Yates lived by rigid schedule, according to husband

The Dallas Morning News ^ | March 1, 2002 (The Ides of March are upon us!) | By TERRI LANGFORD / The Dallas Morning News

[William Terrell]

Civil societies don't fry the insane.

No, they don't, and rightfully so. But this one puts them in an asylum under therapy then announces them cured and released after a span of time. She probably is insane. That does not mean she is one whit less dangerous to society, and neither does therapy for a few years and release.

[Alouette]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding of the "not guilty by reason of insanity" defense is that it was originally developed to protect the insane and the retarded, and if they were acquitted under this defense it didn't mean they went free, but they would be committed to an insane asylum instead of being sentenced to death or prison. People acquitted under this defense were not meant to walk free.

[ladyjane]

My wife laughed at the horrible story they tried to paint of Andrea's life.

I'm speechless.

[AppyPappy]

I don't think he could. The law would have demanded that she get some parental rights. His complaints about her mental health would probably be cast aside as "sour grapes". He may have been nailed for kidnapping.

[AppyPappy]

I doubt Yates saw Christianity as more than a hammer to used on any convenient nail.

[xsmommy]

he could have had his mother watching the kids instead of his wife, for heaven's sake! tell me you would feel helpless and locked in if you knew about your wife what he knew about his? tell me you would leave them all there with her daily??

[AppyPappy]

We have two of these downtown although they don't preach. They mostly just yell at people for no reason. Same thing.

[tinacart]

"Sounds to me as if her motive was to punish him."

Well, it didn't seem to work. He's more concerned with justifying her behavior, hence justifying his own selfish, twisted actions... Neither one seems to care about the kids any more, gone/buried/forgotten! And, for someone so crazy the beatch sure is fighting like he!! to save her worthless life!

[jacquej]

Thanks for posting these excerpts, harbour... I read them and referred others to the sites so they could read for themselves and form their own conclusions...

Sometimes I have to wonder about "religious tolerance". I know it is a good thing in general, but in this specific case, it certainly led to horrific consequences via what clearly seems to me to be heresy.

[AppyPappy]

No I wouldn't but I'm not sure I could legally do anything about it. Unless her doctor put her away, it would be a tough road. If her husband started the process to put her away, she might have snapped earlier although that's a chance I'd take.

I have a friend whose wife is certified and has tried suicide. He eventually divorced her. She has custody despite his attempts to get the kids. The fathers rarely get the kids if the mom fights for rights.

[muggs]

Why does this woman want to live? That's my question...how could you live with yourself after drowning her 5 babies?

Yes it would have been better if she had killed herself or even herself and her creepy husband. I'm not convinced this woman still wants to live. Her lawyers are doing what lawyers do, putting on a defense and her husband was such a control freak that he might be the one pushing for an insanity defense. Who knows what Andrea really wants in the way of a defense. Maybe she wants the death penalty.

[Ditter]

What a pitiful excuse for a life he allowed her to have. No wonder she's nuts.

[SunnyUsa]

I cannot feel sympathy for this woman, I think I maybe could find a speck in me if she pleaded guilty, admitted her guilt - her horrible guilt - and faced the death sentence she deserves. Her trying to SAVE her LIFE after what she's done makes me ill.

I think she's a wacko, but she made her choices in life...and adding more and more kids to her messed up little world was unfortunately for those babies her choice too.

I can't even imagine how anyone could drown their kids - but she found the strength to do it and did it in a logical order of reverse birth order.

Her brain worked well enough to do what she wanted to do ...she had a plan (the tub) she *remembered* to fill it with enough water....she waited till no one was around - success assured, and when she was all done... she calls 911 and her husband.

I say her actions speak volumes, and I think she should pay with her own life (too bad RUSTY doesn't die with her)

[xsmommy]

they gave a certifiable wife custody? i have absolutely no experience with family court, thankfully.

even if he didn't have legal recourse, he had practical recourse, he could have had his mother caring for the kids. it appears that andrea was cognizant of the fact that she was not up to the task, doesn't sound like she would have fought him on the issue.