Web KariSable.com

Watch for new True Crime Books and DVDs as they are published!

Discuss true crime cases with others at our True Crimes Discussion list.

Crime & Mental Illness

"At the time, I didn't think she was dangerous. None of us did."

"Man is the breadwinner, and woman is the homemaker. It's the way it's been for years."

--Russell Yates

Andrea Pia Kennedy, the youngest of five children, with three brothers and a sister was born on July 2, 1964 to Andrew and Karen Kennedy of Houston Texas. Andrea was closest to her father. She was raised Catholic until her family stopped attending services other than Easter and Christmas after her father, a Ford engineer and a school teacher lost his job. He had heart attack in the mid-80's. Andrea's mother who was educated in Germany, and worked in retail until she retired to care for her ill husband. Karen Kennedy was described as supportive, sensitive, caring and nurturing.

During her high school senior year Andrea began bulimic binging and purging daily resulting in a cessation of menstruation for approximately six months. She got the idea from a television show on eating disorders.She didn't wear makeup giving her a matronly appearance. Her movements were described as boyish.

Andrea was President of the National Honor Society, Swim Team Captain, and Milby High School 1982's valedictorian while working at Jack-in-the-Box. Andrea maintained a GPA of 3.75 during her first two years of University of Houston Nursing School while working at Savemart Groceries .

In 1984, When Andrea transferred to the Houston University of Texas Health Science Center Nursing School Andrea's SAT score was 1120: 530 Verbal and 590 Math. She received a BS degree before her 22nd birthday.

The young, intelligent, quiet, registered nurse began her career at the M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute. Her flawless evaluations praised her knowledge, hard work, communication skills, patient rapport, positive attitude, work quality, dependability, efficiency, and conscientiousness. She was encouraged to develop assertiveness and leadership skills.

Andrea developed a friendship with coworker Debbie Holmes who described her as good-natured, giving, considerate and uncomfortable in social situations. Andrea didn't pursue dating until she was 24 years old and had her own apartment. Prior to that her her romantic life consisted of a few double dates.

Then after she casually saw a man a couple times she was devastated by thoughts that he might see other women. Andrea saw this as a failed relationship. She hyperventilated when a date tried to kiss her good night. He told her she was cold and frigid. Andrea dated three or four men before Russell. Andrea purged daily for eight years until she met Russell Edison Yates a bachelor living in her complex in her apartment in. They were both 25 years old. Since 1985, Russell, was a computer engineer employed by NASA at the Johnson Space Center. He had a bachelors degree in mathematics. Andrea and Rusty began living together.

Until she began reading the Bible with Russell, Andrea was not particularly interested in religion. They both believed the husband was the head of household, spiritual leader, and decision maker.

When Russell was in college, he was impressed with Michael Woroniecki, a transient self-proclaimed prophet and self-ordained evangelist who yelled out sermons in the streets, browbeat, and convinced followers them that they were at risk of losing God's love. Michael and his wife Rachel believed women were created to serve man and failure to teach a daughter submission was effectively grooming her in witchcraft they lived with their eight children in an old bus. Financially reliant on donations and odd jobs to support their large family; the Yates provided them with financial assistance.

One day Russell came home one day and said, I’m buying a house. He purchased a large new three-bedroom house in Heritage Park for his bride to be in Friendswood, Texas on March 30, 1993.

After dating for three years, the couple married in an informal wedding ceremony, in April 1993 with a nondenominational pastor officiating. The couple promised guests that they would not consider birth control and planned on as having as many children as God allowed.

They spent their honeymoon in Cancun Mexico.

Two months later when Andrea was pregnant they knew their children would be natural deliveries. She believed it was necessary to feel childbirth's pain to honor Eve’s curse that woman will have great childbirth pain for their sin.

Noah Jacob Yates, their first son entered the world naturally after seven hours of labor on February 26, 1994. They had always agreed that Andrea would give up job to stay home with their children. Andrea came from a dysfunctional family and was determined that her family would not be dysfunctional. She resigned from her position as a Clinical Nurse II making over $30,000.00 to be a full time mother.

Shortly after his birth she had hallucinations about a knife stabbing, but said nothing. She had auditory delusions of Satan speaking. She kept these events to herself.

Russell felt the strengths of their marriage were due to shared values, honesty, and trustworthiness. Andrea relied on Russell to make the decisions. As parents they were cautious, caring and concerned about their children's safety. She felt she needed to be a supermom -- focusing on the children to the point of her own identity loss.

Debbie Holmes, Andrea's friend since nursing school, felt Andrea enjoyed Russell's control and making the decisions. He didn't want her to wear makeup or skirts. Debbie's husband felt Andrea didn’t think for herself and Russell enjoyed control. Debbie claimed if Russell answered the phone he would claim Andrea wasn't home and didn't relay messages she left.

Andrea who refused to discuss her marriage said Russell was a good provider making over $80,000 a year. She was economical; shopping at garage sales, buying cheap furniture, and cutting the children's hair herself.

Andrea never had a significant injury, illness, or surgery; she had no history of substances or alcohol abuse. She had five normal full term pregnancies and one miscarriage but suffered from an undiagnosed major depressive disorder and other mental disorders for a substantial period of time according to history as reported by professionals, close friends, and family.

After Andrea's second pregnancy she gave up swimming, jogging, and socializing. December 15, 1995, their second child, and second son was born. He had difficulty focusing as he began to develop. Andrea had a miscarriage in November 1996 between the second and third children.

Early in 1996, desperate, Andrea described an empty life of loneliness in a letter to Rachel, the wife of Michael Woroniecki and mother to their eight children.

Twice Andrea was hospitalized for two separate suicide attempts, two months after receiving cruel, harsh letters from the Woroniecki's. Woroniecki hated Catholicism which was Andrea's faith of origin. He warned her about the sins she carried as a former Catholic. Woroniecki himself was raised Catholic and his mother was very active in the Charismatic movement of the Catholic church in the early 1970's.

Russell didn’t want the children picking up bad habits from other children.The Holmes children were among the few the children knew.

Russell who liked tools and computers decided they’d become materialistic and it was time to liquidate their possessions. They put the tools went into storage and sold wedding presents, furniture, and personal items.

When Russell was offered a six-month NASA project in Clearwater, Florida, he wanted to simplify life and needs by living in a smaller space like the Woronieckis. They leased out their home and moved into a 38' travel trailer to live on the road. Russell hoped his software development skills could lead to jobs where travel was required. October 12, 1996, prior to their movie to Florida, they camped at Lazy Days RV Campground in Hitchcock, Texas. Andrea was embarrassed by the trailer. For months Debbie Holmes had no idea they were living behind the outlet malls in a trailer. They met in parks or public places for months.

November 1996 they settled in a Seminole, Florida RV camp, less than a month after Andrea had a miscarriage she was pregnant with Paul.

They returned to Lazy Days RV Campground in June 1997. Paul was born September 13, 1997. Bob Holmes noticed signs of deterioration in the family.

Russell sold the house he bought before his wedding to live in the bus permanently with his growing family. The Yates traveled to Miami to buy the Woroniecki's1978 GMC 360-square foot motor converted Greyhound bus used for his traveling salvation shows. Luke was conceived during the trip. After their return to the Lazy Days RV Campground, Russell seemed preoccupied and distant. They identified with nondenominational Christians but didn't attend church. They had private Bible studies with their children at home.

Andrea always demanded perfection from her self. Russell and Andrea shared the same values when it came to Scripture and family. Andrea was content being a wife and mother and was excited about home schooling. She felt it her Christian duty was to serve her husband; help him achieve his goals; and care for, teach and discipline the children.

Communication with the Woronieckis increased, as they withdrew from others. Andrea particularly enjoyed Michael's inspirational essays on Satan, child corporal punishment, the Bible, faith, repentance, and salvation. She and Russell traveled a great distance to fellowship them several times and sought their advice and guidance. Rachel praised Andrea for "taking to heart the things they shared" and thanking Russell for a donation.

Russell who played football and tennis was president of the National Honor Society. One night a week, he stayed with the children while Andrea went shopping. Debbie and Andrea were best friends and frequently got together with the children. Bob Holmes, Rusty, and the women would get together with the children for holidays and birthdays.

Andrea did not want anyone dropping by their bus.

Andrea obsessed over fears that she was not raising the children properly. She feared if they were not righteous they would be criminals and go to hell.

Luke, their fourth child, was born on February 15, 1999, and Andrea nursed as she did with all the babies. A couple months later Andrea's anxiety increased as she worried if she was a good mother. The nursing mother of four children had just started home schooling Noah. Six weeks after Luke's birth Russell noticed she was depressed, withdrawn, and detached. She was upset to learn that Noah wasn't reading and writing at the same level as a friend's daughter of the same age. She felt she said feeling as if "going down a hole.”

The following month, March, Andrea cared for her father who was suffering from dementia due Alzheimer's disease and/or transient ischemic attacks and the effects of a heart attack. As an experienced and educated nurse Andrea wanted to help her father but was conflicted because she was afraid her children were harmed by her neglect and would be better off without her. She cared for her father through to May. Even though Andrea clearly showed signs of exhaustion, they drove to the Grand Canyon and Lake Mead.

Andrea became indecisive, hopeless, low on energy, she only slept 3-4 hours a night, and she lost 10 lbs. in three weeks. Sobbing she called Russell at work on June 16, 1999, needing him at home. When he arrived she was biting her fingers, shaking, and crying. After taking her to Galveston for a walk Russell took her to her parents' house.

Andrea believed eternity in hell was the punishment for suicide and she would rather die and spend eternity in hell than to further harm to her family. As her father watched Luke on the afternoon of June 17, after two weeks of severe depression, without a note or saying goodbye; Andrea took from 50 to 60 - 50 mg Trazadone tablets of prescribed for her father. She wanted to sleep forever to escape her intense emotional pain. She vomited from the pills and fell asleep for three hours before her mother noticed that something was wrong. Afterwards she felt guilty because she had a family to live for.

Andrea felt her sons aged 5, 3½, 2, and 4 months had discipline problems. “I am worried about what will happen to my boys.”

At Houston's Ben Taub General Hospital Andrea said she never had depression following the birth of any child. Russell noticed a flat mood since the last birth. She had thoughts of suicide over the last week but did not know why. Chart notes indicated she'd been depressed over the last two weeks. She denied a family history of psychiatric issues even though recently a brother was diagnosed with bipolar disorder -- her sister and other brother were being treated for depression with Zoloft and Prozac. She denied auditory and visual hallucinations, or delusions.

During the intake of Andrea's voluntary admission to Methodist Hospital's Psychiatric Unit June 18, 1999 she requested a breast pump to continue breastfeeding. She complained of sadness and depression with overwhelming anxiety for no apparent reason. Her examination found her depressed with a flat affect, quiet, withdrawn, psychomotor retardation, with poor attention and likely poor memory. That evening she tearfully expressed guilt for her suicide attempt because she had her family to live for. A therapist felt her difficulties were related to the stress of child raising.

Andrea denied any hallucinations, however the admission note stated: “? of some delusional guilt.” June 19, 1999, Andrea met with James Flack, M.D., who diagnosed her as non-verbal and severely depressed with postpartum depression with psychotic features and schizophrenia. He wrote, “she can not discuss/verbalize any detail or even vague references to the overdose or her level of depression and hopelessness. She was only able to ask if she had done any permanent damage to her body from the overdose.” Concerned about taking medication while breastfeeding, eventually she agreed stop breastfeeding to take Zoloft. She worried about paying for a breast pump she wasn't using. She told a nurse she believed she had postpartum depression.

On 6/21/99, her social worker, Norma Tauriac, found her extremely guarded. Andrea claimed she was in the hospital because she was overwhelmed or depressed. Russell felt she was struggling with the concept of salvation, unrealistic burdens, guilt over showing anger, she'd lost interest, was withdrawn, and called him at work with her anxiety.

By 6/22/99, Andrea was sleeping and eating.

On 6/23/99, Flack reported that Andrea was emotionally detached, withdrawn, and minimally verbal. She expressed wanting to move into an apartment. Flack increased her 150 mg of Zoloft per day. .

Tauriac filed a report with Harris County Child Protective Services alleging possible neglect. The report indicated the children were temporarily staying with their elderly maternal grandparents, the mother suffers from depression and Russell seemed controlling. The family lived on a bus in a trailer park. Angelita Lindemann, the intake worker, wrote that the father hoped to teach his children the woodworking trade. He also wanted to teach the children to be quiet for longer periods of time. (The case was closed 6/30/99 with a note, “Doesn’t appear to involve abuse, neglect, or risk.”)

Based on the request of Russell and Andrea, Flack discharged her on 6/24/01 with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder, single episode, severe. She was discharged with a follow up referral to Eileen Starbranch, M.D. Due to a high risk of harming herself, the family agreed to provide around the clock supervision. Andrea later said she was not cooperative with Flack. She was not willing to speak of her beliefs or fears about Satan or her fears of hurting the children. She believed if anything bad was said it would happen. She believed Satan was capable of destruction to the weak and Andrea felt vulnerable to his attacks because she couldn't think correctly or control thoughts in head. She was afraid if Satan heard her fears he could cause it to happen but he couldn't interpret nonverbal thoughts.

“I remember a fear that if I talked to somebody about it that it will happen. That was one of my non-rational thoughts: that if I shared that, ‘Hey I want to hurt somebody,’ then I will in the long run, so I didn’t share it with anybody”

Andrea and the children stayed at her parents for three weeks after her hospital discharge. She didn’t really progress and Russell found her in the bathroom with a knife to her neck. He took her to Eileen Starbranch, M.D., who admitted her to Spring Shadows Glenn in an almost catatonic state.

When Starbranch first evaluated Andrea on 7/1/99 she noticed her flat affect, severe psychomotor retardation, suspiciousness, poor concentration, perceptual distortions and obsessive trauma about her inability to properly fulfill her family's Spiritual needs. She claimed she was never abused and never had thoughts of harming others. She refused to answer questions or discuss any aspect of about her sex life or history. Starbranch's provisional diagnosis was postpartum depression with psychosis. She added 5 mg of Zyprexa at bedtime to the150 mg of Zoloft daily. When Andrea was a no show for a 7/7/99 appointment, Starbranch spoke Russell when she called the Yates home. He said that they were not coming in but Andrea was getting better on the Zoloft however she flushed the Zyprexa. Starbranch treated her through 1/12/00.

Andrea didn't exactly follow Starbranch's July 1, 1999 treatment plan. She took the Zoloft inconsistently and threw the prescribed Zyprexa samples away. Her condition rapidly deteriorated. After days without eating or sleeping, energy depletion, severe psychomotor retardation, and functioning as a borderline mute. She had a bald spot from an obsessive compulsive form of self mutilation --gouging the scalp with her finger nails and pulling out hair.

On July 21, 1999, Russell discovered Andrea in a bathroom of her parents home, holding a steak knife to her neck to locate her pulse point. She had no intention of allowing her husband to take the knife from her. Andrea had scratches on her head, face, lower legs, and a bruised left arm from Russell fighting to take her knife away. "I asked him to just let me do it.” Several years later she would admit she was trying to kill herself to keep from harming her children. A physical examination by Lara Longo, MD, reported the scratch marks on Andrea's extremities were superficial and appeared to be self inflicted.

Andrea was admitted to Spring Shadows Glen Hospital. Since her depression and anxiety included suspiciousness with probable delusions coinciding with child birth, Starbranch's diagnostic impression was postpartum depression with psychosis and suicidal tendencies. The assessment noted her dislike of medicine and her husband's reports that she is “cheeking” prescription medications. Unattributed chart entries read: “Keeping knives, meds., firearms.” and: “I don’t think she has much hope.” Her treatment plan included 10 mg of Zyprexa at bedtime.

Andrea was unable to care for herself or children according to a July 24^th psychosocial assessment. She would not sign a release for the staff to speak to Russell, refused to take medication, or provider clinical information. She told a social worker that she should have been able to succeed with the overdose.

The psychological report by James Thompson, Ph.D., reported Andrea admitted she intended to end her life with sleeping pills and by putting a knife to her carotid artery out of fear she would harm someone if she didn't end her own life. The symptoms causing the fear and anxiety were auditory hallucinations ( hearing a voice), and visual hallucinations (a knife, a stabbing, and the aftermath repeated about ten times over a couple days.

"I had a fear I would hurt somebody . . . I thought it better to end my own life and prevent it . . . there was a voice, then an image of the knife . . . I had a vision in my mind, get a knife, get a knife . . . I had a vision of this person being stabbed . . . the aftereffects . . .” Andrea Yates

Andrea reported previous depressions after her father's heart attack and after a failed relationship 11 years prior but there were no hallucinatory experiences. Later Andrea said she only had the vision when Noah was a newborn and denied ever having ten visions as she had previously reported. She had no persecutory delusions or paranoia but was so stressed over the responsibility of correctly training such young children so and by her obsessive thoughts and fears over how the children would turn out that she was having migraines. Andrea refused to discuss who she thought she might harm.

Dr. Thompson diagnostic impressions of Andrea's were thoughts of harming herself or others; auditory and visual hallucinations; poverty of thought content; and recurrent severe, depression with psychotic features due to major depressive disorder. Thompson suggested ruling out schizophrenia, catatonic type and recommended that Andrea develop a support system and assertive behavior. Thompson felt if medications were not effective, ECT should be considered.

Arturo Rios, M.D. 8/5/99 consultation recommended ECT for Andrea noting her suicide attempts, refusing therapy, flushing her Zoloft and Zyprexa, and Andrea's going mute when asked about suicidal thoughts. Both Yates declined ECT.

On 8/5/99, Starbranch noted even though Andrea had suicidal thoughts she remained silent when the topic was approached; often refusing to answer questions about her current status on suicidal thoughts. She refused medications from 7/21/99, through 7/24/99, and 8/6/99 through 8/7/99. She disliked antipsychotic medications and was only willing to take antidepressants. On 8/7/99, the same day staff educated Andrea on the importance of complying with medication,. both the Yates questioned the consequences and rights of the patient to refuse medication.

On 8/9/99, Andrea introduced herself to the other patients as the mother of 4 young sons living in a converted bus. She explained to others that she has low self esteem and as a stay-at-home mother she was losing her identity. She talked as if she was stressed by the children, but denied that when asked specifically. When asked about her stressors, she responded that she had difficulty dealing with issues.

During her admission Andrea reported two new symptoms..She experienced a hypnopompic hallucination when she laid down for a nap, after receiving medication in a state between sleep and awakening she heard a gravelly voice in the wall, and growl that said, “Andrea, come here.” She gout out of bed and asked the voice what it wanted. The voice went away. She believed it was Satan calling her. This was the first time she ever heard a voice. She was afraid to tell anyone except Rusty about about the experience. After her discharge, once at home, Andrea told Rusty she believed cameras were placed in the family room, bedroom, and kitchen by someone connected with the hospital. Even after they moved into their newly purchased home Andrea believed people from Child Protective Services worrying about her children placed cameras in the ceiling to watch and record everything.

Andrea appeared open to a recommendation to attend parenting classes. At discharge, she was prescribed 5 mg Haldol, 2 mg Cogentin, 150 Effexor XR, and 300 mg Wellbutrin.

On 8/10/99, was Starbranch admitted Andrea to Spring Shadows Glen Private Psychiatric Hospital for major depression, severe, recurrent, with psychotic features. A chart note on 8/10/99 stated, she doesn’t want to take meds because they make her feel weak. On 8/13/99, eager for her to discharge, Russell was putting pressure on her to leave soon. They plan on Andrea home schooling Noah and were hoping to have more children. Starbranch wrote in a 8/16/99 progress note that Andrea wanted to quit her medication so she could home school and have more children. Andrea shared that Russell allows her two hours a week to do what she wants.

On 8/18/99, Starbranch wrote that Andrea and Russell plan to have as many babies as nature allows guarantees continued psychotic depression. Her condition at discharge, was less psychotic, and better stabilized on meds. Her discharge medications were Haldol decanoate, Cogentin, Effexor, and Wellbutrin. The day of discharge, Andrea was educated about the importance of medication compliance.

On a referral from Hermann Memorial, Andrea contacted the Samaritan Center on 8/20/99 and began the first of seven psychotherapy sessions with Earline Willcott, LMSW, on 8/26/99. The therapy focused on cognitive restructuring, information about her diagnosis, help to setting boundaries, and building self esteem. Willicott found that Andrea came from an intact family headed by an autocratic, strict disciplinarian father who was unemployed and underemployed most of her life despite a strong work ethic. Her demanding German war bride mother, worked to support the family. Andrea's older brother is unable to keep full time employment because of mental health issues and therefore still lives at home. Andrea's shyness complicated by strict family rules impedes her from building relationships. Andrea's response is to overachieve and attempt perfection. Four children in a bus, including a new born along with her lack support from Russell and her organizational skills and has left her trapped and overwhelmed without any viable alternatives.

On 8/30/99.Andrea was prescribed 300 mg of Wellbutrin SR per day, 225 mg Effexor XR per day, Haldol decanoate, and Cogentin She had some mild side effects but no depression, anxiety, hallucinations, paranoia, or delusions. Starbranch lowered the Haldol dosage. Russell began using condoms for birth control purposes.

Andrea reported to Willcott on 9/24/99 that Russell was allowing her more “time off.” which initiated a discussion on submissiveness and Andreas need to assert herself to Russell.

At the 10/14/99 appointment Andrea claimed that due to insurance she reduced her Effexor XR; quit taking Haldol and Cogentin, but was continuing with Wellbutrin. She denied depression, anxiety, hallucinations, paranoia, and thoughts of self harm. Starbranch prescribed 5 mg of Zyprexa daily because she believed that Andrea needed an antipsychotic medications.

The following week she complained Russell made hurtful complaints about her homemaking.

On 11/11/99 Andrea seemed quite stable and by all appearances was taking her medication. On 11/30/99, the topic of Andreas session was her need for exercise and Russell's doubts about her needs. On 12/14/99 citing biblical reasons; Andrea announced they wanted another child. In November 1999, against medical advice, the Yates prepared for pregnancy by stopping medication far enough prior to the pregnancy so Andrea's system would be clear of medication prior to conception. Russell stopped using condoms in January 2000.

On 1/12/00, during her last appointment with Starbranch, Andrea appeared irritable but had resumed running and was home schooling Noah. She claimed to be doing well, seemed confident she was better and denied symptoms aside from restlessness. Due to the risk of depression, Starbranch advised her to avoid pregnancy, if that was unavoidable she was to take medication during the pregnancy. Andrea didn't agree with the doctor's advice.

Therapy was terminated on 2/24/00. Andrea said home schooling was going well, they had worked out a budget, and got a dog. Andrea was educated about the genetics since she had questions and concerns about depression and mental illness running in families.

Just weeks later, Andrea who had previously denied a family history of mental illness became concerned about a brother diagnosed with bipolar and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and her sister's depression.

On 3/28/00, Russell desperately needed to get Andrea in to see Starbranch ASAP but was unable to get time off from work he made an appointment for 4/2/00, but neither Andrea or Russell showed up.

Andrea underwent a second set of 8 psychotherapy sessions with Willcott on 5/16/00 to focus on her father’s declining health, conflicts with her mother over her father's care and her conflict of wanting to be with her father instead of caring of her children.

Andrea gave birth to Mary, their fifth child and first daughter on November 30, 2000.

Andrea's 12/21/00 diagnoses was:

Axis I: 296.25 Major Depression; single; in partial remission

Axis II: 799.9 Other unknown and unspecified cause

Axis III: none

Axis IV: Problems with primary support group

Axis V: Global Assessment of Functioning Scale 65 -- Some mild symptoms (depressed mood and mild insomnia ) or some difficulty in social, occupational, or academic functioning, but generally functioning well with some meaningful interpersonal relationships

Andrea quit taking medication in November 1999. On November 30, 2000, she gave birth to Mary and terminated treatment with Willcott 12/21/00. She described a normal Christmas holiday in 2000.She last saw Starbranch on 1/12/00.

The devoted wife, and busy mother of five children under seven -- three were under three-years-old -- miscarried her sixth child shortly after Mary's birth. Andrea shared Russell's strict beliefs of verbal and corporal discipline.

At a point of desperation, Andrea sought advice from Rachel. She told Andrea to read a Bible passage about how the role of a women is to love her husband and children; stay at home; and to fully submit to their husbands desires. The Woroniecki's berated Andrea her for her unrighteous standing before God.

The tract below included an drawn image of the Yates children misbehaving as kids and an admonishment to the bad mother who spares the rod. The Holmes recalled Rusty’s mother saying he was involved in a cult in college.

The Perilous Times Warnecki family (2000-1) tract, Rachel wrote:

A woman is created to be a “helper.” This does not mean a wife. It means a servant, single or married. If a girl does not know how to be a servant then she is learning how to be a ruler. It’s called witchcraft. . . . There is great joy to be had in helping your children develop and apply their abilities. I can’t fathom sending them off to strangers and strange spirits for eight hours a day. Talk about demonic! . . . The eternity of my children is my accountability while they are children and I would be sending them to hell if I raised them to think according to the standards of this world.

A drawing of a woman with her many crying and fighting children. The caption read:

Modern Mother Worldly was very, very lazy.
All her children drove her crazy.
The Bible told her to spank and train them.
But society said she must never constrain them.
The fruit of rebellion she did now see.
On the day of judgment she will have no plea.
Modern Mother Worldly cast in hell!
Now what becomes of the children of such a Jezebel!

In January 2001, after Andrea's’ 82-year-old father fell and incurred a subdural hematoma he was hospitalized about a week in February. Her last contact with the Samaritan Center was on 2/24/01. She grieved as his health deteriorated became weak but appeared to be holding up despite difficulty sleeping and worries that her children weren't getting enough of her attention. After his death on 3/12/01 she didn't receive mental health care or medication.afterwards. She wasn’t eating or sleeping well and became withdrawn. She continued to be obsessed with the belief that she was a poor mother.

"I kind of felt guilty thinking I didn’t give them enough help, you know, while dad was going through this. And it’s hard for me to accept what he wanted to do, which was to die. It was hard to see that. Those were his wishes; he put in a living will.”

During three weeks of depression she lost 5 lbs. Russell noticed she was extremely suspicious. Her symptoms worsened for three days prior to her 3/31/01 admission to Devereux Texas Treatment Network, under the care of Dr. Saeed. She was believed to be hallucinating, signs of psychomotor retardation, attention, concentration problems and hopelessness but wouldn't discuss her feelings on suicide. She was overly attached to youngest child and refused to put her down.

On 4/1/01, she was almost catatonic, she said little, often refused food or fluids, was depressed, rigid posture, and had flat affect. She was described as “mute,” but at other times as giving minimal verbal responses. The following day Drs. Mohammad and Patricia Corke petitioned ito commit her involuntarily to Austin State Hospital as a danger to herself and for refusal to eat or drink but a day later Andrea agreed to admission to Devereux. She wanted to go home to “be a mother.” She told counselors that her mind was "so full of things” but did not elaborate. On 4/6/01, she answered questions except about suicide. During her first week she was observed pacing and displaying disorganized, bizarre, paranoid, delusional thought patterns, hallucinations, loose associations, and signs of disorientation.

By 4/9/01, she was eating, showed less psychomotor retardation, answered questions about suicide, socialized with Russell and the children and looked better. On 4/11/01, she claimed to be 90% better and agreed to partial hospitalization even though she requested a full discharge. Russell felt she was 65% back to normal and requested she be discharged. She was discharged on 4/12/01 to outpatient care in the Partial Hospitalization Program. Saeed tapered her off Haldol after her discharge.After her return home, she wasn’t eating, or functioning. She was readmitted the next day with a diagnosis of postpartum depression. On 4/18/01 she had improved and was discharged with 4 mg of Risperdal , 75 mg Effexor XR per day, and 300 mg Wellbutrin per day. After she improved, she was discharged from the hospital to partial care but only attended for a couple of days. Russell monitored her behavior and kept in touch with the doctor in addition to seeing her him once a week. She improved slightly until the second to the last visit when she seemed catatonic did not answer any questions was not eating well. Her medications were increased. She came for a follow up on the day of hospitalization.

The day before her readmission her mother-in-law found her filling the bathtub with water for no apparent reason and she would not say why. On May 4, 2001, when Russell requested Saeed readmit Andrea to the hospital he responded, "Well, she qualifies." Russell insisted that Saeed request all her medical records but he only requested her outpatient records, not her critical inpatient records. His evaluation was, "No new info." Allbritton didn't believe Haldol worked previously for her even though it was listed in a March 31 2001 report by Nurse Bob Martin's and Saeed's May 4, 2001, intake psychiatric assessment. Russell recalled a similar episode two years previously when she tried to overdose and stab herself. Severely depressed, she just stared into space but did not deny suicidal ideation. Electroconvulsive therapy was recommended and its risks and benefits were discussed. Russell chose against ECT but agreed to hospitalization. She was admitted to the hospital.

According to Russell, Andrea was treated poorly at Devereux. Saeed billed insurance $150 for visits every day she was hospitalized, even though rarely saw Andrea.

Andrea's mental condition and hospitalizations burdened Russell as he tried to care for the children, run the household and work. He attempted to work from home but it was difficult to get much accomplished. Russell said the family kept to themselves. She stopped taking Haldol completely about two weeks before the homicides.

Russell took Andrea back to Saeed June 18, 2001. She denied suicidal thoughts, but Saeed did not ask if she had any thoughts of harming others. He increased her dose of Remeron from 45 to 60 mg (the maximum safe dosage of Remeron is 45 mg) and decreased the Effexor from 450 (the maximum safe dose of Effexor is 375 mg) to 300 mg. Withdrawal from Effexor causes psychosis. The combination of Remeron and Effexor are referred to as "rocket fuel."

On June 20, 2001, when Russell left for work, he noticed the dishwasher was full, Andrea was catatonic but eating cereal out of the box. He didn't like leaving her with the children alone but he had an important meeting at work and expected his mother Dora to be there soon.

Once he was gone, Andrea, drowned their five children in a bathtub.

She called the police and she called husband at work to report what she had just done.

"I just killed my kids."

When the police arrived, she took an officer to a bedroom where four tiny lifeless bodies laid on the queen-size bed-- one was still floating in the tub. She told the officer she drowned her children, Noah, 7, John, 5, Paul, 3, Luke, 2, Mary, 6 months old, in the bath tub. She had to chase down one son to his death. As the child fought for life he tried to tell his mother 'I'm sorry."

"Why?" the police asked her.

"Why?" She stared off...

She believed her children would suffer in hell because mark of the devil was hidden under her hair. She was evil; possessed by Satan. She had to kill her children before it was too late for them to get to heaven. She was immediately taken into custody. She had a jailhouse visit from her husband, that same day. Her medications were discontinued. After Andrea was arrested, Judge Hill found her indigent, appointed an inexperienced attorney, and issued a gag order prohibiting all witnesses from speaking to the media. Her memory was impaired temporarily in jail solitary after arriving. When Andrea was taken into custody, it was expected that the state would perform a psychiatric evaluation, find her insane, and send her to a mental hospital.

After she charged was capital murder and facing the death penalty, Andrea waited four months for Dietz' psychiatric evaluation. Judge Hill, a former prosecutor in the District Attorney's office permitted the prosecution to operate "behind closed doors.

Russell was served with a gag order during his visitation with his children the night before the funeral.

Dietz grilled a heavily medicated Andrea, bewildered by the loss of her family, fraught for answers, consumed with guilt, anxious for her life, and out of her mind, the wrongness of her actions. Severely mentally ill, Andrea nodded in agreement with everything he said. "

The state subpoenaed every family member who had spoken to the media to prohibited them from speaking. After a Dallas Morning News article implied Russell spoke to a reporter, Judge Hill appointed a prosecutor to determine if Russell violated a gag order. An officer handed him a subpoena to appear at the competency hearing with the advice, "Now you're a witness, and under the gag order."

During a hearing to determine competency to stand trial, a psychologist testified of her satanic delusions; how her execution would destroy Satan. After reading the competency hearing verdict, Judge Hill passed out warnings and gag orders to all family members. None of the family members were witnesses during the competency hearing.

Four people sat out to destroy a woman suffering from severe mental illness; Saeed for mistreating Andrea; Rosenthal for prosecuting and seeking the death penalty; Dietz, for false testimony; and Judge Belinda Hill because she issued an illegal gag order and allowed the prosecution to operate "behind closed doors." In November, 2001 Russell refused an interview with hired gun Dr. Dietz.

On July 25, 2001 Russell described Andrea as not very communicative with a tendency to withdraw to Steven J. Rubenzer, Ph.D. He said they agreed on having “as many kids as came along” and that she would only work until a child was born. Andrea was occasionally short with the children but he gave her a night out by herself each week. He mentioned she watched every episode of “Law & Order.” She felt shouting at them, was a “point of iniquity” and prayed about it. She attempted suicide in 1999 because she was afraid of hurting the children. In 1999 her doctor had discussed psychosis with Russell because she stared blankly all day long.

After the state claimed they only sought the death penalty in case something came up that warranted it, and admitted Andrea had a severe mental illness she and was not considered a danger, Chuck Rosenthal decided to seek the death penalty.

November 6, 2001 and November 7, 2001 Park Dietz interviewed an alert, coherent, responsive, oriented, and cooperative Andrea while she was on unknown doses of Effexor, Wellbutrin, Haldol, and Cogentin. According to Dietz' report she was sometimes slow to respond, soft-spoken, occasionally she forgot or misunderstood a question, her responses were generally clear and relevant. She spends her time reading the Bible. She displayed a flat affect but cried when discussing the homicides and smiled at humorous moments. She was passive, unassertive, and humble. She was lucid but revealed a history of a hallucinations, psychosis and ideation. She was logical in her answers without signs of thought disorder. She confused the dates between her father’s death and the the homicides.

Texas Jury--Insanity Defense -- The Texas law regarding the insanity defense is based on a standard established in 1843.

She only permitted the opening and closing arguments to be televised. The trial was not videotaped. An analysis of a 950 page transcript has nearly 5,000 words or phrases inaccurately transcribed, over 4200 omissions, and over 350 incorrect attributions of statements.

The state only contacted Russell to ask if they could tour his house, and to ask him to submit to an interview with Dietz. The state never consulted members of the family, reviewed her family history, or her medical treatment.

Judge Hill reserved most the courtroom seats for media, friends of the state and other friends. She did not reserve seating for family but made the family stand in line with the public to get passes to the trial judge Hill removed her microphone when the jury was not present, and the attorneys did not have microphones making it difficult to hear the proceedings. During closing arguments, a friend gave Russell his pass so he could sit in the courtroom.

The jury could not see that Andrea had supporters in the courtroom. The Drowning trial began with details of Andrea's postpartum depression following the miscarriage of her 6th child. The Harris County psychiatrist treating Andrea since her arrest testified that she was one of the sickest patients she had ever seen. During the trial, Allbritton said she never spoke to Saeed.

State District Judge Belinda Hill considered appointing a special prosecutor to investigate whether Russell and Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal violated a gag order. Yates and Rosenthal were interviewed on CBS-TV's 60 Minutes in early December 2001 despite Hill's order that no witness who had been interviewed by police or prosecutors could publicly discuss the case. After the trial, Hill appointed a prominent attorney (better than the attorney appointed to defend Andrea's life) as an independent prosecutor to determine if Russell violated a gag order. They attorney found the gag order to be unconstitutional.

Andreas' family filed a complaint in April 2002 with the district attorney's office against Dr. Mohammed Saeed, her treating psychiatrist when she drowned her five children. The complaint alleges that the former medical director at Devereux Texas Treatment Network in League City, did not manage her medication properly and released her from the hospital when she was dangerously delusional.

Yates represents a new kind of misuse of the death penalty -- people behind bars instead of in mental institutions; because prosecutors used the death penalty to advance their own careers instead of justice. Andrea was never officially tried in the deaths of Paul and Luke.

The state separated the cases as part of their plan that if for a reason she was not convicted in one trial they would still have another capital case against her. She was found guilty for the deaths of three children and sentenced to 40 years in prison, making her eligible for parole after 2041 even though jurors "agreed that she would never have committed the crimes if she hadn't been mentally ill."

Suzy Spencer "I had more interviewees stand me up for meetings during the five months of reporting the Yates case, than in my previous 25-year career."

The Woronieckis, cultists, who were quick to accept the Yates money and give out damaging advice did not support Andrea in her time of need.

"I have been very disappointed in how the Woronieckis have responded to our tragedy. I would have expected them to say something like, "They had a nice family, I don't know how this could have happened." Or to be more consistent with what they have preached in the past, I wouldn't have been surprised if they said something like, "Andrea couldn't bear the weight of the gospel." Instead, they continue to make outrageous statements and blame me. At this time, I can not say conclusively that Michael was a cause of our tragedy. I can say that he made Andrea more concerned about being a good mother and about her standing before God than she would otherwise have been, and that these concerns formed the seeds of her delusional beliefs. I can not say that without his influence Andrea would not have had similar delusions, or that our tragedy would have been avoided. The Woronieckis did not talk to Andrea on the phone as they claim, and Andrea did not have a "secret" relationship with them as they imply. I asked Andrea when she last talked with the Woronieckis, and she said the last time she saw them in person was in 1998 when we looked at their bus in Miami, and the last time she spoke with them on the phone was in 1996 when they visited our house. That was my understanding as well." -- Russell Yates

When George Parnham, 65, an advocate for both women's mental health issues met Andrea, the day after she drowned her children, she said softly: "Please, don't leave me alone." Parnham represented Calvin Bell, who was acquitted by reason of insanity in a 1992 Elementary School shooting spree after he stopped taking antipsychotic medication. He fired 14 shots; injuring two Houston police officers.

"I got a sense of the reality of people who live in an unreal world. Then, when Andrea came around, it was so patently obvious she was mentally ill. That drove me to want to understand more about the subject so I can better help people like Andrea and Calvin and anybody else who surfaces in my practice."

2004 Appellant's Brief filed by the defense for Andrea's appeal PDF

2004 State's Brief filed by the state in response to the Appellant's Brief PDF

January 6, 2005, the Texas First Court of Appeals in Houston overturned that conviction and ordered a new trial due to false testimony from the prosecution's expert witness, Park Dietz, forensic psychiatrist and consultant for crime entertainment shows. Dietz was paid $500 per hour as an expert to testify about the facts. As a forensic psychiatrist; he testified that an episode of "Law & Order" aired featuring a character with postpartum depression who was found insane before Andrea drown her children. There was no such "Law & Order" episode.The grand jury did not indict Dietz for false testimony or perjury for his huge mistake.

Prosecutors to retry the case. Andrea did not want a retrial, even though the appeals court ruled, they could not seek the death penalty which widened the jury pool. November 2005 the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the lower court's decision to overturn the capital convictions. Prosecutors were confident a retrial would result in another conviction. Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal worked aggressively to keep Andrea in prison versus a secure state mental hospital designed to treat her illness.The prosecution again used Dietz as a witness in the second trial. During the new trial, Rosenthal presented all five deaths. Due to that, another trial for the two children she hasn't been convicted on could be double jeopardy. Jurors deliberated for more than 13 hours, over three days. July 27, 2006, a Harris County jury found Andrea Yates, 42, not guilty by reason of insanity for the deaths of Noah, John, and Mary. Legal experts say prosecutors would have to prove she was sane if she were to stand trial for the remaining deaths. District Judge Belinda Hill signed an order of acquittal. Hill ordered a report on her mental state and whether she presented a danger within 30 days. A hearing determined the requirements for involuntary commitment or a mental health plan. If she does not require maximum-security confinement, she could be moved to Rusk State Hospital without Hill's approval.

Siblings: Depression runs in family

Andrea's 2001 Devereux Hospital Records PDF

His five children are dead. Russell divorced Andrea four years after the drownings and took a new bride the day before Andrea's new hearing was scheduled. At the hearing he cried holding his sobbing aunt's hand. He commented: "The jury looked past what happened and looked at why it happened. Prosecutors had the truth of the first day and stopped there. This is about Andrea's quality of life for the balance of her life."

George Parnham, said "She's going to be in a mental health facility for a very long period of time. ... I think Andrea will always be in need of some type of mental health care."

Andrea is locked up with 350 other patients (270 are adult patients, 38 are women), in North Texas State Hospital, prison's Skyview Psychiatric Unit, an isolated maximum-security treatment hospital in Vernon, Texas . She is not segregated and shares a room with from 1-6 other residents. She has treatment, medication, individual and group counseling, and is encouraged to socialize with others. Eventually she may have access to fitness programs at the gym, outdoor activities, sports, and patient cookouts.

Defense attorney, Wendell Odom, referred to the five years this took as a shame.

"This lady never did anything wrong in her whole life," he said. "She's mentally ill. She wakes up one morning, she drowns her five kids. Come on. We all know she's insane, and it's a shame it took us this long to finally get the right verdict. The jury was able to see past what happened and look at why it happened and understand that Andrea was ordinarily just a loving mother who fell to this disease and did an unthinkable act," he said.

The questions raised by what she did -- her sanity, postpartum depression or psychosis - are essential questions about human behavior -- can't be ignored or avoided.

5 Children Drowned -- A Houston Chronicle Special Report

How did a woman like Andrea snap?

Execution Vs. Insanity -- How can justice be served in this shocking case?

Is killing is inherently "insane."

Position Paper on Infanticide associated with Postpartum Mental Illness - Margaret Spinelli, MD

A Nation In Denial About Mental Illness.

An interview with the father and husband, Russell.

Yates Kids Home Page -- Photos and documents. Web site maintained by husband and father, Russell Yates.

December 30, 2006

Kari & Associates
PO Box 7126
Olympia, WA 98507

Copyright Kari Sable Burns 1994-2006