Share

Andrea Yates biography

1 photo

Quick Facts

  • NAME: Andrea Yates
  • OCCUPATION: Murderer
  • BIRTH DATE: July 02, 1964 (Age: 48)
  • PLACE OF BIRTH: Houston, Virginia
  • Maiden Name: Andrea Pia Kennedy
  • ZODIAC SIGN: Cancer

Best Known For

Andrea Yates was a mother of five from Houston, Texas who drowned her children.

Quiz

Think you know about Biography?

Answer questions and see how you rank against other players.

Play Now

Synopsis

Andrea Yates was born on July 2, 1964 in Houston, Texas. She was treated for postpartum depression and psychosis and, after the birth of her fifth child, went into a severe depression. On June 20, 2001, she drowned all five of her children in the bathtub. She was found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to life, but a court of appeals reversed the conviction and found her insane.

Contents

Profile

Murderer. Born Andrea Pia Kennedy on July 2, 1964 in Houston, Texas. Andrea Yates was a stellar student and class valedictorian. In 1993, she married Rusty Yates, who was a disciple of preacher Michael Peter Woroniecki. Through sermons, videos and personal telephone calls, the Woronieckis condemned the Yateses for their hypocritical Christian lifestyle, saying their children were doomed to hell because of their parents?? sins. The Woronieckis also preached that married couples should have as many children as possible.

In 1999, Yates was treated for postpartum depression and psychosis, illnesses that ran in her family. After the birth of her fifth child and the death of her father, she went into a severe depression and was forcefully admitted to Devereux-Texas Treatment Network. There, Dr. Mohammed Saeed prescribed a series of psychotropic drug treatments. He also abruptly tapered off the antipsychotic Haldol, a medication that helped Andrea recover in 1999. On June 20, 2001, during the hour between her husband leaving for work and her mother-in-law arriving, Andrea Yates drowned all five of her children in the bathtub.

Throughout the trial, Rusty Yates stood by his wife, claiming it was the illness and not Andrea that had killed the children. She pleaded innocence by reason of insanity citing postpartum psychosis. In March 2002, a jury rejected the insanity defense and found Yates guilty of first degree murder, sentencing her to life in prison with eligibility for parole in 40 years. On January 6, 2005, the Texas Court of Appeals reversed the convictions and on July 26, 2006, Yates was found not guilty by reason of insanity and was committed to North Texas State Hospital. Rusty Yates divorced Andrea during her incarceration in 2004 and remarried in 2006.

© 2013 A+E Networks. All rights reserved.

ADVERTISEMENT
235801 235801
profile id: 235801
profile name: Andrea Yates
profile occupation:
related profile id: 235801
related profile name: Andrea Yates
related profile occupation:
related profile img: /imported/images/Biography/Images/Profiles/Y/Andrea-Yates-235801-2-402.jpg
related profile URL: /people/andrea-yates-235801
profile
pop
Your Connections

Sign in with Facebook to see how you and your friends are connected to famous icons.

specific profile connection
See More Bio Connections
Your Friends' Connections
specific friend connection
Profile Connections
    Show More Connections
    Included In These Groups

    See all related groups

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Celebrity Connections

    Show More Connections
    Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!