TX - Five Yates children drowned, Houston, 20 June 2001 *Insanity*

[NaNaRosebud]

Jeana, if you agree with the verdict, then you must agree that she did not commit a crime. RIght?

That's what it says according to the Texas law....see that page I linked.

She could possibly be out and walking about in a year. If she takes her meds and gets straightened out, makes the judge believe she is OK, then she walks free and clear....no crime committed!

 

[Jules]

She could possibly be out and walking about in a year. If she takes her meds and gets straightened out, makes the judge believe she is OK, then she walks free and clear....no crime committed!

There is no way she will be 'straightened out' in a year. She barely functions on all the meds they give her. As the jury foreman stated: it was clear to all of them that Yates was psychotic before, during, and after the drownings.

This is from the link you posted above:

Hill ordered that doctors there present a report to her court 30 days from today after evaluating Yates' mental state and whether she presents a danger to herself or others.

At that time, the judge will hold another hearing to determine if Yates, 42, meets the requirements for involuntary commitment and if there is a mental health plan to treat her illness.

Nowhere does it say she will be getting out anytime soon.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

Jeana, if you agree with the verdict, then you must agree that she did not commit a crime. RIght?

That's what it says according to the Texas law....see that page I linked.

She could possibly be out and walking about in a year. If she takes her meds and gets straightened out, makes the judge believe she is OK, then she walks free and clear....no crime committed!

I believe she killed her children, but she was legally insane when she did it, so she cannot be held responsible. The doctors at the hospital would have to all agree that she was no longer a danger to herself or to others. As has already been discussed, she becomes suicidal, so the "danger to herself" part will always be a factor.

But, yes, there is the possibility that one day she'll be released, no crime committed.

 

[NaNaRosebud]

http://www.nndb.com/people/026/000085768/

Doesn't mommy look beautiful!!

 

[PaperDoll]

I've been really interested in this case since day one.. I've noticed some people believe she is mentally ill/insane and took her childrens life from them because of that.. my question for people who don't believe if she was insane or mentally ill, why would she kill her kids? What would her purpose be? Why not take Rustys as well? I know she had attempted to take their lives before and didn't.. I also know she tried to commit sucide and didn't.. Rusty even walked in on her while she was trying to slice her wrists.. Why would she do that? anyone?

 

[Texana]

It's justice for Andrea. Justice for her kids would include charges against Rusty and the doctor who took her off the Haldol.

She was clearly insane, and had been for a long time - this wasn't just some quick little insane, "He hit me and I just snapped" temporary insanity, this is the full blown real thing.

I'm another who generally doesn't believe at all in most insanity defenses, nor most defenses, period. But Andrea was just plain nuts - a long record over many years, biological problems (and it's scary to realize how easily your body chemistry can turn you from yourself into someone completely different - willpower has nothing to do with it), suicide attempts, harming herself - this isn't fake at all.

What she did to the children was horrible - but that doesn't prove insanity - I think most everyone on this forum is quite aware that mothers, fathers, children - any of them can commit horrible crimes without being insane.

What she did was very methodolical - but that doesn't disprove insanity - she's insane, not stupid, not temporarily insane. She had a goal - an insane goal, but a goal she insanely thought was a good one, and took the steps necessary. Not an unusual thing for parents in some ways - we bring our kids in and hold them down while they scream, to give them their shots, because we know it's for their own good. She thought that she was doing something for their good - it's insane to believe that, and that's what she was, and still is.

Excellent post.
:clap:

 

[Texana]

I've been really interested in this case since day one.. I've noticed some people believe she is mentally ill/insane and took her childrens life from them because of that.. my question for people who don't believe if she was insane or mentally ill, why would she kill her kids? What would her purpose be? Why not take Rustys as well? I know she had attempted to take their lives before and didn't.. I also know she tried to commit sucide and didn't.. Rusty even walked in on her while she was trying to slice her wrists.. Why would she do that? anyone?

Because in her broken mind, killing the children before they reached the "age of responsibility" meant they would automatically go to heaven and be assured of their eternal position there. Then when the state executed or punished her...the Satan inside of her would be killed. It doesn't make sense. INsanity doesn't. But that was her purpose. The delusions changed over time so why she was trying to kill herself before who knows.

 

[Texana]

http://www.nndb.com/people/026/000085768/

Doesn't mommy look beautiful!!

Yes. She did.That was before the birth of the first child. What is your point?

 

[Jules]

Great posts Texana. (we need a thumbs up smilie)

 

[Jeana (DP)]

http://www.nndb.com/people/026/000085768/

Doesn't mommy look beautiful!!

She did before she became so sick. What a crying shame.

 

[concernedperson]

She did before she became so sick. What a crying shame.

I agree. Why couldn't someone have helped her?

 

[Texana]

Great posts Texana. (we need a thumbs up smilie)

:blowkiss:
Backatcha.

 

[cinsbythesea]

She did before she became so sick. What a crying shame.

Ditto that. Smart, pretty and tragically not well mentally after multiple babies in a very short period of time. She loved those babies - you can see it in the videos of when she was well. My hope is that Andrea's babies' deaths will result in women coming forward, in psychiatrists recognizing the signs in their years of treating Andrea and sharing that knowledge with those of their profession and in that that we may find some positive from the negative, a la John Walsh, Mark Klass, etc. In other words, those five precious babies died for a reason, as did Adam Walsh...

 

[BeeBee]

http://www.nndb.com/people/026/000085768/

Doesn't mommy look beautiful!!

I think you need to take the picture and the quote down. You've made your point on the subject. Enough's enough.

 

[jilly]

I just finished watching Prime Time. I cried just about the entire 1/2 hr. They had video of Weller's interview with Andrea which was a few months ago. Hearing her voice just made it more real for me. How very sad. She is nowhere near well at this point imo. She is like a child who is now very remorseful. Friends and family are saying (according to John Cuomo) that as she does take her medication and gets better the reality has set in and she's suffering. I believe it.

They also had interviews with Weller and George Parnham. Weller believes of course that she was not psychotic at the time of the murders. He believes that she killed the children to make life better for herself.

After seeing this tonite, I don't think this woman will ever be herself again. It was very heart wrenching to hear that John, the people pleaser, that she never had a problem with was the first one she killed. Andrea was asked what she would say to each of them now and she said "I miss you". About Mary, she added something like "especially, since I didn't know her that well".

 

[BeeBee]

I just finished watching Prime Time. I cried just about the entire 1/2 hr. They had video of Weller's interview with Andrea which was a few months ago. Hearing her voice just made it more real for me. How very sad. She is nowhere near well at this point imo. She is like a child who is now very remorseful. Friends and family are saying (according to John Cuomo) that as she does take her medication and gets better the reality has set in and she's suffering. I believe it.

They also had interviews with Weller and George Parnham. Weller believes of course that she was not psychotic at the time of the murders. He believes that she killed the children to make life better for herself.

After seeing this tonite, I don't think this woman will ever be herself again. It was very heart wrenching to hear that John, the people pleaser, that she never had a problem with was the first one she killed. Andrea was asked what she would say to each of them now and she said "I miss you". About Mary, she added something like "especially, since I didn't know her that well".

Jilly...I watched it tonight too. Like you , I dont ever think she'll be well again. And, if by Doctors standards they think she is, I feel she'll try to kill herself. The guilt will be too much. To bad Rusty doesn't feel any guilt but I don't think he's ever felt anything at all. Egotistical . But, I have a funny feeling we'll be hearing that this new marrage is on the rocks before too long. Andrea stayed only because she was so ill. This new wife will want out pretty soon IMO.

 

[Bobbisangel]

It's always good to read you Jeana...you bring an enlightenment to these posts. I agree about the stigma of mental disorders and think that if someone truly suffers from one, they should seek help at all cost. I absolutley believe there are alot of people out there who suffer...whether it be severely or moderately, they suffer. BUT I also think that now adays, the mental disease "professionals" push a quick fix on anyone who comes in with the slightest little problem. All of these meds dull a persons coping ability. It makes them dependent on "feel good" or "happy pills" and I absolutley do not agree with that. I think that mental disorders have gone full blown and more and more people claim to have them just beacuse they cannot cope. Especially if you take them off the meds...then they really go nuts...because they don't know what normal everyday life pain is anymore. And personally, I would not take something that cautions on the warning lable that it could cause me to have homicidal or suicidal tendancies when it supposed to make me feel better! HUH? What is that all about :waitasec: ! No one promised an easy, simple life to any of us. Life is hard at times and those times need to be dealt with, not dulled. Life can also be a beautiful ride and sadly that can also be missed when you're numb. I just think people should really live and that means dealing with life and all of it's highs and lows...But that is just my opinion.

When people are having problems it isn't always a case of wanting to take pills to feel better or not wanting to cope with everyday life. Mental illness, depression, etc is caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. It isn't something that you can wish away or just deal with. Most pills don't make a person numb...they help you feel normal and help bring joy back into your life.
It really doesn't have anything to do with really living life and dealing with life and all of its highs and lows.

I have been on an antidepressant for a number of years...since the murder of my daughter. I have tried to stop taking them and I really become suicidal. Not because I want to be suicidal but because the chemicals in my brain go whacky. I go back on them and I'm better. We just changed my antidepressant at my insistance and I feel like I used to. I feel like I have my life back and I'm the old me again. I feel excited about things, I visit my friends, I'm not isolating, it is a world of difference. My old antidepressant wasn't working for quite a while but I couldn't get my doctor to listen to me until I flat told him that if we didn't try something else I wouldn't be here much longer. It wasn't a threat....I meant it.

There is nothing wrong with taking meds if a person needs them. I need an antidepressant and I don't really care what anyone else thinks about it. I know what I need to feel normal and like my old self. My kids are thrilled to death to have their old mother back. I feel like I have lived life and also lived its highs and lows....I raised 4 kids by myself from ages 9,8,7,4 1/2...lived through the murder of my daughter...my baby...have raised grandchildren off and on and one since she was 4 1/2...I've fought the hardest battle in my life for 3 1/2 in court for custody of my granddaughter...I'm 63 yrs old and this granddaughter will be 18 yrs in January and then I'm going to do some living for myself. I think I've done my share of handling lifes highs and lows, upside downs and sideways. Me and my Paxil RC are going to enjoy whatever time I have left in this old world

 

[kato]

I agree with you 100%. I accept the opinion of others who feel otherwise. I don't agree though, with those who have said that Andrea received justice yesterday. The only ones that deserved any justice were those children and they did not nor will they ever receive it. I watched Rita Crosby last night and they showed footage of where she may possibly go. They have a lake with benches, paddleboats, vegetable gardens, craft rooms, etc. It made me furious to think that she can spend possibly the rest of her life there and her children are buried about 20 feet in the ground. Now that makes me mad..........

Where did you see Rita Cosby? She used to come on at 9 here the same time as Greta but I haven't seen her lately. Does she come on in Dan Abram's old time slot still on MSNBC?

 

[kato]

When people are having problems it isn't always a case of wanting to take pills to feel better or not wanting to cope with everyday life. Mental illness, depression, etc is caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. It isn't something that you can wish away or just deal with. Most pills don't make a person numb...they help you feel normal and help bring joy back into your life.
It really doesn't have anything to do with really living life and dealing with life and all of its highs and lows.

I have been on an antidepressant for a number of years...since the murder of my daughter. I have tried to stop taking them and I really become suicidal. Not because I want to be suicidal but because the chemicals in my brain go whacky. I go back on them and I'm better. We just changed my antidepressant at my insistance and I feel like I used to. I feel like I have my life back and I'm the old me again. I feel excited about things, I visit my friends, I'm not isolating, it is a world of difference. My old antidepressant wasn't working for quite a while but I couldn't get my doctor to listen to me until I flat told him that if we didn't try something else I wouldn't be here much longer. It wasn't a threat....I meant it.

There is nothing wrong with taking meds if a person needs them. I need an antidepressant and I don't really care what anyone else thinks about it. I know what I need to feel normal and like my old self. My kids are thrilled to death to have their old mother back. I feel like I have lived life and also lived its highs and lows....I raised 4 kids by myself from ages 9,8,7,4 1/2...lived through the murder of my daughter...my baby...have raised grandchildren off and on and one since she was 4 1/2...I've fought the hardest battle in my life for 3 1/2 in court for custody of my granddaughter...I'm 63 yrs old and this granddaughter will be 18 yrs in January and then I'm going to do some living for myself. I think I've done my share of handling lifes highs and lows, upside downs and sideways. Me and my Paxil RC are going to enjoy whatever time I have left in this old world

Amen sista!!! I'll be taking my meds for the rest of my life also. Alot of people just don't understand depression unless they've been through it. It's way different than just being sad. Thank God for Prozac (and Xanax, Elavil) it literally saved my life. And I also don't care what people think. It's what I have to do in order to live some semblance of a "normal" life whatever that may be.

 

[MrsMush99]

Where did you see Rita Cosby? She used to come on at 9 here the same time as Greta but I haven't seen her lately. Does she come on in Dan Abram's old time slot still on MSNBC?

She comes on after Scarborough Country here Kato. I think they switched timeslots. She on 10 est. now, or was last time I checked.