In a heartbreaking case from nearly 25 years ago, Rusty Yates, the former husband of Andrea Yates, says he doesn’t blame her for the tragic deaths of their five children. Andrea drowned their children – Noah, John, Paul, Luke, and Mary – in the bathtub of their home in June 2001.
Andrea, who was a stay-at-home mom at the time, was initially found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison. However, that decision was later overturned. In 2006, she was found not guilty because of insanity. The jury agreed that Andrea suffered from postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis, a rare condition that can cause delusions and hallucinations.
Rusty Yates shared in an interview that once he understood his ex-wife’s actions were due to mental illness, he didn’t blame her. He acknowledges the immense pain and loss he experienced but emphasizes that he doesn’t hold Andrea responsible.
He describes Andrea as a wonderful, accomplished, caring, and loving person who has suffered greatly because of what happened. Rusty believes Andrea has struggled internally to come to terms with her actions and deserves to be seen for the person she is, not defined solely by the tragedy that occurred.
Rusty still visits Andrea once a year at the mental health facility where she lives in Texas. He values their shared history and the ability to reminisce about the good times they had together. While their conversations can be bittersweet, Rusty appreciates their friendship and the unique connection they share.
In 2001, Andrea Yates called the police to their home in Texas. When officers arrived, Andrea was outside wearing a wet shirt and reportedly said, “I just killed my children.” She later told police that she had submerged her children one by one.
Andrea reportedly told doctors that she believed killing her children was the only way to save them from Satan. She felt they were not righteous and were doomed to perish.
Rusty and Andrea divorced in 2005. Rusty says that although they both appreciate each other’s friendship, “it’s bittersweet.”
