Rusty Yates, the ex-husband of Andrea Yates, who infamously killed their five young children in 2001, has forgiven her and still maintains contact with her in a mental hospital. Rusty regularly calls Kerrville State Hospital to speak to Andrea and has even visited her in the facility, where she is being treated due to her incompetency to stand trial or her insanity plea. Despite their divorce in 2002, Rusty and Andrea discuss their slain children during their conversations, with Rusty expressing forgiveness towards his ex-wife despite the tragic events that occurred.
After divorcing Andrea Yates, Rusty remarried and had another child, but that marriage also ended in divorce. He continues to work as a NASA engineer, the job he held when Andrea killed their children one-by-one. Rusty maintains a website to honor the memory of his children, who would now be adults. He described Andrea as a wonderful mother and stated that her actions were out of character, indicating a deeper issue related to her mental health.
Andrea Yates drowned her five children in the bathtub of their suburban Houston home on June 20, 2001. She waited until Rusty went to work before carrying out the horrific act on Noah, John, Paul, Luke, and Mary, who were aged between 6 months and 7 years old. Initially charged with five counts of capital murder, Andrea’s defense argued that her severe depression and psychosis, exacerbated by recent deliveries, led to her committing the crime. The prosecution advocated for the death penalty, considering the crime heinous.
Despite being convicted of capital murder initially, Andrea Yates was eventually found not guilty by reason of insanity in 2006 after her mental health issues were acknowledged. She believed that her children were evil and that she needed to save them from eternal damnation by killing them. Andrea’s statements to her prison psychiatrist depicted her delusional thoughts and her refusal to seek release, even after being placed in Kerrville State Hospital. Rusty, who was initially skeptical of Andrea’s postpartum depression and psychosis defense, now considers her mental illness to be akin to a physical ailment.
In reflecting on Andrea Yates’ actions, Rusty likens her mental illness to a physical ailment, suggesting that it should not be criminalized in the same manner. He questions the response to a potential heart attack situation that resulted in a similar tragic outcome, highlighting the complexities of mental health and its impact on behavior. Rusty’s evolved beliefs show a deep understanding of forgiveness towards Andrea and a recognition of the role mental illness played in the tragic events that unfolded in 2001. Despite the devastating loss of their children, Rusty’s ability to forgive and maintain a relationship with Andrea in a mental health facility showcases a complex journey of acceptance and understanding.
