What do you think about Andrea Yates, the woman who systematically drown her 5 children in the bathtub? Is it post-partum depression? Insanity? Or is she just a cold-blooded killer?

Kell

I get chills when I hear her name. I am just glad I'm not on that jury. Insane, mentally ill? I don't know - but how can anyone kill 5 children let alone your own children? I just can't breathe when I think about it. I think her husband should be on trial too.

I don't think the woman is a cold blooded killer. She is obviously a very ill person who was and is in desparete need of help. Post partum depression is nothing to mess around with. What happened was horrible and I wanted to cry when I saw the pictures of those poor babies. But in the mother's defense, often those suffering from post partum psychosis believe that their children would be better off dead than to have to be raised but them. Obviously this is a horrible train of thought, but when Mother's kill their children for this reason they aren't doing it because they hate them but because they love their children and feel they are "saving" them. While I can't imagine ever feeling this way about a child I brought into this world, she is mentally ill and needs to be treated as such. What she did was horrible and should not go overlooked but she is a sick woman and needs treatment not punishment. As for her husband, from what I've read he seemed that he tried to help her and I'm not sure what else he could have done. This is just a horrible situation and I feel really bad for all involved.

I believe her to be mentally ill. I can't bring myself to belive that any human being is so cold blooded to murder all 5 of her own babies. She had to be crazy. But I also blame the father and family for leaving her alone with the kids. They knew she was suffering mentally. I remember a report that said she was diagnosed years ago. I mean, 5 kids! That's a lot. Did she have any help? Did she ever get out? Was she feeling trapped? I feel for her but at the same time, I don't want her to ever set foot out in the free world again. What she did is unforgiveable.

It's a real shame that inncent lives have to be lost in most cases before they are able to identify it as a serious problem. I think her family knew (at least in their gut) she had a problem, but if you can't get the proper help for someone in time, then innocent little children often suffer. More often than not, doctors and police will not do anything until they have absolute proof that this is a dangerous person. No one in the position to help her earlier was willing to bite the bullet, and say, "I think she needs to be hospitalized and treated for a while." It is a tough call to make, especially when she has so many children. Did she only suffer with postpartum depression with the last baby? Or, was she having this problem from the start, and it just got worse than anyone imagined it would. It is a sad state of affairs.... and unfortunately, no matter how the trial turns out, nothing can bring thoae babies back.

azspirit

Actually, I believe it was after she had her fourth child, the doctor told the husband about her depression, being unstable, etc. and to NOT have any more babies! The husband should have been responsible enough to take whatever steps he could to keep from getting her pregnant since he knew it was in her best interest. I guess he ignored the warning. Because of that, I feel he's somewhat responsible, but I also think this may have come to pass even if they hadn't had a fifth child.

I heard some crazy stuff about the things she told investigators - something like cartoon characters gave her messages to do this (through the TV, I assume); then she claimed to be satan and wanted them to check for 666 on her scalp (or they checked for it on their own?); on and on with mad rantings. She's definitely got something wrong. I too wonder about the postpartum depression.. if she had it this bad, why did she not act on it sooner? Somehow I think there's more to it than just postpartum depression. Like maybe schizophrenia or some other psychosis.

Kell

I don't understand how anyone could let themselves get to the point where they would do something so unspeakable.I think that we are all too quick to say that she has to be mentally ill.I have been in dark places before and I didn't kill anyone espically not my kids.If a man would have done we would want to burn himat the stake but it was a woman so she has to be mentially ill.God help me if I am wrong but I can't see anything that would effect me enough that I would drown five children that I gave birth to or any children.

I dont think she is insane- there's a world of difference between a mantal illness and insanity. But- like Pandora- I dont think she should put a foot back in the world again. Lock her up and throw away the key.

We have a sitch in our family out in oklahoma that has been going on since before Christmas. My sister in law has gone completely delusional- the TV is talking to her among other things. there are children in the house too. Gads! they have her drugged up to the max and she is still bad. She needs to be comitted but they wont. It is a tradedy waiting to happen.I guess she has had instability problems for years- and it didnt help that her husband is a workaholic who had an affair. she ran off with the kids to oklahoma- she is cherokee- to her family a bout 5 years ago. they put it all back together but Jim is just one of those logical computer (he does serious nasty security stuff for the Govt) geeks.

I seriously wonder if evil spirits or demons sometimes take a person over who is depressed. i wonder if she needs a tribal medicine man instead of all these drugs. i really do understand her flipping out with the life she has had wiht this black project government goon.

So ya see- things like this are all around us and and andrea yates will happen again- it makes me ill.Can you believe with a little boy in the house they have not committed her??? it's the doctor's idea as well as jim's!!! man- she'd be gone if I had kids!

andrea yates- throw away the key- but they need to try and gain understanding of these things from this!

poor woman.

sundog

I really wanted to avoid the controversy about this because I just get way too emotional. I know post-partem depression (mental illness, or any illness) are not something to ignore or make light of. Post-partem is a real disease and affects millions of women, so is PMS or any mood or mind altering disease. I just can't grasp how NOBODY noticed - husband, parents, in-laws, friends, neighbors, doctors. I have friends who are on medication to treat bipolar and manic-depression. I can tell when they are a little "off". Either their meds aren't working properly or something has triggered an episode of major depression, whatever it is, it's noticeable. There were 5 babies here!!! I just can't grasp it. =( It all makes me very, very sad and sick.

KellKell,
I just wanted to note that I believe she has been diagnosised with Post Partum Psychosis which is much more severe than post partum depression.
I also understand that along with the post partum depression she was experiencing, her father had also died recently. At least that is what I have read. And for someone who is already unstable or experiencing a severe depression the death of a loved one could push them over the edge.
I'm not trying to make excuses for her I like everyone else am just trying to make sense out of the unthinkable and in order for me to do that I look at her mental state at the time. I guess it's just the future mental health professional coming out in me. =)

What exactly is the difference between post partum psychosis and post partum depression? Is PPD just generally sad/unmotivated like normal depression (just after the baby) whereas PPP is generally psychotic like normal psychosis (after the baby)? I've taken psychology classes in college, which I thoroughly enjoyed, but I don't recall the specifics. It's been a few years, ya know. *ahem* ;-)

Hey - it came out in her trial today that she'd been planning on killing her kids for some time before she actually did it. Yikes. Has anyone noticed how the father doesn't seem particularly upset by all this? Kinda odd!

Kell

I'm telling you Kell, this husband is just as insane (for lack of a better word). This all just makes me so sick to my stomach. I can't get those babies' faces out of my head.

Donna

Kell,
The difference is pretty much what you said. Depression and psychosis are two totally different issues. I was reading a newspaper article today about her and her psychiarist stated she was one of the five sickest clients he has ever had. This man has been practicing since 1975. So I think that says a lot about her mental state right there.

GUILTY!!!! In case you haven't heard yet.

Yes I heard that and was just saddened, the woman is sick. Of course it didn't help that the jury couldn't be told that if she was found not guilty by reason of insanity, that she would be placed in an insitution until the judge deemed her mentally fit. This whole situation just sucks.

Have they sentenced her yet?

I don't think so - at least I haven't heard yet.

I've wanted to jump in before this, during your heartfelt discussion on this topic, but I try my darndest not to judge others whose shoes I have not walked in. This of course doesn't mean I don't have strong feelings about things...but from past experience, as I've grown older, I try to refrain in voicing my judgements on others.

I do feel very strongly about this, knowing people with mental illness, having experience with people who struggle to survive each day, most would think I would feel a grave misjustice was done. I do feel this way, but not because of what happened in the courtroom by the jurors, lawyers or judge, it was done long before that when her doctors let her down, and when her husband and extended family denied what they knew to be true. This so called God fearing husband, who by the way has rarely mentioned the horror his children had to endure, but only comments on how bad he feels for his wife, should be put on trial for being an accessory to murder. By all accounts this man RAN his family, dictated if you will, their daily excistance. You don't do that and not know how very sick your spouse is. The doctor who said that Mrs. Yates mental illness is one of the worse cases he had ever seen...sorry but I don't by the fact that this husband didn't know how seriously ill his wife was, he knew and chose to look the other way. It is very convienent for him now to blame it all on the doctors, who I do need to share in the same sentence as Mrs. Yates and her husband. 5 children are dead and this woman, her husband and her doctors should all be convicted. Do I believe Mrs. Yates is mentally ill, yes. As I feel anyone who takes anothers life is. I do not believe in finding someone innocent because of insanity. "Thou Shall Not Kill"

I do hope I have not offened any of you with my thoughts, it was not my intention.

Living near Houston, this has been all anyone talks about. I went to a department store today, and the clerk, out of the blue asked what I thought about all of it. I do think Mr. Yates is just as guilty in the deaths of those children as that poor sick woman. She should have not been left alone with them under any circumstances. This was a woman with no social outlets, no interests outside her family. I'm not sure if this has been brought out in other regions of the country, but Mrs. Yates was treated at a psychiatric hospital and RELEASED by a doctor (the insurance was probably not up to snuff!) This doctor is every bit as guilty as Andrea Yates and her husband, and I hope the you know what never sleeps a peaceful night for the rest of his life!
I have said for years, people need a license to have children! Think about it, we need a license to drive, a license to drink, we even need a license to fish; but, any moron with the right equipment can go out there and produce a human life! I am a little radical on this -- I had to have a hysterectomy last year, and I never was able to have a child. I look at what happened with this woman, and I think -- Rather than do what you did, couldn't you have given one (or all) to me?!
The only comfort I take in this case, is knowing that these children were killed just a day or two after my father's passing. He loved children, all children! I like to think those five little souls are being rocked to sleep each night in the same loving arms that held me. God rest there little souls.
I do not think Mrs. Yates will be given the death penalty, and I am thankful that I do not have to make a decision on this like those jurors are faced with. In all honesty, life in prison may not be the kindest thing for her. On the outside chance she ever makes even the slightest recovery, will she be able to live with herself? I don't think I could knowing what I had done to the five little lives I had produced and then snuffed out. Like I said, I don't envy those jurors.

Chatter, no offense taken. None at all.

I believe the husband & doctors are guilty as well - but so is insurance! It's a shame that insurance is the way it is - you can only be sick as long as your insurance will pay. It's ridiculous! I do find the husband more guilty than the docs though. The docs told him the situation and he chose to ignore it! Now, it's like he's more upset that his wife is going to jail so he can't make more kids with her! >:-(

Carrie, you make a good point about having to have a license to have children. It would make a lot of things better!

Kell