Associated Press
HOUSTON – Andrea Yates sobbed at her murder trial Thursday as prosecutors displayed photos and videotape of four of her drowned children on a bed and the fifth floating face down in the bathtub.
The bodies were found at the family’s home on June 20 after Yates called police to say she had killed her children, who ranged in age from 6 months to 7 years.
Yates, 37, was unemotional, however, as jurors heard her taped confession the day of the killings.
On the tape, Yates plainly tells police Sgt. Eric Mehl how she filled the bathtub after her husband left for work and began calling her children in one-by-one, with Noah, the oldest, being last.
“Did he try to run from you?” Mehl asked Yates. “Yes,” she said.
“Did he get out of the bathroom or were you able to catch him?” the police officer asked. “I got him,” she said matter-of-factly. She said Noah put up the most violent struggle, gasping for air as she continued to force him below.
When Mehl asked Yates why she wanted to drown her children, she paused for 15 seconds without giving an answer. She then said the children had behavior and learning problems and she had thought about killing them for two years.
“I realized that it was time to be punished,” Yates told Mehl. “And what do you need to be punished for?” he asked. “For not being a good mother,” Yates replied.
Yates has pleaded innocent by reason of insanity. Her lawyers say she was suffering from postpartum depression and is now taking powerful anti-psychotic drugs. She could get the death penalty if convicted.
Copyright ©2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.