Lindsay Clancy holdout juror speaks out to say he never had doubts; he was just never heard: ‘Champion of justice’

The lone holdout juror who forced a mistrial in the high-profile Lindsay Clancy murder case is finally sharing his side of the story. According to the NY Post, Michael P. Desronvil, 48, spoke out publicly for the first time to defend his position, pushing back against the massive online frenzy and the claims from his fellow jurors that he refused to engage with the evidence during the six-week trial.

Desronvil explicitly denied that he was confused or wavering during the deliberations. “I didn’t have any doubts. As I tried to explain different possible theories during deliberation, I kept getting cut off as if I had doubts based on the evidence present,” Desronvil said in a statement provided to NewsNation. “Based on all the physical evidence, key witnesses, and what the prosecution presents, I thought it was enough proof that she knew exactly what she was doing and planned.”

At the end of the Lindsay Clancy trial, the jury was locked in deliberations for over 40 hours. The BBC reported that the jury, consisting of nine women and three men, considered options like not guilty by reason of insanity, manslaughter, and first-degree murder. However, thanks to Desronvil’s stance, they ultimately could not reach a unanimous decision. This in turn led to the judge calling it a mistrial.

The target of public scrutiny

Desronvil’s lawyer, Edward Paltzik, however, has taken a strong stance in his client’s defense. In a statement posted to X, Paltzik described Desronvil as “a devoted father and man of God” and an “American Hero and Champion of Justice” who holds conservative values and supports President Donald J. Trump.

Part of this defense comes from the fact that Desronvil has reportedly faced significant scrutiny regarding his past following the outcry over him being the holdout. According to PEOPLE, multiple media reports have highlighted domestic violence allegations involving Desronvil from 2021, when he purportedly choked his wife and infant. 

Then, in 2025, he allegedly attacked his nephew, who had called the police in 2021. The nephew now has an active restraining order against him that was in place during the trial. These revelations led to questions about how he was selected for the jury. Per the NY Post, he was also under scrutiny for his finances since he is currently in the midst of eviction proceedings after reportedly failing to pay his rent.

The outlet noted that all prospective jurors are typically asked about past criminal charges or court orders. Per NY Post, Desronvil, however, suggested that he is being targeted by the media because of his political identity. In an interview with YouTuber Ray Marcel, which was posted to the channel Fugitive TV, it was alleged that Desronvil felt the other jurors were “activists” who were biased against his conservative views.

In the video, Marcel claimed that he believed he was targeted because “He’s a Republican. He is a black Republican. He has conservative views.” He went on to add, “He believes he might be getting targeted because of that, because the media and the reporters, as you would see, they kind of have left views…he was on a juror panel with people of the Democratic Party.”

The fallout from the mistrial has been intense for everyone involved. Following the immediate fallout, the NY Post reported that Judge William Sullivan initially moved to block the public release of juror names to ensure safety. However, according to Desronvil’s mechanic, he and his wife have already left the area to lay low. His attorney confirmed that he is now residing in a secure, undisclosed location in rural Northern New England.

In the meantime, PEOPLE reported that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis reacted to the controversy surrounding Desronvil by accusing legacy media of launching a smear campaign against the juror. DeSantis went as far as to offer “asylum” to Desronvil, stating on X, “If the juror is being harassed, Florida will provide asylum — I’m sure he’d be welcomed and appreciated.”

Irrespective of the drama surrounding the jurors,  the case of Linday Clancy, which is the real controversy, remains unresolved. Per the BBC, Clancy currently faces charges for the 2023 strangulation deaths of her children, Cora, Dawson, and Callan. Her defense team argued she suffered from severe postpartum psychosis, while prosecutors insisted the killings were calculated.

With a follow-up hearing scheduled for September 29 at Plymouth Superior Court, the future of the prosecution remains uncertain. While defense attorney Kevin Reddington has expressed his hope to reach an agreement to avoid a second trial, no final decision has been made.