Houston Father Reacts To Child Killings
Yates' Friend Shocked By Crime
A Houston father on Thursday shared his pain at losing his five children allegedly at the hands of his wife, who authorities believe drowned them.
Russell Yates works for NASA at the Johnson Space Center in the shuttle program. Several NASA response psychologists arrived at Yates' home to try to comfort him.
"It is just rather unimaginable," Cannon said. "It's difficult to deal with when you are talking about five little kids who were killed, probably systematically."
Russell Yates arrived home about the same time police officers did, finding the children dead and still wet.
Cannon said that Yates also was wet when she answered the door.
Yates has been treated for postpartum depression for the past two years. She was so depressed over the weekend that she couldn't accompany her children to a neighborhood party.
Russell Yates told officers that his wife was on medication for the condition.
He said that Yates had been suffering on and off from postpartum depression for two years. He said that Yates once again receded into a depressive state after her father died six months ago.
"Andrea's dad died right after the birth of Mary, and it pushed her back into a deep depression," Russell Yates said.
Russell Yates did say that he noticed his wife's withdrawn behavior and robotic movements in the last few weeks, but he thought the medication she was on was helping. He also told KPRC TV that she never exhibited violent behavior toward him or the children.
"You can rest assured it will be carried as a capital case," Cannon said.
A conviction on a capital murder charge in Texas could carry a death sentence.
Police said that when they arrived, they kept Russell Yates from entering the home. Cannon described the scene as traumatic, but said that police kept the husband from the home to protect the evidence.
Police Describe What Happened
Authorities arrested Andrea Yates shortly after 10 a.m. Wednesday after she called police to her home at 942 Beachcomber Lane in a southeast Houston suburb known as Clear Lake. Yates answered the door and allegedly told police that she had killed her children. They believe that Yates drowned all five children, authorities said. "When our responding officer arrived, he was met at the door by the woman, who was breathing heavily and you could tell she was disturbed," Houston Police Department spokesman John Cannon said. "At that time, she said to the officer, 'I killed my children.'" The children, four boys and one girl, range in age from 6 months to 7 years old. "She led the officer to the bedroom, where there were four bodies, and then led the officer to the bathroom, where there was one body in the bathtub," Cannon said. Police spokesman Alvin Wright said that 7-year-old Noah Yates was found in a bathtub. The boys and a girl were discovered on the bed with a sheet covering them. They were identified as Mary Yates, 6 months; Luke Yates, 2; Paul Yates, 3; and John Yates, 5, according to police. Russell Yates was called home from work by his wife, but he was initially too grief-stricken to talk with police. They have been married for eight years.
Russell Yates works for NASA at the Johnson Space Center in the shuttle program. Several NASA response psychologists arrived at Yates' home to try to comfort him.
"It is just rather unimaginable," Cannon said. "It's difficult to deal with when you are talking about five little kids who were killed, probably systematically."
Russell Yates arrived home about the same time police officers did, finding the children dead and still wet.
Cannon said that Yates also was wet when she answered the door.
Yates has been treated for postpartum depression for the past two years. She was so depressed over the weekend that she couldn't accompany her children to a neighborhood party.
Russell Yates told officers that his wife was on medication for the condition.
He said that Yates had been suffering on and off from postpartum depression for two years. He said that Yates once again receded into a depressive state after her father died six months ago.
"Andrea's dad died right after the birth of Mary, and it pushed her back into a deep depression," Russell Yates said.
Russell Yates did say that he noticed his wife's withdrawn behavior and robotic movements in the last few weeks, but he thought the medication she was on was helping. He also told KPRC TV that she never exhibited violent behavior toward him or the children.
"You can rest assured it will be carried as a capital case," Cannon said.
A conviction on a capital murder charge in Texas could carry a death sentence.
Police said that when they arrived, they kept Russell Yates from entering the home. Cannon described the scene as traumatic, but said that police kept the husband from the home to protect the evidence.
Mother's Close Friend Shocked
A friend of Andrea Yates said that the crime is shocking and unbelievable. Sylvia Cole lived next door to Yates and her family in Friendswood, Texas, for four years and she said that the Yates family seemed very close and happy. "In the evenings they would stroll with the kids and she was always at home and really attentive to the kids," Cole said. Cole said that the two women developed a friendship that stemmed from their mutual careers as registered nurses. "We had that in common," she said. "We shared the ups and downs of managed health care." Cole said that Yates quit her job at M.D. Anderson to become a stay-at-home mother and that her husband always wanted a large family. "Russell wanted like six or eight kids," Cole said. "They were real family oriented." Cole said that her memory of Yates is one of a patient, loving mother. "The kids were happy and happy-go-lucky," she said. "If you had told me this a year ago, I would have said no. Not Andrea."Memorial Fund Set Up
A memorial fund for the Yates family has been set up. The money donated will help with the funeral costs. To donate money, send it to:-
Yates Memorial Fund
Sterling Bank
P.O. Box 590027
Houston, TX 77259
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