Andrea Yates R.N.

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Did you know that Andrea Yates, the woman who is now being re-tried for drowning her 5 children in Texas was a nurse? I just thought it was interesting.

Specializes in SICU.

Andrea Yates just found not guilt due to reason of insanity.

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Specializes in Happily semi-retired; excited for the whole whammy.
Andrea Yates just found not guilt due to reason of insanity.

Well, shoot, I've been home this morning and didn't even think to put it on... I agree with this verdict. I thought the judge made a huge mistake in not allowing the defense to tell the jury about the story Dr. Dietz made up in her original trial... if one of the state's key witnesses has a history of lying, the jury should certainly know... but no harm no foul, I guess.

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I truly believe that she was completely psychotic at the time. She has stated that she thought that only then-governor Bush could slay the devil that was living in her, and the only way to keep her children from going to hell and to get Bush to kill her was by killing them and getting the death penalty. I've read the transcripts from her psychiatric studies, both before and after the killings, and they are major eye-openers. I encourage all who have not read these to do so before passing judgement. They are at thesmokinggun.com.

Excellent post, Lori! There are so many people who are so quick to blame someone, Andrea for drowning her kids, psychotic or not, or Rusty, because he wanted so many children. I was guilty of that myself until I read further on down this post. I came acrosss some detailed notes about her, and I believe, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Andrea was psychotic.

When I get the chance, I'll read thesmokinggun as Lori pointed out, but also take a look at http://www.yateskids.org. I believe that under "Artifacts" is her medical record from her hospitalizations. I don't know how fair that is to Andrea having them up there, but Rusty probably put them up in order to show what problems his wife endured.

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Also, I shouldn't have said "buy an opinion" above. The good doc could be sincerely, arrogantly, wrong.

You might be right though, multi. In the first trial they did this. They bought the opinion of Dr. Park Dietz, the guy who said she got the idea to drown her kids from Law & Order. In Rusty Yates words, he was a "hired gun" brought in by the state of Texas to find Andrea guilty.

I do have a question here and it comes only from a legal standpoint. Someone closer to the case in Houston might know this: why is she being tried for only 3 of the children's deaths? The closest to an answer that I've found is, "This is what is normally done in cases like this."

Does anyone know why?

Edit to add: Wow, I'm so glad that the jury made the right decision this time. Maybe Andrea will get the help that she needs and not prison. I'm happy abou this verdict. (This is just my opinion)

Kat

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Specializes in Happily semi-retired; excited for the whole whammy.
I remember during the DC sniper situation this Dr. Welner said that the sniper was a single white male who was severely psychotic. He insisted that the single white male would commit suicide if approached by police.

I also remember Nancy Grace saying to him something like "I know I'm just a little lady from Georgia...and you are the DOCTOR...but I'm telling you...this killer will NOT kill himself and I wouldn't be so sure that it is just a single, psychotic, white male." :rolleyes:

Anyway, I remember seeing this Dr. Welner so arrogantly be wrong about other cases too. A few weeks ago I saw him interviewed regarding the Phoenix serial killers. I thought at the time, whatever he says...think something else.

Also, I shouldn't have said "buy an opinion" above. The good doc could be sincerely, arrogantly, wrong.

Before he was hired by the state, he solicited the defense to testify on their behalf. He claimed he was the best there is. The best at exploiting a tragedy, maybe. ''Opinion for sale to highest bidder''...:angryfire

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Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
Andrea Yates just found not guilt due to reason of insanity.

Wow!

Thanks for bringing us up to speed!

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Specializes in LTC.

The husband, doctors, family and friends failed these kids miserably. EVERY single one of them knew she was not mentally fit to handle those kids and hung her out to dry.:angryfire

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

I do have a question here and it comes only from a legal standpoint. Someone closer to the case in Houston might know this: why is she being tried for only 3 of the children's deaths? The closest to an answer that I've found is, "This is what is normally done in cases like this."

Does anyone know why?

Kat

The prosecution said they would only charge her with the deaths of some of the children and not all in case she is found not guilty. That way they could charge her again with the remaining deaths and try another case. I'm hoping they won't do that, and just call this done.

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Specializes in ED.

Well now, she was found not guilty by reason of insanity as of today.

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

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Jury Finds Yates Not Guilty in Drownings

By ANGELA K. BROWN, Associated Press Writer

4 hours ago

HOUSTON - Andrea Yates was found not guilty by reason of insanity Wednesday in her second murder trial for the bathtub drownings of her young children.

Yates, 42, will now be committed to a state mental hospital, with periodic hearings before a judge to determine whether she should be released. An earlier jury had found her guilty of murder, but the verdict was overturned on appeal.

The defense never disputed that Yates drowned her five children one by one in the bathtub of their Houston-area home. But they said she suffered from severe postpartum psychosis and, in a delusional state, believed Satan was inside her and was trying to save them from hell.

Yates stared wide-eyed in court Wednesday as the verdict was read. She then bowed her head and wept quietly. http://www.comcast.net/news/index.jsp?cat=GENERAL&fn=/2006/07/26/442314.html&cvqh=itn_yates

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I'm so grateful that this decision was made. I hope that she can get the help she needs, and that the torment in her soul may ease with time and proper treatment.

I'm praying for her.

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Specializes in CVICU.

"I don't forget my children, and I don't forget Andrea, but I don't dwell on it either. I try to remember my children fondly," he said. "I'm building new life ... and have a new family and am more focused on them."

HUH? He remembers his kids 'fondly'? That's how you remember your dead cat, not your five precious children. Did this quote from Rusty Yates make anybody else cringe? I would be broken beyond imagination if I lost a child, and it would be a searing pain that would last a lifetime. I don't get this guy.

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