Russell Yates Didn't Do Enough, Killer Mom's Family Says

FOX ^ | 3/18/02

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Russell Yates was an "unemotional" husband who didn't do enough to address his wife's mental illness in the days before she drowned their five children, the mass-murderer mom's mother and brother said Monday.

As Andrea Yates was formally sentenced to life in prison for murdering three of the children, her family said Russell Yates deserves some of the blame for their deaths.

[DJ88]

Praytell, what did the FAMILY of Andrea Yates do to stop her? Did anyone suggest to her to check herself into a hospital? Did they ever try to get custody of the children? Ever take the kids away for the week? For a day?

It's easy to blame it on Rusty, sure. He deserves some of the blame. But not all of it...if he noticed it, then they did too. Personally, I think ALL OF THESE IDIOTS should be tried for child endangerment.

[Sungirl]

I can't stand this Rusty...he is a LIAR....he is so dissappointed that she didn't get the death sentence...I heard he said he didnt' know if he would divorce Andrea...OF COURSE HE WIll....BUT NOW..it will cost him money to divorce her...and he will look bad. He only cares about HIMSELF>..

He is a slimy snake...and he is to blame for this too. He never helped this nut Andrea..he had to see it. He didn't care. He probably only cared about what alot of the Christians care about...APPEARANCE.

I heard him read a letter that ANdrea wrote describing how wonderful each of the kids was....WELL...HELLO..if they were so wonderful why did she kill them? IF she was A BAD MOTHER...why didn't she just kill herself? This is SO TWISTED!

[deadhead]

Personally, I think ALL OF THESE IDIOTS should be tried for child endangerment.

Me too. The blame game is coming out big time. Where the hell were these people all of this time. Looks like Rusty is ready for a lawsuit. All of these people make me sick. The thought of a Mom murdering her babies with her own hands is horrific, I will never forget this. God Bless those little ones.

[monkeywrench]

I agree completely. His smarminess was obvious at his 'press conference'. It sounded like he was trying to make a case for the lawsuits he's probably been planning from day one. Sounds like he might not want to call the in-laws as witnesses, though.;>)

[RnMomof7]

And he told CBS's The Early Show that he is considering suing the doctors who took his wife off antipsychotic medication before the killings.

I kinda figured that was the reason for his words last week..He is responsible for her condition and now he wants to make money of of it..he makes me sick

OPH a ping cause I know you are interested in this case

[kstewskis]

"I think I have to," he said. "She was never diagnosed, she was never treated and [the doctors] didn't protect our family." Andrea Yates had been treated for schizophrenia and severe depression after the births of her last two children.

Hogwash. The doctors warned him that if she were to have more children, her mental health would decline. They are not responsible for her pregnancies. For Rusty to blame everyone else, and completely deny the reality of her illness, in addition to not taking any responsibility is plain disgusting.

As for her other family members, they might not have had any say so or control in the situation. This Rusty character is a sick control freak, and will blame everyone but himself when something runs snafu. This man is a pathetic excuse for a human being.

This whole thing is a sad, sick chapter in human failings. Thank God the kids are with Him now.

[jurisdog]

Yates' mother, Karin Kennedy, said her son-in-law told her after the birth of their fourth child that he had never changed a diaper.

Well sheesh, no wonder she drowned all her children. It was clearly his fault.

[yikes]

Those of us who thought RY's behavior was odd after the slaughter of his children were excoriated on this site by people who said that he had just been dealt a terrific shock. Well, I am still waiting for the grief to be expressed.

He is the most controlled (and I suspect the most controlling) person I have ever seen. I would have gone bonkers too if I had to live with him, although killing the children would not have been an option.

[Mfkmmof4]

If this were a reverse situation and it was the husband who had drowned the children how would we envision the wife?

[deadhead]

"Those of us who thought RY's behavior was odd after the slaughter of his children were excoriated on this site by people who said that he had just been dealt a terrific shock"

When I first saw this guy, I thought his behavior was odd and I made my thoughts clear on this. There were those who came down hard on me for it. I had a feeling about this punk right from the start, he has proven me to be right.

[the Deejay]

I'm with you on the Kennedy clan and have been since the day after the drownings. I keep asking "WHERE WERE THEY?" It seems like they never once rolled up their sleeves and pitched in to assist their "sweet Andrea", whereas, Rusty's mother came from Tennessee to help. The Kennedys (not one of them) took the kids for a few days or hours. Nor did Andrea's best friend, Debby Holmes. She just visited and left saying, "Poor, poor Andrea." Never once did she roll up her sleeves, either. Now, Holmes and Kennedy are all over the place criticizing Rusty.

[inflorida]

During the press conference following AY's sentence, did anyone notice how RY raised his voice saying 'I am not done yet!' after a reporter assumed RY had finished answering one question and asked another?
He seemed to have snapped for a second and then he realized he was on camera and got it together again. More evidence of his controlling nature.

[the Deejay]

He didn't "raise his voice." He just wanted to finish his sentence and all of the reporters continued to yell out questions to Randy at the same time (I was getting annoyed at the reporters). I have it on tape and I'll look at his tone of voice again.

[AppyPappy]

Russell Yates Didn't Do Enough, Killer Mom's Family Says

Sounds like Andrea did too much.

[WyCoKsRepublican]

No need to go into why she killed her children. Point is, she did it, and is guilty of murder. He life in prison will be a sentence worse than lethal injection. May God have mercy on her soul.

[inflorida]

If I remember right, he was going on about how it is the doctor's fault and they are to blame, not her. And although I can understand raising one's voice if one is interrupted, I have a feeling the tone he used was not uncommon in the Yate's household.
But no matter, she is still the one responsible for the murders.

[FITZ]

Praytell, what did the FAMILY of Andrea Yates do to stop her?

I don't think they did anything at all to help her ---they could have pitched in and help as you say ---but they left all the care of those kids and Andrea to Rusty and his mother. Psychotics and psychopaths often were abused at a very early age ---Andrea never bonded with her children because she never learned love. There's also something odd about a middle age woman going bonkers when her father dies ---there's probably some hidden stories there.