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Charge 1 Not Guilty by reason of insanity.
Charge 2 Not Guilty by reason of insanity.

Remind us who she is (or maybe just me)

:no

she's the woman from clear lake, tx that drowned her 5 kids to save them from a life of eternal damnation. she was treated several times for suicide attempts and for psychotic episodes

She killed all her kids

She drowned her kids back in June of 2001

Remind us who she is (or maybe just me)
She's the one the drowned her children in Texas in 2001.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14024728/

wow.... she had to be insane to do that though.....

I thought so. I cannot believe she is getting not guilty. I hope she has to go to the psych ward permanently.

Wow, that's unbelievable. So does that mean she will be locked up in an institutiion?

:no

I am really disappointed about the verdict

Yea of course she had to have been insane to kill her children, I don't think that makes her any less guilty, I thought she should have gotten the chair.

:no

I am really disappointed about the verdict

No kidding!!! I think that she knew what she was doing at some point. Two of the children were old enough to fight her. One was 5 and the other was 7. It is just hard for me to believe that she didn't realize that she was doing something wrong. JMO

:no :rolleyes That makes me sick. That fact that someone can do that and not be charged. She had to chase the oldest one around for 30 mions before she cou'd catch him and then had to smash his head on the side of the tub to knock him outb/c he was fighting. Them poor poor children. I hope she rotts in :devil

:no :rolleyes That makes me sick. That fact that someone can do that and not be charged. She had to chase the oldest one around for 30 mions before she cou'd catch him and then had to smash his head on the side of the tub to knock him outb/c he was fighting. Them poor poor children. I hope she rotts in :devil

:yes

I don't understand how she can NOT know what she was doing. I'm sorry, people tend to pull the "insanity card" a little too much. IMO, that woman KNEW what she was doing. I am so saddened by it and it sickens me!

:no

:no :rolleyes That makes me sick. That fact that someone can do that and not be charged. She had to chase the oldest one around for 30 mions before she cou'd catch him and then had to smash his head on the side of the tub to knock him outb/c he was fighting. Them poor poor children. I hope she rotts in :devil

:yes I hope they stick her in a psych ward somewhere and let her rot there. I am very disappointed. People not only use the crazy defense too often, they get off too often with it. :no

No kidding!!! I think that she knew what she was doing at some point. Two of the children were old enough to fight her. One was 5 and the other was 7. It is just hard for me to believe that she didn't realize that she was doing something wrong. JMO

I thought that she knew, too. Didn't she chase one of them through the freaking house? It pisses me off that she will sit there and get counseling for killing her kids!!!:mad

It pisses me off that she will sit there and get counseling for killing her kids!!!:mad

:agree

The whole story is just a big sad deal. And one day she'll be all better and walking the streets. :no

I know that she was suffering from PPD, and that PPD makes women do and think stupid things - but she should have gotten help before she ended those babies' lives.

i was mortified when i just read that a little while ago. she should be locked up for life i dont care if they said she was insane, she either needs the chair or to be permanently locked up in an institution or something. thats just sickening.

She will be instituationalized until they feel that she is "cured" and then she can be released. I think it's just sick!

Do you think that it is possible to be "cured" from something like that?

I worked in a mental health clinic for a few years and Andrea was a subject of discussion amongst our therapists and psychiatrists. Mostly the fact that if she had stayed on her medication, this probably wouldn't have happened. They say probably because even unmedicated, killing all 5 of your children is not something people with a mental illness do. This case is so different from others and alot of people believe that this was premeditated and she is getting away with it.

In her first trial, Yates was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison. An appeals court overturned the conviction last year because erroneous testimony about a "Law & Order" television episode that didn't exist could have influenced the jury.

wtf?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060726/ap_on_re_us/yates_trial (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060726/ap_on_re_us/yates_trial)

Rusty Yates divorced Andrea Yates after the children's June 2001 deaths and recently remarried. He said they are still "friends" and reminisce about the children

He's crazy too.

The state's key witness was Dr. Michael Welner, a forensic psychiatrist who interviewed Yates for two days in May. He testified that Yates killed the youngsters because she felt overwhelmed and inadequate as a mother, not for altruistic reasons.

Welner said that although Yates may have been psychotic on the day of the murders, it wasn't until the next day in jail that she talked about Satan, wanting to be executed and saving her kids from hell. He said the hallucination may have been triggered by the stresses of being naked in a cell on suicide watch and realizing what she had done.

Welner said Yates knew her actions were wrong and showed it in multiple ways: waiting until her husband left for work to kill them, covering the bodies with a sheet and calling 911 soon after the crime.

In her first trial, Yates was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison. An appeals court overturned the conviction last year because erroneous testimony about a "Law & Order" television episode that didn't exist could have influenced the jury.

wtf?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060726/ap_on_re_us/yates_trial (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060726/ap_on_re_us/yates_trial)

Rusty Yates divorced Andrea Yates after the children's June 2001 deaths and recently remarried. He said they are still "friends" and reminisce about the children

He's crazy too.

:yes :yes they are both :screwy :loser

ok i just read all that and if she knew what she did was wrong. then why are they even using the insanity plea. if SHE knew she was wrong then she should be charged. and just because she thought she was a bad mother doesnt mean you go out and kill your children. this is outrageous.

:no

I am really disappointed about the verdict

I totally agree with the above.

she is going to a state run psychiatric institution

my mom is like her crazy and has been missing since was 10(I'm 20 now) my mom never tried to hurt me but I can understand the lady not knowing what she was doing but that doesn't make it right.

I can not BELIEVE!!!!!!!!!!! She got off!!!!! What is this world coming to! REALLY! Honestly i'm speechless.... this just makes me so mad!

Ok, in my opinion anyone that committs murder is insane at least at that moment. So why it is different for her I have no clue. I do know her getting off is crap though. How sad for those children. :no

In the UK, we have a guilty by insanity plea that allows the criminally insane to be locked up in a psychiatric prison - they're locked up but still get treated. I think they should do the same thing in the US.

I'm really disappointed in the verdict. REALLY dissappointed. I realize there is PPD and PPP but I truthfully feel like it is being used just a tad too much. I also feel as tho she had some sort of sense of right or wrong and knowing what she did since she called 911after the fact to tell them she did it...I just can't believe she was found not guily by insanity on all charges. Sad..very very sad


Welner said Yates knew her actions were wrong and showed it in multiple ways: waiting until her husband left for work to kill them, covering the bodies with a sheet and calling 911 soon after the crime.


Yates, 42, will now be committed to a state mental hospital, with periodic hearings before a judge to determine whether she should be released

I suffer from PPD. I take meds for it. I however have never thought of harming anyone ESPICALLY my children. I believe she could have suffered from postpartum psychosis. If thats the case I can totally see how she could have harmed the kids.....very very sad situation. She should have been monitered for her meds. It probably would have prevented it from happening.

I hope she gets the help she needs. I dont know about texas, but some states if you get a not guilty by reason of insanity, they commit you, but if you get better, you are eligible for release. :dunno

I hope she gets the help she needs. I dont know about texas, but some states if you get a not guilty by reason of insanity, they commit you, but if you get better, you are eligible for release. :dunno
she will be elgibile for release if a judge deems it. She will see a judge periodically to determine if she is better and whether she will be released

This upsets me so much :tears

she shouldnt be released period. that woman needs to stay locked up in my opinion. this makes my blood boil.

I think she knew it was wrong and I read that she was told that she shouldn't have more children after her 2nd or 3rd because she had severe PPD afterward. But she had more children (obviously). I'm sick that she was found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Those poor babies. The last thing they saw was their momma's face.

in texas you do get locked up in a state PSYCHIATRIC ward. the book that was written about her is really good. informative too. i can't believe she did it to her kids either but frankly she shouldn't be in the general prison population. they did the right thing by putting her in a pscyhiatric hospital.

my co-workers and i were talking about this today at work and one of them asked why the other kids would go to her if they knew their siblings were being drowned. in her book they say that her kids were "brainwashed" into thinking that their mother was always right and that would not harm them in any way. also in the book it says that andrea told rusty and her MIL that she told the children she was saving them from satan and a life of damnation. the children knew they were going to be drowned but went to her anyway. THIS DOES NOT EXCUSE WHAT SHE DID UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. i was just telling ya'll what the book said

:no :rolleyes That makes me sick. That fact that someone can do that and not be charged. She had to chase the oldest one around for 30 mions before she cou'd catch him and then had to smash his head on the side of the tub to knock him outb/c he was fighting. Them poor poor children. I hope she rotts in :devil

Amen:thumbsup

I think she knew it was wrong and I read that she was told that she shouldn't have more children after her 2nd or 3rd because she had severe PPD afterward. But she had more children (obviously). I'm sick that she was found not guilty by reason of insanity.

I had seen or heard somewhere that there were medical issues and she couldnt use birth control. He however could. He could have used condoms. He could have gotten snipped. I dont know why he didnt take a more active roll in their family planning.

What is the probablility of her getting out soon on something like this? Anyone know any statistics?

I had seen or heard somewhere that there were medical issues and she couldnt use birth control. He however could. He could have used condoms. He could have gotten snipped. I dont know why he didnt take a more active roll in their family planning.

What is the probablility of her getting out soon on something like this? Anyone know any statistics?
this is from CNN

In 30 days a hearing will be held to determine whether Yates represents a danger to herself or others and whether she will comply with a treatment plan.

Every year thereafter, a hearing before a judge or a jury will be held to decide whether she should be released into the community.

"The state is not going to be watching Andrea Yates," Owmby said. "This thing about her now being under supervision for the rest of her life is rather misleading."


I dont know statistics but say she gets a lenient judge. I mean it IS entirely possible she could be out and roaming free in a few years....

That's very disturbing.

I had seen or heard somewhere that there were medical issues and she couldnt use birth control. He however could. He could have used condoms. He could have gotten snipped. I dont know why he didnt take a more active roll in their family planning.

I think he is partially responsible for what happened. Where was he when his wife was going through this depression? When she tried to commit suicide?

he should be charged for being stupid. i watched an E ths on her and they said (not that its true) that when the doctors told her that she shouldn't have any more kids they both said well we will do what god wants us to do and if he wants us to have more children then we will have more children.

I think he is partially responsible for what happened. Where was he when his wife was going through this depression? When she tried to commit suicide?

I've heard a lot of people place blame on him for not being there BUT I'm sure he was WORKING to put food on the table for all those children that she carelessly MURDERED! How can the husband be blamed for something SHE and ONLY SHE DID?

I've heard a lot of people place blame on him for not being there BUT I'm sure he was WORKING to put food on the table for all those children that she carelessly MURDERED! How can the husband be blamed for something SHE and ONLY SHE DID?

He is part of the marriage & raising the children too, right? Give me a break, he came home after work and I'm SURE he could see something was wrong and what- attempting to commit suicide means nothing? I still think he has some blame in this.

He's obviously screwed in the head just like her.

They reminsce about the children? Crazy...

Um, he is part of the marriage & raising the children too, right? Give me a break, he came home after work and I'm SURE he could see something was wrong and what- attempting to commit suicide means nothing? I still think he has some blame in this.

He's obviously screwed in the head just like her.

They reminsce about the children? Crazy...

Of course he's partly to blame for the children as he made them BUT she and only SHE killed those innocent babies. I believe she was extremely ill and I also believe that he could have "tried" to get her help but you cannot HELP those that don't want it.

:sick this whole story makes me feel sick to my stomach :puke: just to think what these innocent children felt in their last moments...:puke:
I feel so sad for them, and i will :pray for all involved...especially for a strict judge during her 'checkups'.

Of course he's partly to blame for the children as he made them BUT she and only SHE killed those innocent babies. I believe she was extremely ill and I also believe that he could have "tried" to get her help but you cannot HELP those that don't want it.

That's true...I will agree with that...but I also think he should of arranged for help w/ the children when she started acting depressed and especially when she attemped suicide. Even if he wasn't aware that she was depressed, the suicide part is a big red flag...

That's true...I will agree with that...but I also think he should of arranged for help w/ the children when she started acting depressed and especially when she attemped suicide. Even if he wasn't aware that she was depressed, the suicide part is a big red flag...
I could have sworn that their church had a group of women that did come by to help with the children after her suicide attempt. I could be wrong because this story truly sickens me and I try not to read too much about it.

If she wasn't in her mind the first child she killed she had to have come to her senses sometime during all of that....i'm thinking it takes a while to drown 1 person so 5 had to have taken forever...i honestly hope she goes to hell...

I could have sworn that their church had a group of women that did come by to help with the children after her suicide attempt. I could be wrong because this story truly sickens me and I try not to read too much about it.

If thats the case, than I would change my opinion about him...He can only do so much.

I really wish I was strong enough to read more about this case but just the thought of those precious babies seeing their mothers eyes while she held them under water fighting for their last breath is enough to rip my heart out.

That's true...I will agree with that...but I also think he should of arranged for help w/ the children when she started acting depressed and especially when she attemped suicide. Even if he wasn't aware that she was depressed, the suicide part is a big red flag...


he was having his MIL come by and help out with the kids and keep an eye on her when he went to work

ppd and post-partum psycosis is different. I am in NO WAY condoning what she did its sick and horrible! She should not be let out of the institution EVER.

I also wanted wanted to say that she should NOT have been left alone with her children and also that after her doctor said no more children they should have stopped!

He is part of the marriage & raising the children too, right? Give me a break, he came home after work and I'm SURE he could see something was wrong and what- attempting to commit suicide means nothing? I still think he has some blame in this.

He's obviously screwed in the head just like her.

They reminsce about the children? Crazy...

:agree I believe that he had some responsiblity in knowing that she wasn't well. He could have hired someone to help or something.They are both looney!

She shouldn't have been allowed to stay in the home with those children, period!! She was not of a sane mind and therefore her actions were out of her control IMO. She was incredibly sick and her husband getting the MIL to help was simply not enough. She needed to be placed in a mental institution before it was too late! I just heard her saying some things (on tv clips) that her mind were telling her........they were not the thoughts of a rational person!

I don't understand how we in the county say that mental illness is a real disease, but when the consequences of SEVERE DEEP mental illness come to fruition, we say NOTHING can make a mother do that. The REALITY is that it DID and now it's too late for her children :sadeyes

she had been placed in institutions prior to her killing her kids. everytime she tried to kill herself they put her in an institution for like a week, stuck her on Haldol (antipsychotic) and some antidepressants and sent her home. unfortuantely our system is so screwed up that unless they are majorly a danger to themselves or others they get sent home in a week. according to her book the last doctor she saw told her she was perfectly fine and took her off Haldol, even though every other psychiatrist and doctor and psychologist and medical professional said she needs to be on anti-pscyhotics.

I don't understand how she can NOT know what she was doing. I'm sorry, people tend to pull the "insanity card" a little too much. IMO, that woman KNEW what she was doing. I am so saddened by it and it sickens me!

I agree :no

She shouldn't have been allowed to stay in the home with those children, period!! She was not of a sane mind and therefore her actions were out of her control IMO. She was incredibly sick and her husband getting the MIL to help was simply not enough. She needed to be placed in a mental institution before it was too late! I just heard her saying some things (on tv clips) that her mind were telling her........they were not the thoughts of a rational person!

I don't understand how we in the county say that mental illness is a real disease, but when the consequences of SEVERE DEEP mental illness come to fruition, we say NOTHING can make a mother do that. The REALITY is that it DID and now it's too late for her children :sadeyes

I totally agree.

I can not BELIEVE!!!!!!!!!!! She got off!!!!! What is this world coming to! REALLY! Honestly i'm speechless.... this just makes me so mad!

:agree

I'm glad she was found guilty, but it makes me sick that it's because she's "insane"...it seems like the lawyers always pull that card out to get their clients off. How in the hell do you chase your 5 kids around the house and kill them without knowing what you are doing? BS!

They say she knew what she was doing, but that because of her mental illness.....she thought she was saving her children from an evil world. She thought all of these bad things were going to become them and in her sick mind, she felt she was "saving" them. I don't think anyone questions whether she knew what she did. I mean she called the police after doing it, so she knew what she had done.

I watched a show a long while back that said she used to see the cartoons on the television stop and "talk" to her and the kids. Today I heard a clip of her that said she thought one of her kids would be a mute, deaf, homosexual........those are some really weird thoughts to be having. She also said satan talked to her. Society can be mad all they want at this woman but IMO she was EXTREMELY ill, to the point that not one "normal" person is ever going to be able to relate to.

:agree

I think he is partially responsible for what happened. Where was he when his wife was going through this depression? When she tried to commit suicide?

That is a point that one of the TV news programs (like 60 Minutes or 20/20...I don't remember which one) was trying to make. I think he should have to serve time for his culpability.

But there's nothing illegal about being a shitty husband...

But there's nothing illegal about being a shitty husband...

:agree that there is nothing illegal about being a shitty husband:
however i think he should be charged with criminal negligence or endangering a child (several times over) because he knew she was capable of hurting them. prior to the actual drowning incident she had filled the bathtub up and when asked what she was doing she said getting ready to save our children.

They say she knew what she was doing, but that because of her mental illness.....she thought she was saving her children from an evil world. She thought all of these bad things were going to become them and in her sick mind, she felt she was "saving" them. I don't think anyone questions whether she knew what she did. I mean she called the police after doing it, so she knew what she had done.

I watched a show a long while back that said she used to see the cartoons on the television stop and "talk" to her and the kids. Today I heard a clip of her that said she thought one of her kids would be a mute, deaf, homosexual........those are some really weird thoughts to be having. She also said satan talked to her. Society can be mad all they want at this woman but IMO she was EXTREMELY ill, to the point that not one "normal" person is ever going to be able to relate to.
:truesign