Lindsay Clancy holdout juror breaks silence, calls for focus to be put back on victims

Michael Desronvil.

The controversial holdout juror in the Lindsay Clancy mistrial has spoken out in a video statement, the first remarks those following the case have heard directly from him rather than from his lawyer or family members. In a brief video statement given to Fox News, the juror called for the focus of the case to be put back on the three victims of the heinous crime and credited his faith for helping him through what's been a difficult time. 

Michael Desronvil is in hiding at an undisclosed location, according to Fox News, which obtained video of his statement. 

"I know the whole focus has been on me. But we want to reel everything back and put the focus on the 3 angels at hand," Desronvil is heard saying in the video, referring to the three children Clancy has admitted to killing. "The ones that can't speak for themselves, the ones that can't defend themselves, and the ones that can't fight the battles — and those are Cora, Dawson and Callan."

Desronvil, who has emerged as a divisive figure since the 11-1 hung jury forced the judge in the case to declare a mistrial, also thanked his supporters, many of whom have helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to help him with legal expenses resulting from having served on a high-profile jury. And he mentioned his faith and his young daughter. 

"I want to thank God for my Catholic faith. I want to thank God for blessing me with the ability to love my daughter," Desronvil said.

"And I foremost would like to thank everyone that has supported me throughout this difficult situation," he added. "Your prayers, your emotional support, psychological support, is a tremendous to my heart, that I feel, that I sense, that I know. Thank you."

The video went public after his lawyer, Edward Paltzik, spoke to Fox News a day earlier and said Desronvil had "zero doubt" about whether prosecutors had proved Clancy was guilty of murdering her three children. Paltzik emphasized Desronvil's patriotism to the U.S. and previously described Desronvil as a supporter of President Donald Trump. Paltzik has said he is considering taking legal action against Clancy's lawyer, Kevin Reddington, over what he said was misconduct in unfairly singling out Desronvil as it became clear he wouldn't change his mind in the jury room. 

This all comes as Clancy is set to return to court Tuesday for the first time since the mistrial was declared early in September. 

Watch the video statement below.