Andrea Yates-Not guilty due to insanity

[declansdad]

Looks like one poster needs to claim temporary insanity for their rant

Not a fair comment. That poster was only stating their opinion just like everyone else. I would also guess that there are many people who feel the same way.

One observation that I had yesterday on this topic. There were two seperate threads about the verdict yesterday afternoon and they were completely opposite of each other with regards to people's opinions. Most people on this thread believed the verdict was correct while the opposite was true ont he other thread.

 

[BuckNaked]

I disagree.

She knew enough to chase her child around the house as he was running to get away. She knew exactly what she was doing.

I feel the same way. From what I understand, she waited until her husband left for work, killed the oldest child first so that he couldn't get away to tell anyone what she was doing, etc. I have no doubt that she had mental problems, but IMO, there was too much planning for this to have been done by someone that fit the legal definition of insanity (i.e., did she know that society considered her actions wrong).

I guess it will only be a matter of time now until she is "cured" and let go with no punishment.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I think that this is the correct verdict. I do not think that it is "OK" that she killed her children.
Bobbi

 

[chobie]

I feel the same way. From what I understand, she waited until her husband left for work, killed the oldest child first so that he couldn't get away to tell anyone what she was doing, etc. I have no doubt that she had mental problems, but IMO, there was too much planning for this to have been done by someone that fit the legal definition of insanity (i.e., did she know that society considered her actions wrong).

I guess it will only be a matter of time now until she is "cured" and let go with no punishment.

The legal defintion of insanity is not a one size fits all. I don't know what it is in Texas exactly, but I know it is a rather high standard. So, just because there was planning, or she knew it was illegal, does not mean she did not fit Texas' definition of legal insanity.

 

[Dina]

I don't know how I feel about her verdict-- I'm sure its probably the correct one, but I think her husband should be arrested for knowing how bad her depression and leaving the children alone with her. I think he should be charged with neglect.

 

[freckles and boo]

Wow. It seems to me that there are obviously many, many people who have absolutely no understanding of mental illness and how it manifests itself. I don't claim to have a complete understanding myself, but I do know that it is much more insideous than people imagine. I guess if your only experience with it is the raving homeless person then you will find Andrea Yates to be sane. That is foolish and dangerous. Her husband left her to be responsible for five small and helpless children knowing full well she couldn't cope and had threatened or attempted suicide. What person who loves their children would leave them in the care of someone who is so sick? She was fragile and so were they. Now I am going to start raving...

It is true that some people attempt to use and abuse the insanity defense, but as others have posted, the parameters in nearly every state are very high to even attempt to mount that defense. This is a sad, sad story.

 

[beattyfamily]

I cannot believe this.

A woman drowns her five children. How old was the eldest--seven?

AND IT'S PERFECTLY O.K????????

These posts are all about "poor Andrea." Poor Andrea couldn't have known what she was doing. Poor Andrea had no support. Poor Andrea was suffering from PPD. Poor Andrea. Poor Andrea. Poor Andrea.

PUHLEEEZ!

Everyone here wants someone to take responsibility--as long as it isn't the person who committed the crime. Her husband is at fault...her mother is at fault...her "spiritual leader" is at fault...why not just blame the children? Heck, they must have done something to drive her over the edge.

You know who I blame? Every single person who thinks it's acceptable for a monster to claim "insanity" when they commit a heinous crime. Every time we make excuses and accept their crime, we make it easier for others to commit the same crime and use the same excuse until it's so common we don't even notice it any more.

I'm sorry, I simply cannot get the thought of those poor babies out of my mind. To think the person they trusted most--their mother--would do this. I can't imagine the terror the older children must have felt. It brings tears every time I think about it.

That woman should be on death row. I don't care how "sick" she is. Just the thought that she's still breathing makes me ill. And, it makes me furious that she may have an opportunity to walk free one day.

This verdict was wrong. Period.

The only satisfaction I get out of this is the hope that she and her lawyers will rot in hell one day.

ITA with you!

It's my opinion as well and the below comment by auinas is just rude.

Looks like one poster needs to claim temporary insanity for their rant

 

[chobie]

ITA with you!

It's my opinion as well and the below comment by auinas is just rude.

I didn't think the comment was rude. That poster, and apparently you as well, beleive that all of us who think the verdict was right are to blame for the deaths of the children. That statement was off the deep end IMO. It also displays a profound ignorance of the criminal justice system, mental health, and the insanity defense.

 

[Laura]

Wow. It seems to me that there are obviously many, many people who have absolutely no understanding of mental illness and how it manifests itself.

So it would seem.

 

[my4kids]

I feel the same way. From what I understand, she waited until her husband left for work, killed the oldest child first so that he couldn't get away to tell anyone what she was doing, etc. I have no doubt that she had mental problems, but IMO, there was too much planning for this to have been done by someone that fit the legal definition of insanity (i.e., did she know that society considered her actions wrong).

I guess it will only be a matter of time now until she is "cured" and let go with no punishment.

I don't know why just because she chased her kids that makes her not insane. Insanity and premeditation can occur at the same time. It was a horrible thing, but as a mother who suffered severe post-pardum depression after one of my childrens births, I think this was the correct verdict. It is scarey how much mental illness can change your thinking and personality. I don't think I thought one sane thing for 3 months until I was finally treated. Luckily, my illness never reached the point that Yate's did, but having been there I can understand how untreated it could get that bad. I don't think I would feel the same way if I hadn't suffered from it...it is really impossible to describe the amount of absolute emptiness and hoplessness and irrationallity that goes along with it. Luckily I had people around me that forced me into treatment. I have nothing but compassion for this woman - I think that she is going to suffer her hell on earth.

 

[declansdad]

I didn't think the comment was rude. That poster, and apparently you as well, beleive that all of us who think the verdict was right are to blame for the deaths of the children. That statement was off the deep end IMO. It also displays a profound ignorance of the criminal justice system, mental health, and the insanity defense.

That poster stated their opinion, they never made a snide remark about people that didn't agree with their opinion.

Just because a person disagrees with the verdict doesn't mean that they don't understand the situation.

 

[tiggersmom2]

I cannot believe this.

A woman drowns her five children. How old was the eldest--seven?

AND IT'S PERFECTLY O.K????????

These posts are all about "poor Andrea." Poor Andrea couldn't have known what she was doing. Poor Andrea had no support. Poor Andrea was suffering from PPD. Poor Andrea. Poor Andrea. Poor Andrea.

PUHLEEEZ!

Everyone here wants someone to take responsibility--as long as it isn't the person who committed the crime. Her husband is at fault...her mother is at fault...her "spiritual leader" is at fault...why not just blame the children? Heck, they must have done something to drive her over the edge.

You know who I blame? Every single person who thinks it's acceptable for a monster to claim "insanity" when they commit a heinous crime. Every time we make excuses and accept their crime, we make it easier for others to commit the same crime and use the same excuse until it's so common we don't even notice it any more.

I'm sorry, I simply cannot get the thought of those poor babies out of my mind. To think the person they trusted most--their mother--would do this. I can't imagine the terror the older children must have felt. It brings tears every time I think about it.

That woman should be on death row. I don't care how "sick" she is. Just the thought that she's still breathing makes me ill. And, it makes me furious that she may have an opportunity to walk free one day.

This verdict was wrong. Period.

The only satisfaction I get out of this is the hope that she and her lawyers will rot in hell one day.

I agree with you 100%

A big to the poster that didn't have enough gonads to post under their REAL name and tell inaminute she was insane.

 

[Hannathy]

I think the verdict was wrong, She was not so insane that she had no grasp of right vs wrong or why did she wait till no one was there? It would be one thing if she was immediately sentenced to a facility for criminally mentally Ill people for THE REST OF HER LIFE but she will be sent to a Hospital facility and treated nice and comfy and in 2 yrs the same lawyers will be back in court claiming SHE'S CURED. And she wil be out soon and probably pregnant.
If she had drowned 5 puppies she would have been given a tougher sentence- it makes me sick how casually children's deaths are treated.

 

[chobie]

That poster stated their opinion, they never made a snide remark about people that didn't agree with their opinion.

Just because a person disagrees with the verdict doesn't mean that they don't understand the situation.

A person who thinks that all one has to do to get away with murder is "claim" insanity does not understand the criminal justice system.

To blame the deaths and other deaths on those of us who do beleive that NGBRI is a valid defense is waaay out there IMO.

 

[yeartolate]

Everytime I read the Yates timeline the only thing I can think is why the murder of her children didn't happen sooner.

 

[VSL]

I do think that she should be held at least partially accountable, for the following reason:

From 1999 onwards she was given, on numerous occasions, ant-psychotic drugs. She continually refused to take them (throwing them away, flushing them down the toilet, etc.) as she wanted to conceive/breastfeed. Surely if she had followed doctors orders then this whole tragedy wouldn't have occured. Not taking the drugs is something that she was responsible for, and probably contributed to her worsening mental state.

However, I really believe that the preacher and his wife should also be held partially responsible (the continual letters calling her 'evil' and a 'daughter of Eve' contributed, IMO, to the end result) as well as Rusty (who knew that more children and leaving her alone were the complete opposite of what he should have been doing).

 

[aquinas]

That poster stated their opinion, they never made a snide remark about people that didn't agree with their opinion.

Just because a person disagrees with the verdict doesn't mean that they don't understand the situation.

Yeah this isnt snide or insulting in anyway. I am responsible for these kids deaths because I agree with the verdict? You dont find this offensive?

"You know who I blame? Every single person who thinks it's acceptable for a monster to claim "insanity" when they commit a heinous crime. Every time we make excuses and accept their crime, we make it easier for others to commit the same crime and use the same excuse until it's so common we don't even notice it any more."

 

[declansdad]

A person who thinks that all one has to do to get away with murder is "claim" insanity does not understand the criminal justice system.

I don't see where the poster said this. The poster said they think it is wrong for a person to be able to do this.

To blame the deaths and other deaths on those of us who do beleive that NGBRI is a valid defense is waaay out there IMO.

Again it was the poster's opinion, it doesn't single any one person out or call them insane.

 

[declansdad]

Yeah this isnt snide or insulting in anyway. I am responsible for these kids deaths because I agree with the verdict? You dont find this offensive?

"You know who I blame? Every single person who thinks it's acceptable for a monster to claim "insanity" when they commit a heinous crime. Every time we make excuses and accept their crime, we make it easier for others to commit the same crime and use the same excuse until it's so common we don't even notice it any more."

Where are you singled out in this quote?

My point was that you singled out one person with your remark about insanity. IMO, that was rude and uncalled for. This is suppose to be a discussion of an obviously hot topic that will generate a variety of opinions, why does it need to denigrate into name calling.

 

[chobie]

I don't see where the poster said this. The poster said they think it is wrong for a person to be able to do this.



Again it was the poster's opinion, it doesn't single any one person out or call them insane.

The person said its wrong for someone to "claim" insanity and get away with the crime. Therein lies the ignorance--you have to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that you fit the legal defintion of insanity to get a NGBRI verdict. It is a very high standard and a very difficult verdict to get --and it rarely occurs. It's a delusion to beleive that murderers are getting off left and right just by "claiming" insanity.

What the poster may have been saying is that she thinks insanity should NEVER be a defense, but again even if that was what she meant it is based on the misconception that it is easy to get this verdict.

And she singled out everyone of us who said they agreed with the verdict and blamed us for the deaths.