The Cult Behind the Killer: The Andrea Yates Story reexamines the shocking criminal case of the Texas mother who drowned her five children in 2001. While it’s confirmed that Yates, now 61, suffered from mental illness at the time, the new docuseries (now streaming on HBO Max) dives deeper into her family’s connection to a controversial preacher and his extreme teachings.
The project features interviews with former followers of Michael Woroniecki, a divisive non-denomination Christian minister whom they allege used disturbing recordings, pamphlets, and other materials to instill his doctrines. While the true extent of his connection to the Yates family has never been proven, Andrea’s husband Rusty Yates has confirmed the couple did seek religious counsel from the preacher. Woroniecki has vehemently denied all influence or connection to Andrea’s actions.
Andrea Yates was eventually found not guilty of capital murder by reason of insanity.
Here is what we know about Woroniecki’s involvement with the Yates family and his life today.
Who is Michael Woroniecki?
The Cult Behind the Killer examines the fiery religious teachings of Woroniecki, a non-denominational Christian preacher. According to the Dallas Observer, some of Woroniecki’s primary tenets included that the fate of all women was tied to the Biblical figure of Eve, and that they should have a subservient role to men. Any mother who worked outside the home was wicked and could subsequently pass on their sin to their children.
His teachings have long courted controversy. According to a syndicated Dallas Morning News article from April 2002, Woroniecki, 71, had a running feud with authorities in his hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan, early in his ministry. This culminated in an incident sometime around 1983, during which he accosted a woman and told her she was destined to go to hell. He was essentially asked to leave the city, or risk jail time. He chose the former.
Undeterred, Woroniecki began preaching his own variation of Christianity at college campuses across the country. Woroniecki often appeared with his wife, Rachel, with whom he has six confirmed children.
Some of these gatherings were uncoordinated and unwelcome. According to Brigham Young University—the flagship university of the LDS Church—Woroniecki caused a “disturbance” at the school in 1994 by calling an assembled crowd of 350 students “Mormon scumbags” and telling them the pope and televangelist Billy Graham would soon join the school’s namesake founder in hell. He was escorted away in handcuffs.
How Did Woroniecki Meet Andrea and Rusty Yates?
In 1980, Rusty Yates met Woroniecki at a campus gathering at Auburn University. His first impression was of a “simple preacher who was doing nothing more than challenging the ‘fat cat preachers’ about their watered-down beliefs.”
While the true extent of their relationship has never been confirmed, Rusty maintained contact with Woroniecki in the following years—including after his marriage to Andrea. The couple reportedly visited the Woronieckis in Florida and, according to Time, purchased a bus-turned-motor-home from Woroniecki sometime around 1998 that temporarily served as their home.
However, as Rusty Yates claimed he began to distance himself from the Woronieckis, he noticed concerning behavior in Andrea. Per the Observer, she had written Michael a letter asking if he could convert her Catholic parents.
In the meantime, Andrea’s mental health symptoms continued to worsen. She overdosed on sleeping pills as part of an apparent suicide attempt in 1999, and later began acting “withdrawn” and “robotic.” She was eventually diagnosed with postpartum psychosis and schizophrenia.
This culminated in the deadly June 20, 2001, incident in which Andrea drowned all five of her children—ages 6 months through 7 years old—in a bathtub inside her family’s Clear Lake, Texas, home. While in custody, she told a psychiatrist she worried her children would go to hell in the afterlife and suggested she committed the drownings to protect their innocence.
What Has Woroniecki Said About the Andrea Yates Case?
According to the New York Post, a Houston psychiatrist testified at Yates’ trial that her questionable beliefs were “built around” the contents of “The Perilous Times,” a newsletter Woroniecki sent to her and Rusty. Woroniecki vehemently denied all connection to the drownings.
Yates was ultimately found guilty of capital murder at her first trial and sentenced to life in prison. Shortly after Andrea’s original conviction in March 2002, Woroniecki revealed to Good Morning America he advised the Yateses in 1998 that they would go to hell unless they changed their behavior.
“Of course, because everybody is going to hell,” Woroniecki said, adding that he “shared Jesus” with the couple.
“I hold him [Rusty] responsible [for the drownings] but I also hold Andrea responsible. God knows what we shared with those people,” Woroniecki continued.
Andrea Yates’ conviction was ultimately thrown out in 2005 over false testimony, and a year later a jury found her not guilty by reason of insanity at retrial.
Woroniecki was never called to testify in the case or implicated in any way, and he has repeatedly denied any significant connection to the Yates family.
Does Woroniecki Appear in The Cult Behind the Killer?
Woroniecki continued his ministry after Yates’ legal saga. In 2008, he told MLive he had visited more than 50 countries across Africa, Europe and Central and South America. He claimed the family worked odd jobs to pay for food and incidentals.
Little is known about Woroniecki’s life today. According to the Houston Chronicle, the new docuseries ends with a statement revealing Woroniecki declined to participate.
Co-director and producer Julian B. Hobbs told the outlet in an email interview that the three-part series “uncovered new facts relating to the critical role of Woroniecki throughout the Yates marriage” and that a case of this magnitude “should have all relevant factors open to public scrutiny.”
“In our opinion, Woroniecki distorted the core teachings of Christianity to serve his own ends,” Hobbs added. “The film is not an attack on faith, but rather an examination of Woroniecki’s homegrown brand of apocalyptic teachings. Andrea Yates’ mental illness may have made her more susceptible to such teachings.”
How to Watch The Cult Behind the Killer: The Andrea Yates Story on HBO Max
All three episodes of The Cult Behind the Killer: The Andrea Yates Story are streaming on HBO Max.
Tyler Piccotti joined the Biography.com staff as an Associate News Editor and is now the News and Culture Editor. He previously worked as a reporter and copy editor for a daily newspaper recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors. In his current role, he shares the true stories behind your favorite movies and TV shows and profiles rising musicians, actors, and athletes. When he's not working, you can find him at the nearest amusement park or movie theater and cheering on his favorite teams.
