Posted on 03/22/2002 4:17:39 PM PST by MVV
March 22, 2002, 5:52PM
In a two-leg journey that began in the middle of the night, a solemn, cooperative Andrea Pia Yates was transferred early Thursday from the Harris County Jail to the Texas prison system.
She also received her inmate number: 1087566.
The woman who has caused millions of Americans to rethink their views on mental illness then was driven another 170 miles east to the Skyview Unit, north of Rusk in Cherokee County.
On June 20, the Clear Lake housewife admitted to police she had drowned her five children. Once on medication for major depression and psychosis in the postpartum period, she was able to explain she killed the children because she believed she was possessed by the devil and that she had tainted them.
Last week, Harris County jurors found her guilty of capital murder and handed her a life sentence. Defense attorney George Parnham asked that she be able to stay as long as possible under the care of psychiatrists in Harris County Jail.
Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman Larry Todd says Yates will spend at least a month at Skyview for evaluation by medical personnel and prison officials.
Though she seemed to enjoy the company of other inmates during her eight-month jail stay, she will live in a single cell with a bunk, mattress, aluminum commode, small desk and a window.
She will be alone in her cell for 23 hours a day and allowed an hour of recreation.
"I think she'll do fine, and I think she will receive good care," says Dr. Debra Osterman, who served as her attending jail psychiatrist. "I'm glad I said goodbye Monday."
Osterman and Dr. Melissa Ferguson, the director of mental health services for the jail, were surprised but not shocked by the sudden move.
For security reasons, high-profile inmates are usually transferred soon after sentencing and with little notice, Ferguson says.
"We'll miss her," says Ferguson, adding that Yates functioned well with other patient-inmates. "It was very rewarding to see her get better."
When the psychiatrists first met Yates, she didn't speak.
"She was catatonic, almost motionless," says Osterman.
With the proper drugs and therapy, however, slowly she has thawed.
Osterman adds that the former cancer nurse was such an extraordinary presence on the unit that the staff for the first time had to worry how her struggles would affect the others.
"How one woman's trial affected other cellmates had never been an issue before," Osterman says. "In this case, they are very, very supportive. They really care a lot about her and what happens."
In the privacy of her cell, surrounded by women she had come to trust, Yates displayed abundant grief and remorse, Osterman says. "Even once she got past the major depression and psychosis, there were still all these terrible losses. You can imagine. If a parent suddenly loses all her children, her freedom -- everything -- it's overwhelming."
In addition to the transfer to prison, Yates may have other changes in store. Over the months, there has been some speculation that Yates, married to Russell Yates, eventually will be divorced, too.
"She can handle a divorce if that comes along," Osterman says. "I can't think of anything that can equal what has happened already."
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Karen Warren / Chronicle
Jail psychiatrists Dr. Debra Osterman, left, and Dr. Melissa Ferguson say they were surprised but not shocked by Andrea Yates; sudden transfer to prison. "We'll miss her," Ferguson says. |
"I don't think there could have been a good outcome to the trial. All we can do is pick ourselves up, try to learn from the experience and help people learn more about mental illness."
Yates has no idea that she has become one of the most talked about women in America or that her story has been publicized and hotly debated every day since the crime was committed.
"She doesn't realize the extent of her celebrity," Osterman says. "But she's hopeful that people understand more about mental illness from hearing her story."
Osterman says Yates is a strong woman bolstered by her religious faith. Still, she remained on suicide watch while she was in jail.
"If someone is intelligent, suffering a lot and wanting to kill herself, she will be able to do it. But the jail staff was there all the time. I do think Mrs. Yates' saving grace is her religion. That and the hope that by telling her story she can prevent other tragedies."
The story of Yates' descent into mental illness is long and by now, well-documented. The 37-year-old was hospitalized in psychiatric units four times. Some doctors correctly diagnosed her problems. Others did not.
Regardless of who did and who did not, Ferguson says, her symptoms were easily recognizable. When she was a resident 16 years ago, she says, older doctors were telling her to watch for women exhibiting psychosis in the postpartum period.
The reason, Ferguson remembers learning way back when, is because those women are so ill they're in danger of killing their children and themselves. Even then, Ferguson says, she visited with patients who had been treated with anti-depressant and anti-psychotic medications and went on to become happy and successful parents.
"It was so sad to see the other side," Ferguson says.
The psychiatrist remembers the first time a team of doctors and nurses interviewed Yates.
"By the end, there wasn't a dry eye among the staff. She was so severely ill. And the magnitude of her loss was unimaginable."
Ferguson says it isn't unusual for women with Yates' diagnosis to believe they can best help their children by sacrificing them and saving them from eternal damnation.
Ironically, the doctors say, Yates did the best she could to hide her delusions so her loved ones wouldn't think she was dangerous and take the children away.
"We tend to think about psychotic patients as being disorganized and babbling," Ferguson says. "That's not always the case. Sometimes they are organized and silent, which gives them a better chance to act on their plans."
Ferguson and Osterman say that Yates' religious beliefs, her marriage, her family size, home schooling -- virtually none of the stresses or strengths in her life -- had anything to do with her mental illness.
No one person or situation made her ill, they say. Instead, the source of her insanity probably was hereditary.
The doctors add that her family tried to help her, even if they didn't go far enough.
Family members have to know, if they are not satisfied with the quality of medical care for a loved one, they need to keep pushing, keep demanding more and better, Ferguson says.
When Yates was sentenced earlier this week, there were no family members present. When Yates looked toward the gallery, however, she saw two familiar faces.
"We were there for her, Ferguson says. "We want her to know she has our support."
"She can handle a divorce if that comes along," Osterman says. "I can't think of anything that can equal what has happened already."
Now there's a shocker!
I smell a Barbara Wa-wa interview coming on, and in the not too distant future!
Can you believe this?!?!?
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