True Crime Society - Andrea Yates drowned her 5 kids within the bathtub

Andrea was born Andrea Pia Kennedy on July 2, 1965 in Houston, Texas. She was the youngest of 5 kids. Her mother and father had been Jutta Koehler (a German immigrant) and Andrew Kennedy. Andrew’s mother and father had been Irish immigrants.

Throughout highschool, Andrea was stated to battle with bulimia and despair and spoke to a good friend about her suicidal ideas when she was 17. She signed a good friend’s yearbook as ‘the struggling butterfly.’

She graduated from Milby Excessive Faculty in 1982. Regardless of her psychological well being struggles, she was the category valedictorian, captain of the swim crew and was additionally a part of the Nationwide Honor Society.

After she graduated, Andrea accomplished a two 12 months pre-nursing program on the College of Houston. She then went on to graduate from the College of Texas Well being Science Heart in Houston.

Between 1986 and 1994, Andrea labored as a registered nurse on the College of Texas MD Anderson Most cancers Heart.

Andrea didn’t date anybody till she was 23 years outdated.

In the summertime of 1989, when she was round 25, she met her would-be husband, Russell ‘Rusty’ Yates. Rusty was a NASA engineer. He was additionally recognized to be a religious evangelical Christian.

The couple dated for a number of years and had been married on April 17, 1993.

They bought a four-bedroom home in Friendswood, Texas, they usually instructed family and friends that they might ‘have as many infants as nature allowed.’ “He was adamant that they had been going to have six youngsters,” neighbor Sylvia Cole instructed PEOPLE. “She was actually meek and easygoing, so I’m unsure if it was a joint determination.”

10 months after they had been married, the primary baby Noah Jacob was born. That was on February 26, 1994. Round that point, Rusty accepted a job supply in Florida and the household moved to a trailer in Seminole.

After the start of her first baby, she was “very blissful, very robust,” her longtime good friend, Marlene Wark, instructed the media. She known as herself ‘Fertile Myrtle.’

Their second baby, John Samuel was born on December 15, 1995.

Their third baby, Paul Abraham, was born on September 13, 1997.

After his start, the household moved again to Houston and lived in a trailer. This determination was made as Rusty needed to ‘stay mild.’ Rusty ultimately bought a 350 sq. foot renovated bus which grew to become their residence. Rusty bought the bus from Michael Woroniecki, a touring minister. Michael’s non secular concepts influenced each Andrea and Rusty. He preached, “the function of girls is derived from the sin of Eve and that dangerous moms who’re going to hell create dangerous kids who will go to hell.” Andrea was so completely captivated by Michael that Rusty and Andrea’s household grew involved.

Michael was married to a lady named Rachel. Rachel allegedly wrote these letters to Andrea. ‘You’re evil. You’re depraved. You’re a daughter of Eve, who’s a depraved witch. The window of alternative for us to minister to you is closing. It’s a must to repent now.’”

Their fourth baby, Luke David, was born on February 15, 1999.

After Luke’s start, Andrea’s psychological well being started to say no. In June, Rusty discovered her shaking and chewing on her fingers. The next day, she tried suicide by taking an overdose of treatment that had been prescribed to her father. She was hospitalized following the incident. After her launch, “there was no concern on the hospital’s half that she was a danger to her kids, so it was by no means assigned to a caseworker,” a spokeswoman for Harris County Kids’s Protecting Companies stated.

Andrea was prescribed antidepressants and an antipsychotic treatment.

Regardless of being medicated, after she was launched from hospital, she held a knife to her neck and begged Rusty to let her die.

Finally, the treatment started to assist Andrea and her psychological well being improved. Rusty moved the household right into a small home (wow, thanks), in order that they didn’t should stay in a motor residence any longer.

Andrea suffered a nervous breakdown in July 1999. She was recognized with postpartum psychosis.

Some information about PPP:

Postpartum psychosis (PPP) is a uncommon however critical psychological well being situation that impacts about 1 to 2 in each 1,000 moms after childbirth. This interprets to a prevalence of roughly 0.1% to 0.2%.

It’s a critical psychological well being situation that may manifest with signs like delusions, hallucinations, extreme temper swings, and cognitive difficulties.

After her analysis, her first psychiatrist, Dr Eileen Starbranch urged each Andrea and Rusty to not have any extra kids. Dr Starbranch stated that any extra births would “assure future psychotic despair.”

Regardless of this, Andrea stopped taking her antipsychotic treatment in March 2000.

Their fifth and remaining baby, Mary Deborah, was born on November 30, 2000, eight months after Andrea stopped taking her meds. Andrea had now given start to five kids in round a 6 12 months time interval.

After Mary’s start, Andrea appeared to be coping okay for the primary few months. On March 12, 2001, Andrea’s father died and she or he started to spiral. She stopped taking all of her treatment, she mutilated and minimize herself, learn the Bible obsessively and in addition stopped feeding the youngsters. She stated she felt that they’d been consuming an excessive amount of beforehand. Andrea additionally stated that she thought there have been video cameras within the ceiling of their residence and that individuals on tv had been speaking together with her and the youngsters.

Neighbor Mike Clay stated. “They’d 5 youngsters. That’s lots of people in a small house, and she or he was there 24-7, and residential education. That’s lots to deal with.”

In April 2001, Andrea went into the automotive of Dr Mohammed Saeed. He handled her briefly with Haldol however then stopped as a result of he stated that she didn’t appear psychotic. She returned to the physician in Could and was handled for ten days. She was launched and instructed to suppose constructive ideas and it was beneficial that she see a psychologist. .

By Could 2001, her psychological well being had quickly declined. She was stated to be in a ‘close to catatonic state’ . On Could 3, 2001, Andrea stuffed the bath within the residence in the course of the day. She would later say that she had deliberate to drown her kids that day, however determined in opposition to it. She was hospitalized once more on Could 4. Her psychiatrist decided that she was probably suicidal and assumed that she had deliberate to drown herself within the bathtub.

By June 2001, the household had been residing in Clear Lake Metropolis in Houston. Andrea was nonetheless below Dr Saeed’s care at the moment.

The physician had suggested Rusty to not depart Andrea alone in any respect. He stated that she wanted to be supervised always. Regardless of this, on June 20, Rusty left Andrea alone at residence with the 5 infants in order that he might go to work. His mom, Dora, was scheduled to reach on the residence one hour after he left with a purpose to help Andrea.

In that hour, Andrea murdered her 5 kids. She stuffed the bath with water.

The primary baby she drowned was Paul (3). She then killed Luke (2) and John (5). She laid the our bodies of the boys in her mattress. She then drowned Mary (6 months outdated). She left Mary’s physique floating within the tub.

Noah – who was 7 years outdated – got here in and requested his mom what was improper with the child. He began to attempt to run and escape however Andrea caught him. She put him within the tub and he fought for his life. He got here up for air twice, however Andrea overpowered him and drowned him.

Andrea took Mary’s physique and positioned her in John’s arms within the mattress.

Andrea known as 911 and requested for police help.

911 Dispatcher “What’s your title?”

Andrea Yates: “Andrea Yates.”

911 Dispatcher “What’s the issue?”

Andrea Yates: “Um, I simply want him to return.”

911 Dispatcher “Is your husband there?”

Andrea Yates: “No.”

911 Dispatcher “Effectively, what’s the issue?”

Andrea Yates: “I want him to return.”

911 Dispatcher “I must know why we’re coming, ma’am. Is he there standing subsequent to you?”

Andrea Yates: “No.”

911 Dispatcher “She?”

Andrea Yates: “Pardon me?”

911 Dispatcher “Are you having a disturbance? Are you unwell or what?”

Andrea Yates: “Um, sure, I’m unwell.”

911 Dispatcher “Do you want an ambulance?”

Andrea Yates: “No, I want a police officer. Yeah, ship an ambulance.”

911 Dispatcher “What’s the issue?”

Andrea Yates: “Um?”

911 Dispatcher “Good day?”

Andrea Yates: “I simply want a police officer.”

She then known as Rusty and instructed him to return residence right away. This information is from an article titled ‘ Andrea Yates – Sick or Evil?’

“You want to come residence,” she stated.

Puzzled, he requested, “What’s happening?”

She simply repeated her assertion after which added, “It’s time. I did it.”

Not completely positive what she meant however in mild of her latest sickness, he requested her to elucidate and she or he stated, “It’s the youngsters.”

Now a chill shot by way of him. “Which one?” he requested.

“All of them.”

When police arrived on the residence, Andrea was standing soaking moist in entrance of the home.

“I simply killed my kids,” she instructed the officers.

Rusty arrived on the residence quickly after authorities acquired there. He was reported to have screamed ‘HOW COULD YOU DO THIS?’ and he collapsed into the fetal place.

John Cannon, the police spokesperson, described for the media what the crew had discovered.

On a double mattress in a again master suite, 4 kids had been laid out beneath a sheet, clothed and soaking moist. All of them had been useless, with their eyes vast open. Within the bathtub, a younger boy was submerged amid feces and vomit floating on the floor. He the oldest and he was additionally useless.

Andrea was questioned by police.

“Who killed your kids?” the officer requested.

“I killed my kids.” Her eyes had been clean.

“Why did you kill your kids?”

“As a result of I’m a foul mom.”

Had the youngsters finished one thing to make her need to kill them? The officer requested.

No.

You weren’t mad?

No.

She recounted the occasions of that morning. She stated she had gotten off the bed at 8.10am. Rusty left for work at 9am. All the kids had been awake and most of them had been consuming cereal for breakfast. Andrea additionally had some cereal. As soon as Rusty left, Andrea stuffed the bath to 3 inches from the highest.

She stated that Noah’s final phrases had been ‘I’m sorry.’

She instructed police that she believed she was not mom as a result of her kids had been ‘not creating appropriately.’ She stated she had been contemplating hurting her kids for years and she or he wanted to be punished for not being mom.

The household canine had additionally been locked up on the day of the murders, when it was normally allowed to roam the property. It was alleged that Andrea locked the animal up in order that it will not intrude together with her killing the youngsters.

The day after the murders, Andrea was evaluated by Dr Melissa Ferguson in jail. “She screamed, ‘Couldn’t I’ve killed only one to meet the prophecy? Couldn’t I’ve supplied Mary? Are they in heaven?”‘ Dr Ferguson stated.

Dr Ferguson would say that Andrea stated her kids weren’t righteous and had stumbled as a result of she was evil, they usually might by no means be saved due to how she was elevating them. Andrea then paraphrased Luke 17:2, saying, “It’s higher for somebody to tie a millstone round their neck and solid them right into a river than to stumble,” Dr Ferguson stated.

Andrea appeared earlier than a decide on June 22, 2001. Andrea was appointed a public defender at the moment. Rusty ultimately spoke with an legal professional who was a household good friend, George Parnham. He requested George to take Andrea’s case. When he went to see Andrea for the primary time after the murders, she stated to him ‘You’ll be vastly rewarded.’ She instructed Rusty that she didn’t need the legal professional he had sourced and instructed him to ‘Have a pleasant life.’ Rusty would later discover out that Andrea had been given a sedative.

Andrea would inform officers that she heard the voice of Devil popping out of the partitions of her jail cell. Dr. Lucy Puryear, a psychiatrist from the Baylor School of Drugs, stated on Courtroom TV’s Mugshots program “She was the sickest particular person I had ever seen in my life.”

A psychiatric examination was ordered for Andrea. One psychiatrist requested Andrea what she thought would occur to the youngsters. She indicated that she believed God would “take them up.” He reversed the query and requested what may need occurred if she had not taken their lives.

“I assume they might have continued stumbling,” which meant “they might have gone to hell.”

He needed to know particularly what they’d finished to provide her the concept they weren’t behaving correctly. She responded that they didn’t deal with Rusty’s mom effectively, including that, “They didn’t do issues God likes.”

The funerals for the youngsters had been held on June 27. They had been all positioned in small cream-coloured caskets and had been open for viewing. Mary was wearing pink.

On the finish of July 2001, Andrea was indicted for capital homicide within the instances of Noah, John, and Mary. As a result of she had killed somebody below the age of six and had killed a couple of particular person, she was eligible for the dying penalty. Andrea pleaded not responsible by motive of madness.

A competency continuing started in September 2001. Her attorneys filed a whole bunch of pages of documentation about her psychological sickness. A medical psychologist interviewed Andrea on 4 events in jail in 2001. On June 25, she had proven indicators of psychosis and hallucinations. She stated she had seen Devil in her cell and he was speaking to her. She stated that she didn’t need an legal professional and needed her hair minimize into the form of a crown as a result of she believed she had 666 imprinted on her scalp.

Andrea was medicated once more and by August, her situation had improved. She was in a position to maintain a coherent dialog. She stated that she believed Devil lived inside her and the way in which to do away with him was for her to die.

On September 24, the jury decided that Andrea was competent to face trial.

In October, Andrea’s attorneys requested to have her confession thrown out as a result of she had not been competent to waive her rights they usually requested the Courtroom to declare the madness plea, because it was acknowledged in Texas legislation, to be unconstitutional, as a result of it was not in contact with what we now know in regards to the true nature of psychological sickness.

Andrea was interviewed by the prosecution’s psychiatrist, Dr. Park Dietz, in November 2001. The interview was taped.

“I used to be fairly decided,” she admitted, “to do what Devil instructed me to do.” She additionally indicated that she felt that by killing her kids earlier than they went downhill morally, she was making certain they might get into heaven. That’s the one place the place they might be protected. Dr Dietz requested her a number of occasions whether or not she knew that what she had finished was improper and she or he answered sure. She had deliberate for a minimum of a month to kill them in some unspecified time in the future when she was alone with them.

Jury choice for her trial started in January 2002. Eight ladies and 4 males had been chosen. Seven of the jurors had kids and two had levels in psychology.

Her first trial started on February 18, 2002.

Andrea was being tried on two counts of capital homicide—one for the 2 older boys and one for Mary.

The prosecution claimed that Andrea had drowned her 5 kids and had recognized it was unlawful and improper. Dr Dietz would testify in the course of the trial and say that Andrea had been influenced by an episode of ‘Legislation & Order’ during which a lady drowned her kids and ended up being acquitted by motive of madness.

The protection stated that she didn’t know what she was doing as a result of she had been legally insane. She’d been affected by postpartum despair with psychotic options and her delusions had pushed her to kill her kids.

On March 12, 2002, after the jury deliberated for lower than three hours, Andrea was convicted on the 2 counts of capital homicide. She was not charged for the deaths of Paul and Luke. She was sentenced to life in jail. She could be eligible for parole in 2041, when she was 77. She was despatched to Mountain View Unit, a state psychiatric jail in jap Texas.

After her conviction, Andrea was hospitalized a number of occasions in 2003 and 2004 as a result of she refused to eat.

In April 2004, her legal professional George Parnham, filed an attraction.

On July 30, 2004, Rusty filed for divorce from Andrea.

On January 6, 2005, The Texas First Courtroom of Appeals reversed Andrea’s conviction. This occurred after Dr Dietz admitted that he had given materially false testimony in the course of the trial. That is regarding the alleged ‘Legislation & Order’ episode that influenced Andrea. Writer Suzanne O’Malley, who was masking the trial for O: The Oprah Journal, The New York Occasions Journal, and NBC Information, had beforehand been a author for Legislation & Order and instantly reported that no such episode existed.

The court docket agreed unanimously that the jury could have been influenced by the false testimony and ordered {that a} new trial ought to happen.

To notice – Legislation & Order – Legal Intent – did air an episode years after the Yates’ murders. The episode was based mostly partially on this case.

In March 2005, Andrea and Rusty’s divorce was finalised. She acquired $7,000 in money and was additionally awarded the best to be buried close to the youngsters. She additionally acquired a nursing chair? Andrea was additionally granted a part of Rusty’s NASA retirement advantages.

In January 2006, Andrea once more entered pleas of not responsible by motive of madness. She was granted launch on bail in February 2006, provided that she be admitted to a psychological well being facility.

Her second trial started on June 26, 2006.

Throughout this trial, it was mentioned how Dr Saeed had suggested Rusty to not depart Andrea unattended. Regardless of this, Rusty started leaving her alone with the youngsters for brief durations of time. He believed this may enhance her independence and assist her to not develop into completely reliant on him and his mom for her maternal duties. Her mom expressed shock when she came upon what Rusty was doing, saying that Andrea was not secure sufficient to care solely for the youngsters.

Andrea’s brother testified that Rusty had instructed him that every one depressed individuals wanted a ‘swift kick within the pants’ to get them motivated to get assist.

Rusty instructed the media that he had by no means been instructed by psychiatrists that Andrea was psychotic or that she might hurt the youngsters. “If I’d recognized she was psychotic, we’d by no means have even thought of having extra youngsters,” he instructed the Dallas Observer.”

This was regardless of Dr Starbranch advising them in opposition to having extra kids. That physician famous “Apparently affected person and husband plan to have as many infants as nature will permit! This can certainly assure future psychotic despair.”

Andrea additionally instructed one other psychiatrist, Dr Melissa Ferguson that previous to their final baby, “she had instructed Rusty that she didn’t need to have intercourse as a result of Dr. Starbranch had stated she would possibly damage her kids.”

Rusty, she stated, merely asserted his procreative non secular beliefs, complimented her as mom and persuaded her that she might deal with extra kids.

On July 26, 2006, one month after the second trial began, Andrea was discovered not responsible by motive of madness and was ordered to go to a psychological well being facility. Since January 2007, Andrea has been at Kerrville State Hospital. She has the chance to endure a yearly evaluate to see if she is competent to depart the power.

Rusty appeared on an episode of Oprah in 2015. Within the time because the murders, he had married a lady named Laura Arnold. They’d one son collectively. Laura filed for divorce in 2015. Oprah requested if he forgave Andrea.

“Sure,” including: “Forgiveness type of implies that I’ve ever actually blamed her. In some sense I’ve by no means actually blamed her as a result of I’ve at all times blamed her sickness.”

In 2022, Individuals reported that Andrea has waived her yearly proper to be reviewed and to due to this fact presumably depart the power. They reported that she has by no means undergone a evaluate and has chosen to proceed her therapy.

Her legal professional George stated that Andrea is “blissful” within the facility.

“She’s the place she needs to be. The place she must be,” George instructed ABC Information. “And I imply, hypothetically, the place would she go? What would she do?”

He additionally stated that Andrea ‘grieves for her kids’ and watches residence movies of them usually. She additionally spends her time making aprons, playing cards and presents within the craft room and anonymously promoting them. The cash goes to the PSI (Postpartum Assist Inernational) Yates Kids Memorial Fund, which was based by George and his spouse Mary and devoted to ladies’s psychological well being, notably postpartum psychological well being.

George has stated that he usually goes to Clear Lake to depart flowers on the youngsters’s grave.

“There’s a big gravestone, with photos of the youngsters engraved on it,” he says.

Andrea is grateful for that gesture of kindness. “She is glad somebody is placing flowers on the grave,” he says.

“She simply liked these kids,” he says. “And she or he, in her psychotic state, believed she was saving their lives, saving their souls.”

“I need most people to concentrate on the truth of girls’s psychological well being within the legal justice system and to have the ability to perceive how by way of the eyes of a mom [experiencing postpartum psychosis], she believes she’s doing proper by her kids,” stated George.

“Simply because an individual who’s psychotic plans [something] doesn’t imply that they don’t meet the madness customary,” George stated.

One other article in 2024 confirmed that Andrea remains to be declining to be assessed and have her scenario reviewed.

Whereas Yates is eligible for a listening to to find out her sanity, she will not be required to hunt launch. In line with the courts, she will spend the remainder of her life within the facility. She talks to her husband month-to-month, even supposing they divorced and he has remarried.