In this instant case, I would have to agree that Rusty should be looked at as partly culpable to his children being harmed by their mother....no, not that he did it or was, in the legal terms, "an accomplice." But he was aware of long-existing mental and emotional problems, had also been advised that his wife should have no more children, and why. I also believe her psychiatrist should be looked at....why did he decide to take her off her meds, so shortly after she was released from the hospital, yet again. Her treatment makes no sense. She should have been on meds for years, not months, after she got out of the hospital this last time......it's quite obvious, even to a layman, that she had substantial psychological problems that would not end within a short period of time....I question the doctor's treatment very strongly.
Based on his spraying of potential targets yesterday at the press conference? He cast his net pretty wide. More humility would have been in order. But he learned his lessons well from the Slicksters.
So it isn't hard, here folks. He was AWARE she wasn't on her medication, and he knew there were going to be episodes because of it. Still, knowing this, he left HIS children in her care. Unbelieveable.
He's culpable.
sw
I had a feeling this was coming on..
What this really is, contrary to what many will say on this thread, is an attack on traditional lifestyles. The liberal elite and many misguided others cannot stand people like these, who make do on one income, who teach their kids at home instead of State Indoctrination Centers, who believe that children are a gift from God, not an inconvenience to be killed without hesitation. These people love the fact that one of the traditionalists had this terrible situation happen to them, as it is being used to attack all of us who live life in a more traditional way. Conservatives who scoff at these traditionalists should be put on warning: you are next.
If these people were queers or members of the pagan elite, with their fancy cars, two incomes, kids in daycare and public schools, the media elites would be singing a completely different tune. But too many people, even here, are simply sheep. They react exactly how the liberal, anti-family elite want them to react. That is the source behind the desire to put this man in prison.
It can't happen soon enough, imho. Maybe it will slow down his search for a new wife, his lawsuit against the world, and any tv and book deals.
He belongs in prison.
It does not make sense. Either Andrea Yates is responsible and guilty or her husband. But it seems that prosecutors do not mind to convict two people for the one act. Actually there was a case in California (I could not locate the link) where the same prosecutor won convictions in two separate trials agains two different defendants for the same one murder. In each "victory" the defendant was found guilty for being the individual murderer. Prosecutor saw nothing wrong in that.
"She's the kindest and most caring person I know."
"I'll always support Andrea. I believe in Andrea," he said.
"loved their mommy. I know they don't hold this against her."
"She was a wonderful mother,"
"I think anyone who has a mental illness [and] who watched that should be offended,"
"She's a victim here, not only of the medical community but the justice system,"
None of us wanted her to be found guilty. In fact, most of us are offended that she was even prosecuted.
"How could she have been so ill and the medical community not diagnose her, not treat her and, I'll say, not protect our family from her,"
"I saw this terrible tragedy of my family," Yates said. "And then I see poor Andrea in this terrible medical state. And then the state comes forward and charges her with capital murder. And I couldn't believe it."
Yates said if he could change one thing he did, he would have taken his wife to a different hospital and a different doctor
I think this "case" against Russell Yates will come to nothing, but then I don't know if the prosecutors are looking for a promotion or are running for office. And you never know which lawyer wants to become a star.
On another note, dealing with a mentally ill family member is extremely difficult. It is almost impossible "to do the right thing" and most of the time you have no way of knowing what the right thing is. Living with a mentally ill loved one -- even when they are on meds -- can be psychologically exhausting for the mentally healthy members of the family.
I do agree that the medical care Andrea Yates received was dreadful. Effexor is a horrible drug, and the cocktail of meds she was on shows a genuine lack of quality in her psychiatric care.
I can tell you that it is not that easy to get help. It took me three years of taking my husband to doctors before they even realized the problem was not a "marital problem", it was a severe mental illness. (I knew it, but mentally ill people can have a gift for making you look like a major league liar once they get you in front of a doctor.) I have sat and yelled at hospital personnel for releasing an obviously psychotic man to home. I have had doctors not return calls and hospitals not admit. And you can't always get them in the car to get them to the ER, you know.
I have often wondered what horrible things must happen to uneducated people who don't have the chutzpah and persistance to "deal with the system". I personally know someone (a woman) who just "took off" and left her kids with a psychotic man who decided not to take his medication. (Mentally ill people often decide not to take medicine because, you see, they are "fine" - its everyone else who is nuts).
The doctors often don't have a clue and if you have no personal support system you are toast. If you are the kind of person who just does what they are told and has no one to help you can expect stuff like this to happen. Not excusing the husband - I would have never done the things he did - just letting you guys know it is NOT as easy as you think it might be.
Issue two...
I do not understand the question regarding whether this woman would be considered a danger to society if she was released. Is there any question regarding that? Holy cow, she just killed five of her own kids, yet the jury thinks there's a question as to whether she's a danger to society if she's released. Okay, color me biased here. In my opinion 12 zip! Fry the b---h!