Warriors Mark

Andrea Yates

Andrea (Kennedy) Yates born in Houston, Texas on July 2, 1964 was the captain of her swim team, belonged to the National Honor Society, as well as valedictorian of her graduating class in 1982 from Milby High School. After graduation Andrea attended the University of Houston and then the University of Texas School of Nursing where she completed her degree as a registered nurse. Andrea maintained employment for 8 years (1986-1994) at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Russell (Rusty) Yates and Andrea met while living in the same apartment building in Houston Tx. Andrea was said to have approached Rusty, they were both 25. Andrea was getting over a recent break-up after being single until she was 23. While living together Rusty and Andrea focused on prayer and religious studies, they married on April 17,1993 by a non-denominational pastor. The newlyweds did not keep it a secret that they would not be using birth control and that they would be having as many kids as "nature provided". Rusty and Andrea were married for 8 years, and Andrea began referring to herself as "Fertile Myrtle" because they had accomplished 5 births, 4 boys and 1 girl. After the birth of their second boy Andrea became withdrawn and eventually began to home school her children.

At one point Rusty took a job in Florida relocating his family to a small trailer and then to a bus where Andrea became pregnant again but miscarried. Andrea began to follow a traveling minister who was known to be rather radical, Rusty disagreed with his views while Andrea embraced them. He preached of evil women and "sin derived from Eve" and that "bad mothers who are going to hell create bad children who will go to hell".

On June 16,1999 Andrea staged her first suicide attempt by ingesting an overdose of unspecified pills. She was hospitalized and then released with a prescription of antidepressant. However Andrea did not follow the doctor's instructions when she returned home and discontinued the use of the antidepressant on her own. Soon after she stopped taking her medication she began to mutilate herself, refused to feed her children, believed the television characters were talking to her, and thought that there were hidden cameras in the ceiling. Andrea again attempted suicide by holding a knife to her throat and telling her husband that she wanted to die. Her psychiatrist never knew of these episodes.

Andrea was again hospitalized while maintaining a catatonic state for over a week. She was treated with a cocktail of drugs that improved her spirits, as well as Rusty's. It was at this time Andrea was warned about the risks of having any more children.

Rusty moved the family from the bus to a home in Houston and soon saw an improvement in Andrea's behavior as she began to interact with the community and her children, she also became involved in other activities she once enjoyed and gave up after the start of her family. Then in March of 2000 Andrea became