some sort of PTSD because of it. It's just horrifying, right?

But what -- what's happening right now, and we're -- and our concern is this cognitive bias, right? So, are there jurors that are in there that have formed an opinion and they're trying to take the evidence, the pieces of the evidence, and then form and support their theory. And so that's what's going to -- what will happen is it will take other jurors that will test that hypothesis. You know, look, let's look at the evidence. Where do you see that supporting?

And so, instead of taking a -- trying to remove the emotion out of it, and just look at things logically and objective. And that's what they have to do is take off that lens and look at just the evidence.

SIDNER: Because we mentioned the Andrea Yates case, who was found not guilty by reason of insanity due to postpartum psychosis and schizophrenia. In this case, there were two trials with very different outcomes. The first trial in the Yates case found her guilty, the jurors there, of the murders. But that was overturned. And in the second trial, they found her not guilty by reason of insanity. Those are starkly different verdicts. I mean, how does this case stack up in comparison to what we saw in the Yates trial?

CONSTANTINE: Well, first of all, it's jury profiling, right? So, we don't -- the jury profile, this one here, is heavily weighted with women.

[09:10:06]

The other one in Andrea Yates, you know, my colleague was able to get more of a balanced jury pool. So, there -- it is definitely more weighted with women, but also middle aged to older women, which can really create a -- be problematic for the defense because oftentimes our mature women can, you know, have varying opinions. They can either be extremely judgmental or they can also say, hey, you know, I mean, I've experienced it myself. I have a family member who's experienced it and they actually could relate to it. It is amazing the difference in opinion.

So, when we look at the two compares -- comparatively. There was absolutely no doubt whatsoever that Andrea Yates was dealing with postpartum psychosis. On this -- in this case, it's still questionable, right? And so that's what they're juggling. And that's what we're looking at as a split of the Red Sea. And I said this from the very beginning, this jury in this case is going to be highly conflicted because you're going to have the Hatfields and you're going to have the McCoys, and somehow they have to bring that together in order to come and render a unanimous verdict. And it's going to be tough. The hardest work they've ever done.

SIDNER: Yes, and a lot to go through.

Susan Constantine, thank you so much.

And we're learning just now, the judge has made it to the bench as he prepares a jury for another day, a fourth day of deliberations. I do appreciate you.

There's some live video of what's going on right now in court.

CONSTANTINE: Thank you.

SIDNER: Andrea Yates (ph) there. We will wait to see if the jury is able to come to a decision today.

John.

BERMAN: So, that's in Massachusetts.

Also in Massachusetts today, polls are open. It is primary day there. Eighty-year-old Senator Ed Markey is looking to survive a challenge from a much younger congressman, Seth Moulton. But there is a twist here. It is Markey, who has served 50 years in Congress, who is backed by young progressives, including Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio- Cortez, and less young progressives, like Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. Moulton argues it is time to pass the torch.

CNN's Arlette Saenz is live in Somerville, Massachusetts, this morning.

Arlette, this is really like a test of two political trends here. Which one will come out on top?

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it really is, John. And it is raining here in Somerville, but that is not keeping voters from heading to the polls today in this very interesting Democratic primary that really mirrors a lot of the debates playing out within the Democratic Party.

But the warring factions here in this race aren't falling neatly into the Democratic camps that people might think of. You have the congressman, Seth Moulton, a 47-year-old who is trying to wage this generational battle against the 80-year-old incumbent, Democratic Senator Ed Markey. But it is Markey who has pitched himself as the more progressive of the two.

And in speaking with Markey supporters this morning, they said that they've put aside any issues about age and have focused more on how they believe he is the more progressive candidate over Moulton. Take a listen to two of the voters I spoke with earlier today.

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SAENZ: Did you think about the fact that Markey is 80 years old when you thought about your decision?

MICHAEL GRUNKO, DEMOCRATIC VOTER: I'm 80 years old. I wouldn't be running for senator. But it's a -- it's nice to know that, well, he's persistent and he is energetic. He doesn't show any great signs of dementia or other decline.

BRETT SAWKA, UNENROLLED VOTER: I really hope to see Ed Markey win. I know a lot of people are concerned that he's older. Hopefully this is his last term and he can throw support behind somebody else who's really progressive and great.

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SAENZ: Now, another issue that many voters I spoke to brought up is transgender rights. There has been some frustration among Massachusetts Democrats about some of Moulton's past comments when he said that he would not like to see trans kids participate in girls' sports. A comment he backtracked a bit from a little bit later. But that is something that Markey and his allies have really seized on in this race.

Now, Markey is in a position where he finds himself in a situation that he was in six years ago. Back in 2020, he had faced another general -- generational challenge from then Congressman Joe Kennedy III. Markey did come out on top in that race, and he is hoping to be able to do the same this evening. But certainly, it will be a big test of the progressive movement. But

also answering the question of whether it matters here in a state like Massachusetts if you're 80 years old and running for Senate.

John.

BERMAN: Well, that's Saenz in Somerville this morning. Enjoy the weather up there, Arlette.

Kate.

BOLDUAN: Yes, I'd say so.

The race against time right now to try and rescue 900 people believed to be trapped in the --hundreds of people believed to be trapped in the hydropower tunnels after the devastating flooding in Nepal.

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We're following those efforts.

Plus, a CNN exclusive. There are new details coming in about the Department of Homeland Security and its surge that begins today to investigate what it calls allegations of voter fraud in nine states. We'll bring you more details on that.

And warnings and watches are now stretching across the Gulf Coast as Tropical Storm Edouard is just hours from making landfall now near the Texas-Louisiana border.

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BOLDUAN: So, this morning, the urgent search for survivors in Nepal is far from over. Some 4,500 people are still missing. Some 900 are believed to be trapped inside intricate hydropower tunnels. That is where expert rescue crews are going in, at times seen crawling inside the tunnels that may be several miles long.

Last hour, a geologist and engineer, who's been advising those teams, spoke to us about where survivors may be trapped.

[09:20:05]

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PROFESSOR ARNOLD DIX, GEOLOGIST AND ENGINEER: And what we think is like the goldilocks zone. If anyone survived, it's up there in that golden area at the top. That area at the top is quite large. It's like a block of flats sort of thing. Like, it's big because we're in a power station. But getting to it has proving to be really hard.

So, as -- we believe that there's enough air. Of course it's pitch black. There's no food. There should be water. So, human beings, plus water, means survival.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BOLDUAN: So, that is -- there is -- so hope remains that there are survivors there.

Meanwhile, this morning, we're also learning that several areas hit by flooding have received no aid so far. So, even those who survived the floods there, they're now facing dire conditions. That's according to a disaster authority in Nepal.

Joining us now to talk about aid efforts to get to more people is Mona Sherpa, a county director for CARE Nepal, an aid group that's focused on women and girls.

Mona, thank you so much for coming on and taking a moment to speak with us.

MONA SHERPA, COUNTY DIRECTOR, CARE NEPAL: Thank your.

BOLDUAN: Your colleague told us just yesterday that aid efforts, it's really been challenged with just what we see, which is roads have been wiped out, communication systems just completely disrupted. And we've heard that it could be weeks to fix some of it. Talk to me about the situation today. How are you getting aid to some of these communities that remain cut off?

SHERPA: Thank you very much.

What has helped CARE Nepal to be there at the ground is our local partners and our relationship with the local government and also the -- like, you know, the work that we have done in the area. Along with that, we have deployed our staff. However, as you exactly said, like, you know, the access of road is not everywhere. And certain, like, you know, point of no road (ph), we can take our, like, you know, care package for emergencies and other relief items. And from there, it has to be, like, you know, either airlifted or like, you know, there is alternative route that's been created, which is longer and difficult. And we are, like, you know, using it to especially send our relief packages to Ruswa (ph) district.

So, definitely with the rain that's there from yesterday, it's even more difficult. And also the people who are -- who have survived and where they are kept is also a bit dispersed. Like, you know, not in all one place. So that's why, like, you know, it has really been difficult.

However, our team, our partners, you know, in coordination with the government, we have, like, you know, moved forward with our relief items and other life-saving assistance.

BOLDUAN: Yes. And thank God for it.

The U.N. is now reporting that more than a -- more than 100 children may have been separated from their parents or caregivers in this disaster. Of course, some of the most heartbreaking stories that come out of these disasters is what happens to children when they're separated from, or they lose their parents in these -- in this -- in a tragedy like this. What are you hearing about that? And how are you guys -- are you involved in those efforts to try to reunite families?

SHERPA: Yes. All like different -- like what we see in the media, you know, if we really look at the ground, its more graver and difficult and harsh because exactly as you said, families, you know, they are separated, many are out of contact, not knowing whether they are still alive, waiting for them to like, you know, reach out, when communication and the weather and the situation has really toughened it. That's why, like, you know, in different, like, you know, holding centers where our partners and our deployed staff has been, they have shared like there is lots of mental trauma, stress.

What CARE has done is, we have really focused our life saving assistance to the most marginalized and vulnerable group, focusing on women and girls. So, there are protection like, you know, mechanisms, psychosocial counseling, safe spaces that we have created in these holding centers so that they get along with other support. They also get these -- support for them to, like, you know, calm down or at least have that calmness, like, you know, when they are waiting for more news.

Yes, our, like, you know, main concern is to ensure that community remains safe. And, like, you know, they really survive. But these kind of needs, which are beyond food, shelter and infrastructure are also equally important. And our very, like, you know, rapid gender observation has also shown it. This is going to go beyond this humanitarian crisis and assistance that we are putting forward.

They have lost their life, their love. They have lost their loved ones, their whole settlement, you know?

[09:25:02]

So, it's rebuilding their existence again and not knowing whether, like, you know, how they are going to cope with it. That's like, you know, along with the emergency immediate relief packages, these things are equally concerning and we should also focus on it while working around recovery and rehabilitation.

BOLDUAN: Absolutely. Rebuilding their existence. That is the level of tragedy that has hit this -- hit so many here.

SHERPA: Exactly.

BOLDUAN: Mona Sherpa, thank you for coming on and thank you to your staff. Thank you for what you're doing and thanks for sharing a moment with us. I appreciate it.

Sara.

SIDNER: That really is a stark reminder, Kate, of what people are going through. Everything gone in their lives.

All right, ahead, a verdict could come at any time in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial. We know that court has resumed just minutes ago.

And a major Pentagon shakeup. The Army secretary resigning after months of reported tensions and clashes with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. What he told the president on his way out the door. That story ahead.

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