Rusty Yates, the ex-husband of Andrea Yates, the woman who tragically drowned their five children in 2001, has found it in his heart to forgive her. Despite the devastating loss, Rusty, now 59, maintains regular contact with Andrea, 60, who resides in a mental hospital.
Continued Contact and Forgiveness
According to a report by the New York Post on Wednesday, July 30, 2024, Rusty regularly calls the Kerrville State Hospital, where Andrea has been committed since being found “not guilty by reason of insanity.” Rusty speaks to Andrea at least once a month, often discussing their children, who would now be adults. He has also visited her at the hospital, which houses individuals deemed incompetent to stand trial or found not guilty by reason of insanity.
Rusty divorced Andrea in 2002, a year after the tragic event, and has since remarried and had another child. However, that marriage also ended in divorce. Throughout these personal changes, Rusty has continued his career as a NASA engineer, the job he held when the tragedy occurred.
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Remembering the Children
To keep the memory of his children alive, Rusty maintains a website dedicated to them. In an interview with Chris Cuomo on NewsNation last year, Rusty described Andrea as a “wonderful mother.” He expressed his belief that her actions were entirely out of character, indicating that her severe mental illness was the underlying cause. “When someone acts so out of character like that, it’s a flag that something else is going on,” he said. Rusty views forgiveness as an ongoing process, emphasizing the need to understand mental illness. “But for her sickness, she never, ever, ever would have harmed our children,” he added.
The Tragic Incident
On June 20, 2001, Andrea Yates, then 37, drowned their five children in the bathtub of their Houston home after Rusty had left for work. The children, Noah (7), John (5), Paul (3), Luke (2), and Mary (6 months), were killed one by one. Andrea was charged with five counts of capital murder, with the prosecution seeking the death penalty due to the heinous nature of the crime. However, the defense highlighted Andrea’s severe depression and psychosis, exacerbated by her recent childbirth.
Initially convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison, Andrea’s conviction was overturned on appeal in 2006. A subsequent trial found her not guilty by reason of insanity, leading to her commitment to a mental hospital, where she remains to this day.
Raising Mental Health Awareness
Rusty’s remarkable forgiveness towards Andrea underscores the profound impact of mental illness. He continues to connect with her, striving to understand the events and the reasons behind them. This tragic story serves as a stark reminder of the importance of mental health awareness and the significant role it played in this family’s devastating loss.
The community continues to remember the Yates children, supporting Rusty in his efforts to honor their memory. His website stands as a tribute to Noah, John, Paul, Luke, and Mary, ensuring that they are never forgotten.
Rusty’s journey of forgiveness and his dedication to preserving the memory of his children highlight the enduring impact of love and understanding in the face of unimaginable tragedy.
