A Massachusetts true crime influencer has been charged with felony unlawful wiretapping after police alleged that she posted a secretly recorded phone call involving Christopher Clancy. The call was reportedly connected to the family of Patrick Clancy, whose former wife, Lindsay Clancy, faces a separate criminal case involving the deaths of their children. The wiretap allegation comes as lawyers present conflicting accounts about Lindsay Clancy’s possible testimony in a civil lawsuit against her medical providers. Her murder trial ended in a mistrial after jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict.
Police said the recording was made during an August 6, 2026, call and later posted on Instagram. The defendant, Shawna Gramkow, has denied the allegations and, according to Florida officials, had not been arrested there as of the report.
| 1) | Wiretap allegation follows social media post |
| 2) | Police describe the alleged recorded call |
| 3) | Separate lawsuits expose a legal strategy dispute |
| 4) | Murder case remains unresolved after mistrial |
| 5) | Accused influencer disputes the allegations |
Wiretap allegation follows social media post
Shawna Gramkow, who operates several true crime social media accounts with more than 50,000 followers, was charged in Massachusetts on October 20, 2026. Police said the charge relates to a video posted on Instagram on August 30. The video discussed a call placed to a number that was said to belong to Patrick Clancy, after defense attorney Kevin Reddington read the number aloud during the murder trial.
According to the police report, the video referred to an unidentified person making the call and included audio of an adult male. Investigators alleged that the recording was made without the speaker’s knowledge or consent and was then shared publicly.
Police describe the alleged recorded call
Police said Christopher Clancy reported the incident on September 4, several weeks after the call. He told investigators that, while driving in Scituate on or around August 6, he answered an unfamiliar number by mistake rather than declining it. He believed the resulting open line allowed the unknown caller to hear and record his comments.
The report said Christopher Clancy recognized some of the comments as relating to his eldest son. Investigators could hear an adult male speaking in the recording but could not determine all of the words. Florida officials later confirmed that Shawna Gramkow had not been arrested in that state. She said in a separate Facebook video that the allegations were false and could be disproved.
Separate lawsuits expose a legal strategy dispute
The wiretap charge surfaced during an apparent disagreement over legal strategy in civil lawsuits involving Lindsay and Patrick Clancy and her medical providers. At a hearing in Norfolk County Superior Court on Wednesday, attorney Howard Cooper said he expected Lindsay Clancy to testify in a lawsuit brought by Patrick Clancy.
We believe that Lindsay Clancy, once her Fifth Amendment issues are resolved one way or the other, will testify that she told these defendants explicitly that she had homicidal ideation and that she was worried about something awful happening to her children.
The proposed testimony would concern what Lindsay Clancy allegedly told healthcare providers before the January 2023 deaths. The timing and scope of any testimony remain subject to her Fifth Amendment rights and decisions by the court.
Murder case remains unresolved after mistrial
Lindsay Clancy was charged with three counts of first-degree murder after her children were found strangled at the family’s Massachusetts home in January 2023. Judge William Sullivan declared a mistrial on September 4, 2026, after jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict. The reported division was 11 jurors for one position and one juror for the other.
A judge also denied Lindsay Clancy‘s motion for acquittal, leaving the high-profile case headed toward a November 2 hearing. The criminal proceedings and the civil litigation are separate matters, although testimony and medical records could affect arguments in both settings.
Accused influencer disputes the allegations
Kevin Reddington rejected the suggestion that his client had agreed to testify in Patrick Clancy‘s lawsuit. He also disputed the characterization of statements allegedly made to medical providers.
Lindsay Clancy never told any of her healthcare providers that she harbored homicidal ideation toward her children. She never indicated that she intended to testify in Mr. Clancy’s lawsuit, and no one acting for her ever represented that she would.
Kevin Reddington added that counsel for Patrick Clancy did not speak for Lindsay Clancy. The competing positions leave the witness issue unresolved while the wiretapping case proceeds separately.
| No. | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Shawna Gramkow was charged with felony unlawful wiretapping in Massachusetts. |
| 2 | Police said a call involving Christopher Clancy was recorded and posted online. |
| 3 | Lawyers disagree about whether Lindsay Clancy will testify in a civil lawsuit. |
| 4 | The murder trial ended in a mistrial after an 11-1 jury split. |
| 5 | The accused influencer has publicly denied the allegations. |
Summary
The wiretapping charge against Shawna Gramkow adds a separate legal issue to an already closely watched Massachusetts case. At the same time, conflicting statements from lawyers for Lindsay Clancy and Patrick Clancy show that the civil litigation may involve sharply different accounts of medical warnings and potential testimony. The criminal case remains unresolved after the mistrial, with further court proceedings expected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was charged with wiretapping?
Shawna Gramkow, a true crime social media influencer, was charged with felony unlawful wiretapping in Massachusetts.
Who was allegedly recorded?
Police said Christopher Clancy was accidentally connected to an unfamiliar caller and that his comments were recorded without his consent.
Why are the lawyers disputing testimony?
Attorney Howard Cooper said he expected Lindsay Clancy to testify in a civil lawsuit, while attorney Kevin Reddington said she had never agreed to testify and disputed the alleged medical statements.
What happened in the murder trial?
The trial ended in a mistrial after jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict. A judge denied a motion for acquittal, and a further hearing was scheduled for November 2.
