Was true justice served in Andrea Yates trial?

by Sandy Light
Commentary

The case of Andrea Yates is a tragic one. As I write this, I cannot help but cry. What a shocking end to such precious children. My first thought is how could someone do such a thing? I am a mother and grandmother, and the very idea of anything happening to any of them is beyond my comprehension.

I have been reading about this heartbreaking story ever since it happened here within miles of where I live. The story actually started long before the children were born.

According to Timothy Roche in his Time.com article, "The Yates Odyssey," Andrea Pia Yates was a dutiful daughter who was anxious to please her parents, "especially her father." As such, her excellence in school is highlighted by the fact that she was valedictorian. In spite of her efforts, according to friends, she still never felt quite good enough. In 1993, Andrea married Russell Yates in a small wedding and talked about wanting a large family. Noah, their first son, was born in February 1994. Then, in 1995, she became pregnant again with their second son John. They leased out their 4-bedroom house in 1996 when Russell Yates worked in Florida for six months. While in Florida, Andrea became pregnant twice, miscarrying one child, then giving birth to their third son Paul, while Yates lived in a converted bus ­ their home until 1999. Luke, their fourth son, was born just 17 months later.

Finally, in 1999, after a trip to the Grand Canyon, Andrea's emotional problems seemed to escalate and she attempted to commit suicide twice.

According to Russell, she avoided conflict and would get very quiet and never speak out for herself. He explained this was the reason he did all the talking when he took her to the psychiatrist. He told a social worker at the hospital that Andrea had lost her identity and now relied on him to make decisions. He also said she felt guilty about showing anger. The social worker indicated that the husband tended to be a little controlling.

Her friends thought so, too. A close friend and colleague of Andrea tried to talk her out of having more children. But Andrea said that Rusty wanted a baby. The friend told police that Andrea described her husband as controlling and manipulative.

Andrea's life went on with the same pattern of deteriorating mental health and childbirth. Doctors warned that if Andrea's illness returned, it would be even more severe.

During bouts of depression, she would scratch bald spots in her scalp and claw her legs up with her fingernails. Her family thought they were losing her. She told her psychiatrists, but not Russell, that she was having visions and voices telling her to get a knife. She also showed signs that she was not taking care of the children. Still, she was left alone with them.

Taking into account the whole scenario of Andreašs marriage, five successful and two unsuccessful pregnancies, it is no wonder that she finally went over the edge of sanity.

She was treated several times by different psychiatrists and was given drugs that sometimes helped her condition. Each time she got help, she was released as soon as she could feed and dress herself. Then life would go back into the same devastating pattern.

On March 15, Andrea Yates was sentenced to life imprisonment for drowning her children. But justice will not be served in this case unless other parties are also held accountable for their actions. Russell Yates should have been on trial with his wife. Instead, we have seen him telling his wife, "I love you and support you" ­ after the fact.

According to ABC News, this justice may still be imminent. The prosecutors are looking into possibly charging Russell Yates with child endangerment or negligent homicide.